Main Story: President Bush Says Cut FIRE Act, Project Impact

(Fairfax, VA) -- President Bush unveiled his new budget plan on February 27 during his first address to Congress and the nation. But the new plan places some hurdles in the way of next year's Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement Act (FIRE) Act funding.

Bush's budget plan phases out "an unneeded fire grant program, saving $100 million" in 2002. The plan states that the program "was authorized for only two years and does not represent an appropriate responsibility of the federal government." This action does not impact the $100 million already appropriated for the fire service for FY2001, and FEMA intends on moving forward with dispersing those funds. However, it does create a greater challenge for those fire service organizations that pushed for this funding in the beginning.

ICHIEFS is aggressively working with the other major fire service groups to address this issue, and is urging its members to delay any actions until an appropriate strategy is developed that will ensure that funding is provided - as authorized by law - to continue the FIRE program. ICHIEFS will quickly communicate this strategy to the membership with guidance and direction.

In October of last year, the FIRE Act was authorized by Congress to provide $100 million to the fire service in FY2001 and $300 million in FY2002. The FY2001 monies were appropriated in December.

In addition to the FIRE Act funding, the new budget plan eliminates $25 million in funding for Project Impact, stating that the disaster preparedness campaign "has not proven effective."

Related:

• Steve Austin Commentary: Stay with the Pre-Plan!
  
• President Bush Says Cut FIRE Act, Project Impact
  
• IAFF Condemns Bush Attack on Fire Service
  
• Put Pen to Paper to Save the FIRE Act!
  

Related Links:

• Firehouse.com's Funding Section
  
• The Bush Plan: Blueprint For New Beginnings
  
• National Volunteer Fire Council
  
• International Association of Fire Fighters