The Congressional Fire Services Institute is asking fire chiefs and officers across the country to contact their congressional representatives immediately and urge them to vote in support of an amendment to increase the FY 2010 FIRE Grant budget.

The House Appropriations Committee has proposed a 33% cut from the FIRE Grant program's current $565 million to $380 million for FY 2010. Reps. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), Peter King (R-N.Y.) and Steve Austria (R-Ohio) are expected to propose an additional $40 million for the grant program. The House is expected to take up the measure tomorrow.

The Fire Apparatus Manufacturers Association and the Fire and Emergency Manufacturers and Services Association's Government Affairs Committee issued a press release encouraging its members to also contact Congressional leaders to support the amendment. The GAC offered sample text that can be used in e-mail or as a script:

"The FIRE Grants program provides essential equipment to volunteer and career fire departments all across the country. It is one of the most efficiently run programs in the federal government. Only 5% goes to administration. Last year the program was funded at $565 million, but received 19,000 applications totaling $3.2 billion. Now is not the time to cut this program when local governments and fire departments are under severe fiscal stress."

"As a company in your district that manufactures life saving equipment, we encourage you to vote "yes" on the Pascrell/Altmire/King/Austria Fire Grants Amendment."