DODD, LIEBERMAN ANNOUNCE $7,634 GRANT FOR SUFFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) announced today that the Suffield Fire Department will receive a $7,634 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Fire Prevention and Safety Grants (FP&S). The funds will go towards programs and equipment that will help enhance the safety of the public and fire personnel.

“Every day, Connecticut fire fighters put their lives at risk to keep the public safe from harm,” said Dodd. “With these funds, the Suffield Fire Department will be able to equip their community with the necessary tools to prevent fires, which in turn will help save lives.”

“We are all indebted to this country’s first responders, who bravely commit to protecting each and every one of us, day in and day out.  This grant will help the people of Connecticut by bolstering fire prevention efforts, enabling us to head off dangerous situations before they can even begin and making the jobs of our courageous firefighters just a little bit easier,” said Lieberman.

Senators Dodd and Lieberman have a long history of advocating for fire safety. In 2000, Dodd authored and Lieberman cosponsored the FIRE Act, which gives local fire departments the ability to purchase new equipment and initiate education and training programs. In 2003, Dodd authored and Lieberman cosponsored the SAFER Act, a law that gives local fire departments the ability to alleviate critical shortfalls in professional and volunteer personnel.

Last month, Dodd and Lieberman introduced the Fire Grant Reauthorization Act of 2010, legislation that will reauthorize the AFG and SAFER programs for five years.  This bill was recently approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.

Since the SAFER and FIRE Acts were enacted, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, has distributed 611 grants for a total of over $67 million in Connecticut to help fire departments strengthen their response capabilities.  Dodd and Lieberman have been tireless advocates for increasing federal funding for first responders.

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