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Click Here for the HomeDay Toolkit (pdf) US FIRE GRANT SUPPORT GAC Resources For GAC documents, announcements, and information please click here to visit the microsite.
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Home Day 2008 Information Page Senate, House committees mark up FY09 DHS appropriations bills Fire/EMS Safety, Health, and Survival Week: June 22-28 FEMA Gives Away $85 Million of Supplies Earmarked for Katrina Victims Schools in 34 States to get $24 Million in Emergency Management Funds Panels Boost Funding for First-Responder Grants Above Bush Request Iraq Restrictions, Surtax Back in House Supplemental Supplemental Takes Precedence for House Appropriators FEMA Releases 2008 Disaster Housing Plan AFG Releases 5-Year Summary of Equipment and Vehicle Awards
Home Day 2008 Information Page In 2006 the FAMA/FEMSA Governmental Affairs Committee launched a new initiative, Home Day, to encourage its member companies to hold local events that would educate elected officials and the general public on the importance of the fire and emergency services industry. Over a dozen such events were held in 2007 including those in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland and Massachusetts. Congressional representatives or their staff participated in all the Home Day events, often giving major speeches, touring facilities, and meeting employees. The Home Day events emphasize the importance of the AFG and SAFER grant programs to communities and local economies. Click Here to read more.
FEMA released the Grant Guidance and Application kit for the FY 2008 Emergency Operations Center Grant Program To: IAEM US Members
Senate, House committees mark up FY09 DHS appropriations bills The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations marked up its version of the FY09 Homeland Security appropriations bill June 19. The Senate version maintains FY08 levels of funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants, $560 million, and SAFER, $190 million. The bill also maintains FY08 funding for the U.S. Fire Administration in FY09, $43.3 million. The president had requested only $300 million for AFG and proposed “zeroing out” SAFER. Source: Development Initiatives, Inc. Fire/EMS Safety, Health, and Survival Week: June 22-28 The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), all members of the Fire Corps National Advisory Committee, have partnered to support the 2008 Fire/EMS Safety, Health, and Survival Week, scheduled for June 22-28. The theme for the week is “Committed to Long-Term Results,” which encourages long-term investments by both chiefs and firefighters to enhance their health and safety. The ultimate goal is to institute a strong culture of health and safety within the fire and emergency medical services. Fire Corps members can promote health, safety, and survival in their department by utilizing the suggested activities and materials, which emphasize three key areas where standard operating procedures, policies, and initiatives – along with the training and enforcement that support them – can limit fire/EMS personnel’s risk of injury or death. These areas include vehicle safety, wellness-fitness programs, and personal protective equipment. Fire Corps members, whether they are retired firefighters, public educators, fitness instructors, or family and friends of emergency personnel, can make a difference to improve the safety, health, and the overall survival of our nation’s first responders. Source: FireCORPS FEMA Gives Away $85 Million of Supplies Earmarked for Katrina Victims A new investigation has found that FEMA gave away approximately $85 million in household goods earmarked for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Click HERE>> Source: Disaster Resources Guide Schools in 34 States to get $24 Million in Emergency Management Funds Ninety-two school districts in 34 different states are getting $24 million in grants to improve their emergency management and readiness plans. Click HERE>> Source: Disaster Resources Guide Panels Boost Funding for First-Responder Grants Above Bush Request June 17, 2008 The House Appropriations Committee will consider a fiscal 2009 Homeland Security spending measure Wednesday that would boost grant funding for emergency first-responders to nearly twice the amount requested by President Bush. A Senate subcommittee will consider its version of the bill as well. Members on the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee last week approved a $45.9 billion fiscal 2009 Homeland Security spending bill. The measure would provide $39.9 billion in discretionary spending to the department, $2.3 billion more than Bush's request and about 6 percent more than in fiscal 2008. The bill would appropriate $4.2 billion for grant funding for local police, fire and emergency agencies, as well as local transportation systems and seaports. Bush had proposed cutting these programs by $2 billion. It also would provide $544 million for aviation explosives-detection technologies. Bush had proposed $140 million less. Republican members did not offer amendments at the subcommittee markup last week, but they said they probably would do so at the full Appropriations Committee meeting. Harold Rogers of Kentucky, the subcommittee's ranking Republican, voiced concern about proposals in the bill that would set certain requirements for border security programs. Similar requirements, which require Customs and Border Protection officials to give the subcommittee cost-benefit analyses and other plans for its projects, were enacted for fiscal 2008 (PL110-161). Rogers said that process effectively has frozen $650 million in needed funds for a fence on the Mexican border. Subcommittee Chairman David E. Price, D-N.C., characterized the requirements as "perfectly reasonable" and consistent with the standards set for other government work. There is also $334 million in unobligated funding from fiscal years 2007 and 2008 that is immediately available to Customs and Border Protection, he added. Rogers also criticized the spending measure for not capping the number of screeners that can be employed by the Transportation Security Administration, noting that human screening was more costly and less efficient than screening by mechanical scanners. Republicans also might try to reduce the amount of discretionary spending under the bill. Rogers said the $39.9 billion discretionary spending level is "too generous" and flies in the face of "real fiscal discipline." Price said there are about 100 earmarks in the bill, most