IAFF Local 502

House Passes Legislation Improving FIRE Act/SAFER Grant Programs 

November 18, 2009 – By a bipartisan vote of 395-31, on November 18, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3791, the FIRE Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009. The bill makes improvements to both the Assistance to Fire Fighters (FIRE Act) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs that will significantly benefit professional fire departments in the United States.

The House also adopted the Firefighter Fatality Reduction Act as an amendment to H.R. 3791. The amendment, offered by Representative Ed Permutter (D-CO) promotes fire department compliance with industry consensus standards -- a top IAFF priority. The amendment passed by a vote of 358-75.

“Reauthorizing the FIRE Act and SAFER and enacting the Perlmutter amendment are of critical importance to protecting the health and safety of IAFF members,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “Passing both through the House brings us one step closer to ensuring our nation’s professional fire departments have the tools and support they need to protect public safety.”

H.R. 3791 would make important changes to the way FIRE Act grants are awarded to the benefit of professional fire departments. Specifically, the bill would significantly increase the amount of funding for which larger departments may apply, and reduce the local match from 20 percent to 10 percent. The proposal also allows the match to be waived for communities facing financial hardship, and eliminates the local match entirely for departments applying for a fire prevention grant.

Perhaps most importantly, the bill also guarantees professional and combination fire departments a minimum percentage of funding under the FIRE Act. To date, professional departments have enjoyed no such guarantee and have been significantly shortchanged in FIRE Act grants awards.

The bill also simplifies the rules governing SAFER, making it significantly easier for municipalities to commit to a SAFER grant. Amendments include shortening the grant period from five to three years, implementing an across-the-board 20 percent local match, and eliminating the current funding cap. It also makes permanent the temporary authorities enacted by the IAFF to waive the SAFER local match and other restrictions.

The U.S. Senate is currently working to craft companion legislation, which it is expected to consider before the new year.

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives who did not support the IAFF and the nation's fire fighters in this vote are:

Todd Akin (R-MO)
Rob Bishop (R-UT)
Paul Broun (R-GA)
John Campbell (R-CA)
John Carter (R-TX)
Jason Chaffetz (R-UT)
Mike Coffman (R-CO)
Mike Conaway (R-TX)
John Culberson (R-TX)
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
Trent Franks (R-AZ)
Jeb Hensarling (R-TX)
Wally Herger (R-CA)
Bob Inglis (R-SC)
Darrell Issa (R-CA)
Sam Johnson (R-TX)
Jim Jordan (R-OH)
Steve King (R-IA)
Jack Kingston (R-GA)
Doug Lamborn (R-CO)
John Linder (R-GA)
Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)
Connie Mack (R-FL)
Tom McClintock (R-CA)
John Mica (R-FL)
Randy Neugebauer (R-TX)
Ron Paul (R-TX)
Ed Royce (R-CA)
James F. Sensenbrenner (R-WI)
John Shadegg (R-AZ)
William Thornberry (R-TX)

IAFF Hails Election Day Victories

November 6, 2009 – On Tuesday, November 3, voters in many states went to the ballot box. In two states – Maine and Washington – ballot initiatives that would have severely impacted professional fire fighters and other public safety personnel were roundly rejected.

In both states, voters rejected a proposal known as the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR). Under TABOR, government spending increases would be capped by a formula that is based on the state's rate of inflation and population growth. Any increase in government spending above that formulaic cap would require statewide voter approval.

While voters and legislators across the United States have consistently rejected TABOR initiatives in past election cycles, the proposal continues to surface in states either in the legislature or on the ballot. In fact, Colorado, which is the only state to have ever successfully passed a TABOR initiative, ultimately went back to the voters to suspend it because of the devastating impact on the state's economy.

Fortunately, Maine's citizens overwhelmingly defeated the latest TABOR proposal, as they had done twice before.

Similarly, Washington state voters rejected a TABOR initiative (I-1033), with 45 percent voting in favor and 55 percent voting against.

