In September, a congressional conference committee began reconciling funding in FY 2005 homeland security appropriations bills passed by the House and Senate, including funding for a new federal grant program to help fire departments with staffing shortages and for the FIRE Grant Program.

The Senate version included $750 million for the FIRE Act (the same amount appropriated in FY 2003 and FY 2004) and $100 million for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Firefighters Act of 2003, known as the SAFER Act. The House appropriations bill, passed June 18, had smaller amounts for the two programs: $50 million for SAFER and $600 million for the FIRE Act.

Once the committee reconciles the two bills and the House and Senate approve the new version, it will go to President George W. Bush for his signature.

Senate appropriators originally had not included any funding for SAFER and proposed only $700 million for the FIRE Act, but Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) introduced an amendment to increase the FIRE Act amount and Sens. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) introduced an amendment to fund SAFER on Sept. 9.

The Specter — Dodd amendment successfully passed and was included in the homeland security bill Sept. 14, after many members of the International Association of Fire Chiefs responded to an “action alert” the IAFC issued via e-mail.

“I want to thank all of the IAFC members who reached out to their senators this past week,” said IAFC President Chief Bob DiPoli. “Your action truly made a difference. Getting involved in the federal legislative process is a crucial step that you as a fire chief and as an expert in public safety can take to advance America's fire service.”

On Sept. 17, a bipartisan group of 85 lawmakers led by House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) sent a letter to the members of the conference committee, urging them to give the SAFER Act the full $100 million proposed by the Senate.

Once funded, the SAFER Program, authorized in an FY 2004 defense-spending bill, will create a federal grant program, similar to the FIRE Grants, that will enable fire departments to receive grants to hire and pay for new firefighters for five years. The amount of the grants will decrease annually, zeroing out in the fifth year to promote local self-sufficiency. The program also provides grants to state and local organizations to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters.

The committee members have stated they would like to finish reconciling the appropriates before Congress adjourns, but nothing is set in stone. Congress is planning to adjourn by Oct. 8, just after Fire Chief went to press.