[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1217-S1218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ORDER FOR ADJOURNMENT

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. If there is no further business to come before the 
Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order, 
following the remarks of Senator Murkowski, to whom I express gratitude 
for her courtesy.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The Senator from Alaska.


                                 S. 870

  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I am pleased that we are at this point 
in the Senate calendar when we are talking about legislation on the 
floor. We have S. 870, which is the Fire Grants and Safety Act. I am a 
sponsor, a proud cosponsor of this measure.
  My State of Alaska routinely faces severe fire seasons every year. As 
cochair of the Senate Fire Caucus, I follow these issues very 
carefully. Whether they are wildland fires or fires in our urban 
centers, I believe we have a bill in front of us, a measure in front of 
us, that deserves all of our support.
  The Fire Grants and Safety Act is a pretty simple bill. It is not 
very often that we actually have things that are simple and short, and 
this one is just a few pages long. It reauthorizes the U.S. Fire 
Administration, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, as well 
as the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program. 
That is the SAFER Program. It reauthorizes all of these through 2030, 
instead of allowing them to expire next year. The Fire Administration's 
authorization is increased slightly, but the rest are basically 
straight extensions here.
  As I mentioned, it is a pretty simple bill, but I think it is 
important to appreciate and understand the importance because sometimes 
I think these programs are underappreciated. They help our local fire 
departments recruit personnel--pretty important, we have got to get 
those firefighters to us--but not only to recruit them but to retain 
them as well. It also helps allow them to purchase updated vehicles and 
equipment.
  We also help our fire stations by providing for safety and rescue 
training as well as health screenings.
  The Fire Grants and Safety Act is also a very timely measure and not 
just because we are looking at these programs nearing their expiration 
date, but our U.S. Fire Administrator has reminded us that ``America is 
still burning.'' That is the quote. Last year, fires destroyed over 1 
million structures and over 7.5 million acres of land across the 
country.
  Again, in the State of Alaska, it is not unusual that we have 1 
million-plus acres burn each season, and in many seasons, well more 
than a million.
  But in addition to dealing with the impact to the land and to 
structures that are on them, it is a safety issue that comes with 
fighting fires. Approximately, 2,500 people, including 96 firefighters, 
have died because of these fires. Again, as we are seeing wildfires 
become larger and more catastrophic, the danger that it presents from a 
health-safety perspective but also the devastation and impact to the 
land becomes that much greater.
  In our State in Alaska, our geography and really our lack of core 
infrastructure oftentimes makes it harder to respond, sometimes really 
not possible at all. But you have got wildfires

[[Page S1218]]

that can start hundreds of miles from a road system. It is difficult to 
deal with. But then you have house fires in one village off where road 
travel--there is no connection between the two villages and an 
inability to help address a local fire, as we have seen, unfortunately, 
on far too many occasions.
  Just last month, the Kennicott McCarthy Volunteer Fire Department 
received $77,950. It doesn't sound like a lot in terms of dollars that 
we talk about here on this floor, but it was $77,000-plus to support 
recruitment and retention of firefighters. They were able to utilize 
FEMA's SAFER Grant Program. Again, this is a program that is going to 
sunset this year. But let me put the Kennicott McCarthy Volunteer Fire 
Department into context. This fire department is over 300 miles from 
Anchorage, the large city there. That is about a 7-hour drive in good 
weather. And I would challenge people--most times getting into 
McCarthy, it doesn't make any difference what the weather is, the road 
is tough enough that it is going to take you well more than 7 
hours. There are about 42 people who live in the McCarthy-Kennicott 
area year-round, but in the summertime, you have got a growth in 
population when tourists come into the area and when folks who have 
cabins and properties like to spend the summers out there. So it can 
grow to over 1,000, 1,200 people in the summer. It serves as the 
gateway to the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. So it is an important 
tourist destination for us.

  This little town hosted over 65,000 visitors last year. So it kind of 
causes you to ask the question: How can a town of 42 year-round 
residents support this influx of outside traffic without the assistance 
of the Federal Government here? That is exactly what these SAFER grants 
have allowed them to do. So believe me. That $77,000 is going to go a 
long way for that volunteer fire department in Kennicott-McCarthy.
  I mentioned that we face unique challenges in Alaska, but I would 
wager to say that every Member of this Chamber or one of your family 
members or your friends or your neighbors--every one of us has 
benefited from the emergency services that are provided by our local 
fire departments. So, as they have helped us, it is our turn to be 
helping them.
  I am hopeful that we will be able to move through this process. It 
was good to have a vote on an amendment this afternoon. We will have 
the opportunity for more tomorrow and, hopefully, be able to wrap this 
bill up soon, this week.
  But I do hope that this measure will garner the same level of 
bipartisan support as its predecessors. Back in 2017, we passed a fire 
grant reauthorization by unanimous consent. I think that that reflects 
how every State recognizes the benefit from this act, and I think that 
this year's effort should, really, be no different.
  The Fire Grants and Safety Act has garnered widespread support. We 
have got organizations and groups, like the International Association 
of Fire Chiefs, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the Congressional 
Fire Services Institute, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, 
the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, as well as the 
International Association of Fire Fighters. So we have great, great 
support from these very important organizations.
  One of my friends and a real leader in Alaska is the president of the 
Alaska Professional Fire Fighters Association, Dominic Lozano. He has 
shared his endorsement of this measure.
  He explains and says:

       Over the last few years, Alaska has faced record fire 
     seasons across the state, making our firefighters, rescuers, 
     and emergency medical workers as vital as ever. And whether 
     the fires take place in urban or rural Alaska, our rugged 
     terrain and harsh climate can make emergency response far 
     more difficult. This bill will assist Alaska Fire Departments 
     with hiring new firefighters to attain proper staffing levels 
     as well as provide valuable equipment to agencies across the 
     state.

  I really appreciate Dominic's support for this measure.
  I will tell you that I think we know that our firefighters have an 
extraordinarily difficult job, a dangerous job, a job that tasks them 
every day. I had an opportunity to participate in a VIP day, where we 
all donned the turnout suits and had the hats and had the opportunity 
to see how the ``jaws of life'' actually work.
  We had the opportunity to go into a training facility that was built 
out to be a burning apartment building and to haul the hose from the 
truck, up the stairs, and into a burning room to put out the fire. I 
can tell you that those who went in to literally take the heat got a 
very, very, very small, small glimpse of what our firefighters go 
through every day.
  I thank all of our firefighters. I thank our Alaska firefighters and 
all of those around the country for the tremendous and selfless work 
that they do in putting themselves in harm's way to protect our lives, 
our lands, and our communities. I am certainly committed to making sure 
that they have the resources to get home safely every single day.
  I appreciate the leadership from Senator Peters, Senator Collins, and 
Senator Carper that they have put into this Fire Grants and Safety Act. 
Again, I am glad to cosponsor it with them and am glad to be able to 
give some short comments in support.
  Our firefighters deserve this bill, and our communities need this 
bill. That should be enough for all of us to support it.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________