McCarthy holds Grant Workshop for Long Island Firefighters

McCarthy holds Grant Workshop for Long Island Firefighters

Thursday March 16, 2006

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy held her 4th annual Assistance to Firefighters Grant Seminar in East Rockaway. Rep. McCarthy and her staff provided information on how to apply to the only federal grant for local fire departments. Representatives from more than a dozen area fire departments attended.

"Since 2003, we've been holding these workshops and 4th District fire departments have received more than $2.5 million in grants," said McCarthy. "With municipal budgets tight throughout Long Island, this may be the only opportunity for fire departments to receive funding for new initiatives and projects."

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant, administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, provides grants for personal protective equipment, training, vehicles, and other requests that allow local firefighters to do their jobs more effectively and safely.
However, the President's budget for 2007 calls for a 60% cut in funding of the Assistance to Firefighter Grants program.

McCarthy is committed to fighting the cuts in Congress. "Since 9/11, firefighters have been charged with new responsibilities and we must give them the resources they need to protect the public."
"Long Island's firefighters serve one of the highest risk areas in the nation," said McCarthy. "On 9/11, our local fire departments answered the call and will continue to answer the call whenever there are people in danger."

"The federal government should do more, not less, to give these brave men and women the resources they need."

http://carolynmccarthy.house.gov/index.cfm?ContentID=535&ParentID=0&SectionID=32&SectionTree=32&lnk=b&ItemID=526