Letter to Mr. Fugate, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency

Letter

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today announced that the City of Scranton will receive a grant totaling $8,175,860 for the Scranton Fire Department to increase the number of trained firefighters in the community.

Senator Casey supported the grant in a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in March and made a personal call to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to urge him to approve the grant last month.

"Scranton's firefighters work night and day to keep the community safe, and this grant will go a long way toward ensuring that the Scranton Fire Department is able to be adequately staffed," said Senator Casey. "I personally called the head of FEMA to support this grant because our firefighters are essential to protecting Scranton from numerous dangers and threats, and our streets will be safer because of it."

Federal funds are awarded through the FEMA's Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, which aims to provide funding to fire departments to help them increase the number of trained firefighters in their communities.

Senator Casey's letter to FEMA urging approval of this grant is below:

Dear Mr. Fugate:

It is my understanding that the City of Scranton has applied for a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) grant. I strongly support this application and urge you to give full and fair consideration to this proposal.

If awarded, the City of Scranton would use this grant to rehire thirty-two firefighters as well as fill eighteen positions which have been reduced through attrition. Due to the economic downturn, thirty-two firefighters have been laid off, three of seven engine companies are now closed and remaining companies are experiencing "brown outs." These cuts have increased response times, which is especially concerning in an area with older infrastructure. This grant would play a central role in improving public safety in the city and I urge you to give this application all due consideration.

Thank you in advance for the consideration of my views. Please include this letter in the official record of the application. Consistent with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, I also respectfully request that you keep me informed of the status of this grant application.

Sincerely,

Robert P. Casey, Jr.

United States Senator

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