of which would go to mitigation projects, such as preparations for storms. The bill rejects a White House proposal to eliminate law enforcement officer benefits that are paid to Customs and Border Protection personnel. The legislation would provide $217 million for the program. Price said the fiscal 2008 law provided the benefits for Customs and Border personnel, and they deserve to keep them. The measure also would allocate $800 million to identify illegal immigrants who have been convicted of crimes and prioritize them for deportation. Also under the bill, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials would be required to cancel contracts with private detention facilities that fail two consecutive audits of health standards. Meanwhile, a Senate panel on Wednesday was expected to approve a Homeland Security appropriations bill that also would provide more grant funding for police, fire and emergency first-responders than Bush proposed in his budget. Daniel K. Inouye, a member of the Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, has said the draft bill would exceed the $37.6 billion that Bush requested. No amendments are expected to be offered at Wednesday's Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee markup. Funding levels for first-responder grants has proven a contentious issue in recent years. Bush requested $2.2 billion in his fiscal 2009 budget for grants programs, which help pay for police, fire, emergency, first-responder, public transportation and port security operations. Bush also requested $2.2 billion for homeland security grants in his fiscal 2008 budget request. Congress increased money for the grant programs to $4.2 billion in the fiscal 2008 omnibus spending law (PL 110-161) and is expected to provide a similar amount again this year. The House version of the bill would provide $4.2 billion in grant funding for first-responders. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert C. Byrd, (D) W.Va., is likely to follow the House's lead. Byrd has expressed disappointment with the level of funding requested by the White House for implementing some requirements set out in the Sept. 11 commission recommendations legislation (PL 110-53), such as the expansion of surface transportation security programs and increased screening of air cargo. The Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee is also expected to include robust funding for border security, the Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., has hinted that the subcommittee would look to encourage more deportations of illegal immigrants convicted of crimes. Source: CQ Today Print Edition Iraq Restrictions, Surtax Back in House Supplemental CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS The House is on track to approve a supplemental spending bill similar to what it considered a month ago, including restrictions on war policy and a surtax on the wealthy, Democratic aides and a White House official said Tuesday. But Senate Democrats already were preparing to alter the bill once it reached them. The ever-changing supplemental spending bill (HR 2642) reflects fractured negotiations between House Democrats, the White House, and Senate Democrats. Further complicating the matter, Democrats in the House and Senate have been unable to hammer out a unified approach. “We have to work these things through, and apparently it must be very difficult for the leadership to do that,” said Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb. Steve McMillin, deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, said the White House is familiar with the House plan, which includes benefits for veterans and the unemployed. He said President Bush would veto the legislation if it reaches his desk. McMillin said the administration’s understanding was that the House bill which it plans to take up Wednesday or Thursday would include an unemployment insurance extension, veterans’ education benefit, a delay in Medicaid regulations and a surtax on the wealthy to offset the cost of the veterans’ benefit. McMillin said the war policy language from the first House version would be included, but a Democratic aide said some of the provisions, including a timetable for withdrawal, would be dropped. The policy language had included a plan to redeploy U.S. troops from Iraq starting within 30 days, with a nonbinding “goal” of completion within 18 months. It included provisions requiring soldiers be limited to 12-month deployments, although the president could waive this provision, a ban on permanent U.S. bases in Iraq and a requirement that the Iraqi government match any funds for training of Iraqi security forces or reconstruction. The House had been expected to keep the policy language out of the next version. The surtax also was expected to be dropped, but fiscally conservative Blue Dogs continued to insist that they wanted the cost of the veterans’ education benefit $52 billion over 10 years to be offset. Senate Democrats say they do not have the votes for the surtax, and did not include it in their version. Blue Dogs may be appeased if the Senate was to vote on the surtax, however. The administration has indicated its willingness to consider some form of a veterans’ education benefit, as well as targeted unemployment insurance benefits, though they want the latter to be considered separately from the supplemental. But it has made clear that the surtax and the war policy language are non-negotiable and would draw a veto. McMillin said the White House had made efforts to negotiate on the delay of seven Medicaid regulations, such as offering to delay a couple of the most controversial ones, but had been rebuffed. Negotiations between the White House and Democrats on the bulk of the supplemental had mostly broken off after Democrats decided to delay the supplemental and consider a standalone unemployment insurance bill (HR 5749) separately, McMillin said. The House passed the bill 274-137 on June 12. With the House supplemental measure looking much as it did when the Senate first rejected it, House Minority Leader John A. Boehner of Ohio said, “One definition of insanity is to repeat the same action and expect a different result. But when it comes to the safety of our men and women in harm’s way, repeating the same cynical action is more than just insanity; it demonstrates a complete lack of judgment and responsibility.” House Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri accused Democrats of trying to score political points. