[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 172 (Thursday, November 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2813-E2814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                FIRE GRANTS REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 18, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3791) to 
     amend sections 33 and 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and 
     Control Act of 1974, and for other purposes:

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support for H.R. 
3791, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009, introduced by my 
good friend Representative Harry Mitchell.
  H.R. 3791 will reauthorize the FIRE Grants programs--comprised of the 
Assistance to Firefighter Grant, AFG, program and the Staffing for 
Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, SAFER, grant program--to ensure 
that our local firefighters have the tools and resources they need to 
keep us safe and secure.
  Since 2001, the Fire Grants Programs have provided more than $5 
billion in support to local fire departments across the Nation, $190 
million of which has gone to support Texas fire departments. H.R. 3791 
provides a 5-year reauthorization of $1 billion per year for the AFG 
and $1.194 billion for the SAFER programs.
  The AFG program was created to address concerns that local budgets 
were unable to handle the mounting responsibilities allocated to the 
fire service by providing funds to local fire departments to purchase 
equipment, vehicles, and training. The SAFER program assists fire 
departments in hiring quality personnel and ensuring that volunteers 
meet the required safety standards. Funding through these programs has 
been a valuable tools in helping local fire departments provide 
emergency response services to their communities.

[[Page E2814]]

  The changes made to the AFG and SAFER programs in H.R. 3791 will 
improve these programs by allowing funding to be used for certain 
volunteer emergency medical services organizations and for building 
inspector certifications.
  I want to thank Representative Mitchell for his hard work in crafting 
this legislation which reflects bipartisan cooperation and is supported 
by the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International 
Association of Fire Fighters, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the 
National Fire Protection Association, and the Congressional Fire 
Services Institute.
  All fire departments, including those in our congressional district 
in Texas, strive to provide a superior level of emergency service that 
continually improves the quality of life, health and safety of our 
residents, and I am proud to support legislation that will ensure that 
they can achieve those goals.

                          ____________________