The U.S. House of Representatives voted yesterday 395–31 to pass H.R. 3791, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009. The bill will now move to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

The House-approved version of the bill provides $1 billion per fiscal year from FY 2010 to FY 2014. AFG funding would be: 25% each for career, combination and volunteer fire departments; 10% for fire-prevention and -safety grants; 2% for volunteer, non-fire-service EMS and rescue organizations; 3% for state fire training academies; and the remaining for open competition to all types of fire departments for traditional AFG.

Amendments attached to the final bill passed yesterday include: river-rescue operations eligible for funding; authorizes a national survey to assess compliance with best practices on firefighter safety; and allows the purchase of equipment that reduces the use of water in fighting fires and training firefighters.

Related Links:

• http://www.nvfc.org/index.php?item_id=1079&action=show_item&type=news
• http://rules.house.gov/SpecialRules_details.aspx?NewsID=4507. 
• Complete bill text: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3791eh.txt.pdf
• Complete press release from bill sponsor Representative Harry Mitchell's office: http://mitchell.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=650&Itemid=80
• Press release from bill cosponsor Rep. Steny Hoyer's (Md. 5) office.