Additionally, Mainers also rejected a ballot initiative that sought to reduce Maine's automobile excise tax by half, a move that could have had dire consequences for the funding of fire services in the state. When the votes were counted, the initiative failed 26 percent to 74 percent.

Several municipal elections were also of great importance to the IAFF where IAFF members or relatives were running for office. The IAFF congratulates the following individuals on their successful election or re-election to office:

• Todd Bloam – Councilman at Large, Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio (Cleveland, OH Local 93)
• Peggy Brickweg – City Council, St. Bernard, Ohio (Spouse of member from St. Bernard, OH Local 450)
• Jason Cafarella – County Legislator, Niagara County, New York (Niagara Falls, NY Local 714)
• Edward B. Dildine – Township Trustee, Madison Township, Ohio (Madison Township, OH Local 2507)
• Edward G. Dildine – City Council, Groveport, Ohio (Madison Township, OH Local 2507)
• Andy Drwal – City Council, Lorain, Ohio (Lorain, OH Local 267)
• Patty Hausfeld – City Council, St. Bernard, Ohio (sister of two members from St. Bernard, OH Local 450)
• Roy Hollenbacher – Township Trustee, Bath Township, Ohio (Lima, OH Local 334)
• Del Spivey – City Council, Bothell, Washington (Bellevue, WA Local 1604)

The IAFF is also pleased to announce the election of two new fire fighter-friendly candidates to the U.S. House of Representatives. On the West Coast, California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi was elected to serve as the new representative for California's 10th Congressional District, which includes Contra Costa, Alameda, Sacramento and Solano counties. And on the East Coast, retired Air Force Captain Bill Owens was elected representative for New York's 23rd Congressional District, which includes a large swath of upstate territory in the northeast part of the state. Both candidates were IAFF FIREPAC supported. 

IAFF Affiliates to Gain Under Proposed FIRE/SAFER Amendments 

October 9, 2009 – Legislation about to be introduced in Congress would make improvements to both the Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs that will significantly benefit professional U.S. fire departments. The IAFF and other national fire service organizations have secured the endorsement of a key congressional committee for a compromise proposal that will reauthorize the FIRE Act and SAFER programs for five years and change the way grants are awarded.

Specifically, the proposal would amend the FIRE Act to guarantee professional and combination fire departments a minimum percentage of funding, significantly increase the amount of funding for which larger departments may apply, and reduce the local match from 20 percent to 10 percent. The proposal also allows the match to be waived for communities facing financial hardship, and eliminates the local match entirely for departments applying for a fire prevention grant.

“Although the FIRE Act grant program is a tremendous resource for local fire departments, for years, professional fire departments have been shortchanged in grants awarded,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “This proposal will ensure that professional departments receive a fairer share of funds, as well as make it more affordable for communities to pursue a grant.”

The proposal also simplifies the rules governing SAFER, making it significantly easier for municipalities to commit to a SAFER grant. Amendments include shortening the grant period from five to three years, implementing an across-the-board 20 percent local match, and eliminating the current funding cap. It also makes permanent the temporary authorities enacted by the IAFF to waive the SAFER local match and other restrictions.

In addition to advancing legislation to reform the SAFER program, the IAFF has also been encouraging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to expedite publication of the revised guidance for SAFER. In June, Congress granted the DHS Secretary the authority to waive SAFER rules to allow funds to be used to rehire laid off fire fighters and prevent future layoffs. The guidance is expected to be released this month.

The legislation has been endorsed by the leadership of the House Science Committee, which has jurisdiction over the issue. The Committee is expected to move quickly to approve the bill once it has been formally introduced.

The proposal is the result of many months of negotiations with Congress and other national fire service organizations. Earlier this year, the IAFF testified before a House Subcommittee on ways to improve the programs. The proposal unveiled this week includes almost all of the recommendations raised in the IAFF testimony.

“We look forward to working with Congress and the Obama Administration in the coming months to ensure that these vital fire service programs provide much needed support to the nation’s professional fire service,” says Schaitberger.