Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2012

Floor Speech

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Ms. RICHARDSON. I thank the Chair for allowing me to speak in support of the LaTourette-Pascrell amendment to restore funding for FIRE and SAFER grants.

I would like to thank Congressman LaTourette and Congressman Pascrell for offering this amendment that enjoys bipartisan support and which I strongly support.

The onslaught of natural disasters that we have seen all across the country has shown that the need for first responders has increased, not decreased. Many of us have been strong advocates for this program and recognize the inherent value of making sure our Nation's first responders have the people and the equipment they need in order to ensure our safety in all of our local communities.

I support these programs. Why? Because they work.

After an independent evaluation of the FIRE grant program was implemented by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agriculture concluded that this program was "highly effective in improving the readiness and capabilities of firefighters across the Nation.''

Additionally, at a time when many local and State governments have been forced to make drastic cuts to their emergency staff and personnel, the SAFER program has been the only resource fire departments have had to ensure that their communities would be ready if they needed to respond.

In the Appropriations Committee report, it mentions that FEMA should maintain an "all hazards focus'' in order to ensure that FEMA concentrates its efforts on where it is needed most. I strongly agree with this sentiment, which is why I think this amendment is critical to achieving our goals.

As the Representative of the 37th Congressional District and as the ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, I understand the importance of having a fully staffed and equipped fire department. The San Miguel fire, the worst wildfire in California's history, burned through 90,000 acres of land and cost $15.6 million. However, thanks to prior planning and fire prevention education efforts made possible by this critical grant program, not a single life was lost in this devastation. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Unfortunately, with firefighters, we cannot always plan ahead. We have to be ready to respond, to do the rescue and then to do the recovery. This amendment should be made in order so as to eliminate the burden that our local and State governments and the firefighters feel of having to do more with less.

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