New Jersey Firefighters Protest President's Proposed 33% Cut

"The Bush Administration cannot talk about homeland security with credibility if it is not willing to make sure that our local firefighters and other first responders have the tools they need to keep our communities safe." said Rep. Rush Holt. "New Jersey's firefighters rely on these federal fire grants to help upgrade their equipment so that they are properly prepared for possible terrorist attacks and other unforeseen disasters. The tragedy of September 11th revealed that we were behind in equipping our firefighters, and nearly three years later they're still ill-equipped. Their bravery and service deserve proper support from our government."

"East Brunswick has been trying to raise the number of portable radios we have on scene for our firefighters for the last eight years," said East Brunswick firefighter and grant writer, John D'Antuono. "However, without the support of Rep. Rush Holt and these firefighter grants we could not have met our goals except by increasing the tax burden on the community we volunteer to serve."

The Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States. These funds are used by the nation's firefighters to increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, new fire apparatus, emergency medical service programs, and fire prevention and safety programs. On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the Department of Homeland Security.

Last year and again this year, Rep. Holt held workshops to explain the fire grant program, to assist in answering questions about the application process, and to encourage the companies to prepare competitive applications. So far in fiscal year 2003, firehouses in the 12th Congressional district have secured more than $1 million in grants from fire grant program. New Jersey firehouses have secured more than $18 million in the same period.

"Working together we've made tremendous progress over the last year to provide central New Jersey's firefighters with the proper tools. If these cuts pass, they would slow our momentum and that would be a shame," said Rep. Rush Holt.