Last week Senators John McCain (R-AZ), John Tester-D-MT, Susan Collins (R-ME), and Tom Carper (D-DE) introduced in the Senate a bill (S.829) reauthorizing the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs. The legislation will be referred to the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.

The bill authorizes AFG and SAFER through 2023 and omits the sunset provision that in the current law would eliminate both programs in January of 2018.

Click here for a copy of S. 829. Please contact your Senators requesting that they become co-sponsors of the legislation.

To date a companion reauthorization bill has not been introduced in the House. We will keep you informed of developments in both the Senate and the House.