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the unemployment extension would be added to the supplemental bill after Minority Whip Jon Kyl of Arizona objected to calling up the House-passed measure. The House bill would extend unemployment insurance in all states by 13 weeks beyond the 26 weeks already authorized under law. States with high unemployment a total rate of at least 6 percent, or an insured unemployment rate of 4 percent or higher would get an additional 13 weeks. Republicans in both chambers, as well as the White House, want any extension to focus only on states with high unemployment rates, arguing that the national rate of 5.5 percent is low by historical standards. Kyl urged Reid to allow Republicans to offer changes to the unemployment extension however it is brought to the floor. Reid said, “We’ll be happy to work with the minority if they feel like there are some changes that should be made.” At their weekly policy lunch, Senate Democrats discussed three items they wanted to see included in the supplemental. Senate Majority Whip Richard C. Durbin, D-Ill., said that Senate Democrats intended to make sure Midwest flood disaster relief money, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds, and Byrne law enforcement grants were in the final version sent to the president. President Bush said he also wants Congress to include funding in the supplemental to deal with the aftermath of floods that have swept the Midwest. The supplemental also will include about $2 billion in emergency funds to deal with Iowa flooding, according to GOP House Appropriator Tom Latham of Iowa. That money would go to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund. About $1 billion worth of LIHEAP funds were added to the Senate’s version of the bill during the appropriations committee markup, as the result of an amendment by Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. That version also included $490 million for the Byrne grants. If the House package doesn’t include those items, Senate Democrats will push to replace the House package with one that does, Durbin indicated. Although he hadn’t seen the House’s latest creation, Durbin said the plan to quickly sign a passable bill was now up in the air. “The hope was that the House version would be signed and that we wouldn’t make any changes over here that would cost presidential approval,” said Durbin. Josh Rogin and Kathleen Hunter contributed to this story. First posted June 17, 2008 10:59 a.m. Source: CQ Today Online News Supplemental Takes Precedence for House Appropriators CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said he hopes to have the supplemental war spending bill on the floor Thursday, adding that the House Appropriations full committee markups have been canceled this week so appropriators can concentrate on getting the bill done. Hoyer, D-Md., said that House leaders still hope to produce a supplemental that would clear the Senate and be signed by the president. The Rules Committee may meet Wednesday afternoon to prepare the bill (HR 2642) for floor consideration. Hoyer acknowledged some more legislative back-and-forth between the two chambers still may be necessary. “I would hope that it could be digested by the Senate, but that could be the case,” he said. House leaders have been planning to include a surtax on the wealthy to pay for the cost of an expansion of veterans education benefits that will be included in the bill. Senate Democrats oppose the offset but House leaders need to appease the concerns of Democratic Blue Dogs who want its cost offset and have asked leadership to put the issue before the Senate one more time. The fiscally conservative Blue Dogs have indicated that if the House includes the offset this time, they would not stand in the way of a final bill even if the Senate again rejects the offset. The cost of the veterans benefit is likely to grow by $10 billion from its projected $52 billion, 10-year estimate because of a White House request to allow veterans to transfer the benefit to family members, Hoyer said. A key to any deal will be finding a compromise on an extension of unemployment benefits. Democrats are pushing a House-passed (HR 5749) proposal that would would extend unemployment insurance in all states by 13 weeks beyond the 26 weeks already authorized under law. States with high unemployment, a total rate of at least 6 percent or an insured unemployment rate of 4 percent or higher, would get an additional 13 weeks. Republicans support some form of an extension but want it to be targeted only to states with high unemployment. They also have criticized the Democrats’ plan because it doesn’t inclue a requirement that individuals work at least 20 weeks before collecting extended federal benefits. At the request of President Bush, the measure also is expected to include emergency flood relief for Midwest states that suffered catastrophic damage when rivers recently overflowed their banks. The high water levels are now expected to hit Mississippi River towns downstream. The full Appropriations panel was scheduled to mark up the fiscal 2009 bills for Homeland Security, Interior-Environment, Commerce-Justice-Science and Military Construction-VA, but work on the supplemental has taken precedence. The markups have not yet been rescheduled. Subcommittee markups are expected to proceed as planned. Appropriations Chairman David R. Obey, D-Wis., briefed fellow Democrats Wednesday morning on a plan to move the supplemental without a timeline for Iraq troop withdrawals and some other war policy restrictions. Obey declined to comment after the caucus meeting. But Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, predicted the measure without all of the war-funding strings favored by anti-war Democrats would pass when it moves later this week. “We will have the votes,” Emanuel said. The House is expected to vote on two amendments one including war funding and another with domestic spending items, including expanded veterans’ benefits. “It will be hard to vote against veterans’ benefits. But I will vote against war funding,” said Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif. “The supp will not have restrictions. It will marginalize those who oppose the war,” said James P. Moran, D-Va., a senior appropriator. The latest version would include a surtax on the wealthy, restrictions on future defense agreements with Iraq, an unemployment insurance extension, a delay of Medicaid regulations and a veterans’ education benefit, both Democratic aides and a White House official said Tuesday. Alan K. Ota contributed to this story. First posted June 18, 2008 10:01 a.m. Source: CQ Today Online News Only One Day Remains In 2008 Safer Application Period June 20, 2008 - The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program Office is reminding fire departments and state or local organizations that represent the interest of volunteer firefighters that one week remains in the SAFER application period. The application period for SAFER began May 27, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time and will end 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on June 27, 2008. If you have started an application, please be sure to complete it and submit it before the deadline. All applications must be submitted to be considered for a grant award (click on the submit button in the online application). Once an application is submitted electronically, an automatic notification via e-mail will be sent to you indicating that we have received it. The AFG Program Office makes available competitive grants for the hiring of firefighters or the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. SAFER applications are automated and accessible via the AFG Website: www.firegrantsupport.com. The website contains important information about SAFER, including the FY2007 funding priorities and program guidance, a web-based tutorial on the application process, a listing of frequently asked questions (FAQs), and other relevant information. Fire departments that have questions regarding this grant opportunity should contact the AFG Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960 or email firegrants@dhs.gov. SAFER is administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency. SAFER Grants that support the hiring of firefighters require applicants to provide a funding match; the formula for the funding match is explained in the program guidance documents available on the AFG Program’s Website. Recruitment and retention grants do not require a funding match. The AFG Program Office offers three grant opportunities in each year. AFG “fire grant” funds are used by the nation’s firefighters and first responders to increase the effectiveness of firefighting and emergency response operations. The application period for these grants was in the spring, and award decisions for applications that are eligible have begun. In addition to the SAFER Grant opportunity, a third grant opportunity will be available when the AFG Program Office opens the application period for Fire Prevention and Safety Grants. These grants not only support fire departments but also support other organizations experienced in fire prevention and in firefighter safety research.
Source: Fire Grant Support President Bush and DHS Officials Survey Flood Damage in Midwest FEMA President Bush, Secretary Chertoff, and FEMA Administrator Paulison last week traveled to the flood-ravaged state of Iowa, meeting with state and local officials and talking with those on the front lines of one of the worst flooding episodes in the state in recent memory. They also took an aerial tour and made stops in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. At a press briefing during his visit to Iowa, the president commended the work of state and local officials, and he noted that FEMA has deployed 600-700 people to the state. “[This] ought to help the people in the smaller communities know that somebody is there to listen to them and care about them,” he said. He also said that Congress would provide funds necessary to assist Iowa and other states in the Midwest that have experienced flooding. As part of its coordinating efforts with other federal agencies, FEMA on Friday said it is working with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which will support its flood response and recovery efforts by providing analysis and unclassified imagery of flooded areas. FEMA is also working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, General Services Administration, and Defense Logistics Agency to get needed supplies to communities in Midwest states. Working with these agencies, FEMA had coordinated the delivery of 955,776 gallons of water, provided more than 200, 000 meals ready to eat, and 200 generators. It has also helped provide more than 12.8 million sand bags—enough to reach from coast to coast if laid side by side. In Iowa, Indiana, and Wisconsin, where presidential disaster declarations have been made, FEMA has approved $69 million for housing assistance and other disaster related needs. More information about what FEMA is doing in response to the flooding along the Mississippi River is available at: www.fema.gov/media/2008/061308.shtm. Source: FEMA FEMA Releases 2008 Disaster Housing Plan Maintaining that its top priority in responding to disasters is the safety and well-being of all those affected, FEMA last week released its 2008 Disaster Housing Plan. The plan details FEMA’s role in support of local officials to meet housing needs for disaster victims this hurricane season. It also incorporates new and stringent air quality specifications and testing protocols for factory-built housing units, which must fulfill state health requirements before their use. The 2008 Disaster Housing Plan reinforces a strong commitment to support local officials with housing assistance as requested, and emphasizes the use of a broad range of interim housing solutions as well as other innovative options. The options include authorizing permanent construction, and the creation of a state-led Housing Solutions Task Force to evaluate housing requirements, identify potential solutions, and develop a coordinated plan for delivering necessary assistance in a timely and cost-effective manner. FEMA’s approach is to provide safe, flexible interim housing assistance that can be adjusted to the range of requirements resulting from a disaster, and with the objective of helping victims to quickly return to their homes or locate other permanent housing. The plan involves four priority actions: • Maximize available housing resources The plan states that only in extraordinary disaster conditions would FEMA consider expanding the housing options offered to a state to include travel trailers. Each state will make a determination, based on the conditions within that state, whether travel trailers are an acceptable form of temporary housing. FEMA Administrator David Paulison prohibited further use of travel trailers as an option for temporary housing in October 2007. The decision was the result of apparent implications for disaster victims who had been potentially exposed to formaldehyde, and an undetermined level of formaldehyde present in travel trailers.
