July 25, 2003   DODD, LIEBERMAN ANNOUNCE $1 MILLION FOR FIRE FIGHTERS   WASHINGTON - Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman Friday announced that the Department of Homeland Security is awarding over $1 Million in grants to six Connecticut fire departments. “Just as we wouldn't send our armed forces into the field without the best weapons, we shouldn't ask firefighters to do their very difficult job with second-hand equipment,” said Dodd. “This assistance can ensure that they have the tools they need to protect our families, not only from fires, but from the risk of terrorism.” “Since 9/11, our fire fighters’ jobs are more dangerous, more demanding-and more important-than ever," said Lieberman. “This money is a good start toward getting them resources they need, but the truth is, we need to get more money to the firehouses, our first responders, our first preventers, and our first protectors.” DHS awards the money as part of the Assistance for Fire Fighters Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Fire Administration. The funds will be used for fire fighter health and safety programs, to buy new fire fighting apparatus, Emergency Medical Service programs, and Fire Prevention and Safety Programs, and conduct fire prevention and safety programs. The following fire stations will receive grant awards: • New Hartford Volunteer Fire Department $84,920 • South Manchester Fire Department $263,452 • Columbia Volunteer Fire Department Inc. $214,245 • Branford Fire Department $333,418 • Beaver Brook Volunteer Fire Co. 11 Inc. $44,982 • Bethlehem Volunteer Fire Department $83,520 The awards were made possible by legislation authored by Dodd and sponsored by Lieberman, which was enacted into law in 2000 that provides local fire departments the ability to purchase new equipment, hire new personnel, and initiate education and training programs. Since the FIRE Act was enacted, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), now a part of DHS, has distributed over 7,100 grants for a total of more than $420 million to help fire departments across the country strengthen their response capabilities.   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 July 2003 Press Releases   July 31 - Lieberman Presses for Administration Leadership, Accountability Pursues Declassification of 27 Redacted Pages   July 30 - Government Privacy Protections Fall Short   July 29 - White House Creating Impression it Has Something to Hide   July 28 - Lieberman Takes President, Fellow Democrats to Task on Security, Foreign Policy   July 25 current Press Release   July 24 - Lieberman Seeks Explanation for "Clear Evidence" of Use of Arbitrary Quotas in Competing Federal Jobs   July 24 - Did Bush Administration do Everything that Could Have Been Done?   July 24 - First Responders Need Additional Resources   July 24 - Lieberman Laments Lack of Homeland Security Resources   July 23 - DLC/PPI: More Evidence of Poor Homeland Security Record   July 16 - Lieberman Challenges Administration Refusal to Acknowledge Security Vulnerabilities   July 11 - DOT IG Documents Abuse of Federal Resources   July 10 - Lieberman Asks Homeland Security IG to Reopen Texas Probe Into Abuse of Federal Authority, First Report Abdicated Key Responsibility   July 9 - Lieberman Warns of Too Little Action on Transportation Security   July 8 - Lieberman: 9-11 Panel Can't do Its Work Without White House Help   July 8 - Lieberman Responds to Bio Terror Report   July 2 - Lieberman Seeks Transparency on Interior's Plans for Highways Through Pristine Public Lands   July 1 - U.S. Intelligence Burdened by Same Handicaps That Failed the Nation on 9/11
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510