Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 5, 2007

Schumer Announces Three Capital Region Fire Departments Will Receive Over $1.2 Million In Federal Fire Grants

Schumer: 17 Emergency Response Programs Across New York State Will Receive Over $3.8 Million As Part Of U.S. Department Of Homeland Security's Fire Grant Program

Schumer Says Federal Grant Will Help Fire Department Pay For Improvements During Difficult Fiscal Times

Schumer Has Pushed For Additional Funding For Assistance To Fire Departments And First Responders

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that three departments in the Capital Region will receive federal grants totaling $1,280,633 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Perth Volunteer Fire Company in Montgomery County will receive a $65,731 grant from the seventh round of DHS FY07 AFG awards; the Troy Fire Department in Rensselaer County will receive a $378,652 grant from the seventh round of DHS FY07 AFG awards; and the National Association of State Fire Marshalls in Saratoga County will receive a $836,250 grant from the eleventh round of DHS FY06 Fire Prevention & Safety awards. The three grants will be used to improve operations and safety, acquire new vehicles and aid in fire prevention.

"This funding will go a long way in supporting the first responders in the Capital Region" said Schumer. "Our nation's firefighters are truly America's heroes. Whether fighting a building fire or responding to a terrorist attack, it is essential that we help them to do their jobs safely and efficiently. One of the key ways to do this is to make sure that they have enough firefighters on duty to handle the job and to ensure that they have the training, equipment and resources they need to do their job well. This federal money will help make sure that firefighters in Montgomery, Rensselaer and Saratoga Counties get the resources they need to keep our communities safe."

Schumer was among the first senators who recognized the need for the federal government to establish a funding program for local governments and fire departments to help defray the rising costs of equipment and fire prevention. Since its inception in 2001, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program has delivered over $122 million to New York's fire departments.

For Fiscal Year 2008, Congress has authorized $1 billion for the program, $700 million more than the $300 million included in the Administration's budget proposal. The FY07 DHS Appropriations bill, signed into law by the President, appropriated $662 million for firefighter assistance grants, of which $115 million will go toward SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) Act grants.

"These grants ensure that the firefighters in Montgomery, Rensselaer and Saratoga Counties continue to have the basic resources they require to do their jobs, improve safety and save lives," said Schumer. "Local fire departments have been strained from budget cuts, rising costs of equipment and stress from being on heightened alert because of the war on terrorism. These funds are truly a life saving investment that will provide local fire departments with essential resources and support, so they can be better prepared for emergencies."

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security in cooperation with the Department's United States Fire Administration. The grants are awarded on a competitive basis to the applicants that most closely address the program's priorities and demonstrate financial need. For more information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, please visit the website at http://www.firegrantsupport.com .

###

Resource Center