From the IAFF: As part of a comprehensive jobs proposal presented to Congress, President Obama proposed spending $1 billion to protect firefighters’ jobs and grow staffing levels. If approved, the funding would be sufficient to rehire every laid-off firefighter and still add thousands of new positions.



The proposal is part of $450 billion package intended to stimulate the nation’s struggling economy. Other provisions of plan include incentives for business to hire workers, spending on infrastructure projects, funding to hire teachers and law enforcement officers, jobs programs for returning veterans and other special groups, as well as tax cuts for individuals. 



The proposal comes on the heels of a vote by the Senate Appropriations Committee to allocate $375 million each for both the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) grant programs. The Obama proposal would add an additional $1 billion for the SAFER program on top of what the Appropriation Committee recommended.