Baldwin Votes to Support Local Fire Departments, Keep Wisconsinites Safe

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined her Democratic and Republican colleagues in supporting the Fire Grants and Safety Act, which passed the Senate 95-2. The bipartisan legislation extends federal programs that provide resources to local fire departments across Wisconsin to support staffing, equipment, training and emergency services.

“Our firefighters put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep us safe and it is our responsibility to ensure these brave men and women have the tools they need to do their jobs. I hear from fire departments across the state that rely on these vital federal programs to support the staffing, training and life-saving equipment firefighters need to protect Wisconsinites in every corner of the state,” said Senator Baldwin. “I was proud to fight for and deliver the resources our fire departments and emergency medical workers rely on to do the hard and often dangerous work of keeping our communities and families safe.”

The Fire Grants and Safety Act reauthorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, and the United States Fire Administration (USFA) until 2030. The programs are used by local fire departments to address staffing needs, purchase equipment, develop fire training and education programs, and improve emergency medical services. More than 75 fire departments in Wisconsin – often in small towns and rural areas – rely on these grants to keep the communities they serve safe.

Senator Baldwin visited the Wausau Fire Department last week to highlight her support for this legislation. The department was awarded over $3 million from a SAFER grant to fully fund nine new firefighter positions for three years, allowing them to better meet increasing call demand and responsibilities for emergency response.

###