A press release about this announcement with links to the plan is available at: http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=43785. Source: FEMA NAC Members, Source: CFSI AFG Releases 5-Year Summary of Equipment and Vehicle Awards June 24, 2008 - The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program today released a five-year statistical breakdown of the equipment and vehicles that have been funded under the “fire grants”. The release contains a data summary with a brief description of equipment items (e.g., SCBA, rescue equipment) along with the amount awarded as a percentage of the group total. The statistics are presented as a list of types of items and vehicles funded.
The program years covered in this release are FY2003 to FY2007. For additional information, please visit: http://www.firegrantsupport.com/afg/reports.aspx. The AFG is managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). Source: FEMA The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities: Name: Colin Gene Thomas Rank: Firefighter Age: 51 Gender: Male Status: Volunteer Years of Service: 33 Date of Incident: 06/14/2008 Time of Incident: 0530hrs Date of Death: 06/14/2008
Fire Department: Verona Volunteer Fire Department Address: 101 Verona Rd., Jacksonville, NC 28540 (USNG: 18S TD 7350 3916) Telephone: (910) 455-4772 Fire Department Chief: Wayne Thomas
Incident Description: Firefighter Thomas passed away from injuries sustained when he was struck by a semi tractor-trailer on a stretch of US Highway 17 adjacent to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Camp Lejeune contacted the Sheriff’s office shortly before 0500hrs requesting assistance with traffic control because of extreme low visibility conditions on the roadway due to smoke from a controlled burn on the Base combining with fog. Firefighter Thomas, along with Onslow County Deputy Sheriff Steven Boehm, 36, who was also struck and killed by the tractor-trailer, had been directing traffic when a series of 8 vehicle collisions took place in the northbound travel lanes of the highway. Thomas, Boehm and others heard and responded to calls for help, searching through the fog and smoke when unfortunately they were struck by the tractor-trailer. The tractor-trailer then struck several other vehicles sending another deputy to the hospital; he was later released. Incident Location: US Hwy 17 between High Hill Road (18S TD 7312 3750) and NC Hwy 210 (18S TD 7255 3028). Funeral Arrangements: Visitation, 1800-2000hrs 06/16/2008, and Services, 1100hrs 06/17/2008 @ Jones Funeral Home, 303 Chaney Ave., Jacksonville, NC 28540(18S TD 7796 4842)
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: In honor of Firefighter Colin Gene Thomas, C/o Verona Volunteer Fire Department, 101 Verona Rd., Jacksonville, NC 28540.
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Gene Thomas at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Source: USFA Name: Kevin Patrick Pryor Age: 31 Gender: Male Status: Career Years of Service: 9 Date of Incident: 06/16/2008 Time of Incident: 1215hrs Date of Death: 06/17/2008 Address: 3300 Newport Blvd., PO Box 1768, Newport Beach, CA 92658-8915 (USNG: 11S MT 1370 2007) Fire Department Chief: Steve Lewis Funeral Arrangements: Still to be determined. Updates @ http://www.nbfa.org Memorial Fund Contact and Address: If you are interested in making a donation to the Newport Beach Firefighter's Benevolent Fund on Kevin's behalf, checks can be sent to: P.O. Box 1695, Newport Beach, Ca. 92663. Checks can be made out to the NBFBF
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