March 29, 2023

Warren Urges Senate Leadership to Pass Fire Grants and Safety Act, Ensure Massachusetts Fire Departments Receive Critical Federal Support

Warren Urges Senate Leadership to Pass Fire Grants and Safety Act, Ensure Massachusetts Fire Departments Receive Critical Federal Support

Grants Authorized by Legislation Have Awarded Over $270 Million to Massachusetts Fire Departments Since 2015

Without Congressional Action, Grants Will Expire Next Year

Text of Letter (PDF)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) urged Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to take swift action to pass the Fire Grants and Safety Act which supports two federal grant programs, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs. The grants are expected to expire next year. 

“Massachusetts fire departments have a strong history of securing AFG and SAFER grants to support their local firefighting and emergency response duties,” wrote Senator Warren. “I strongly support the work of these fire departments in protecting our communities and hope to see the robust funding necessary to keep these programs going.”

Massachusetts fire departments have received over $270 million from these grants since 2015. Across the Commonwealth, departments have used the funding to purchase life-saving emergency response medical equipment and protective gear, and to recruit, train, and retain personnel. Just last month, the Hingham Fire Department received an AFG grant of over $100,000 to purchase life-saving emergency response medical equipment.  Belchertown announced late last year that it would receive over $1 million from SAFER to hire new firefighters.  Worcester also received $14 million in SAFER grants to pay 60 firefighters over three years. Federal funding from these grants has been critical to keeping Massachusetts towns and cities safe. 

Senator Warren has been an advocate for Massachusetts’ firefighters and those on the frontlines of protecting our communities: 

  • In December 2022, Senator Warren and the Massachusetts congressional delegation announced $225 million in federal funding to support critical projects across the Commonwealth, including critical technology for firefighters and EMTs in Franklin County. 
  • In August 2022, Senators Warren and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) announced over $2 million in federal funding for Massachusetts Fire Departments as part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants. 
  • In July 2020, Senator Warren and the Massachusetts congressional delegation secured $2.95 million in grants to Massachusetts fire departments to obtain critical equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources. 
  • In 2019, Senators Warren, Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jacky Rosen (D-N.V.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced a resolution to designate October 28, 2019 as “Honoring the Nation’s First Responders Day.” 

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