[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 110 (Wednesday, August 1, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND 
             INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2002

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                               speech of

                       HON. FELIX J. GRUCCI, JR.

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 30, 2001

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2620) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs and 
     Housing and Urban Development and for sundry independent 
     agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. GRUCCI. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of Weldon Amendment 
which would increase the Fire Assistance Grant Program by $50 million.
  This past Monday, it was my honor to announce the awarding of a 
Federal grant to the Davis Park Fire Department in my district. This 
grant was one of only 108 that were awarded to fire departments across 
this country under the FEMA's Fire Assistance Grant Program.
  The Davis Park Fire Department along with nearly 20,000 other fire 
companies applied for grants--that is almost two-thirds of all fire 
companies in America. In the coming months, more than $100 million in 
grants will be rewarded to fire companies for vehicles, fire prevention 
programs, equipment and training.
  The Davis Park Fire Department will use its $30,000 in funds to train 
its firefighters in the most recent firefighting and rescue techniques. 
When I spoke with the department's chief he expressed his excitement 
over how the grant would help to strengthen the safety of not just the 
citizens of Davis Park but also the brave men and women who serve them.
  By supporting the Weldon Amendment we can guarantee that Fire 
Departments like the Davis Park will be able to benefit from this vital 
program next year. In doing so we can increase the safety of countless 
communities throughout our nation.
  I call upon all of my colleagues to join me in providing our nation's 
local fire departments with the opportunity to improve the quality of 
both services they offer and safety standards under which they serve.

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