Schumer: Firefighters Deserve The Best Equipment To Keep Our Communities Safe

Statement

Standing at the A.E. Crandall Hook & Ladder Company in Alfred, NY, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today launched his push to increase funding for grant programs for firefighters, which help localities and departments across Allegany County and all of Upstate New York purchase new equipment, protective gear and emergency vehicles, as well as recruit and hire new firefighters. Schumer said local fire departments throughout New York State apply for and rely upon these federal funds, which are administered through the Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant programs. Schumer said these two programs have seen decreased funding since 2011. Therefore, Schumer urged the Senate Appropriations Committee to include a combined $810 million for both programs in the FY 2016 appropriations bill, an increase of $130 million from FY 2015 funding. Schumer argued these grant programs are extremely important to many local fire departments in Allegany County that are already strapped for cash, and it is critical Congress provide more resources to the brave men and women who keep our communities safe.

"We owe it to our brave fire fighters -- who risk their lives every day to protect our communities and deserve to have the state-of-the-art equipment needed to do their jobs safely and effectively. Simply put, the continual short-changing of the AFG and SAFER grant programs is unacceptable and means our local departments will not have the equipment they need," said Schumer. "I am urging my colleagues to increase funding to these two critical programs that bring vital resources to our local fire departments in Allegany County and across Upstate New York. I've fought my whole career to bring more federal resources to our fire departments -- so I'll be working double-time to keep our firefighters and communities safe."

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