Make Yourself Heard During Next Week's Congressional Recess
Fairfax, Va., May 13, 2011... Yesterday, the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee released a plan to slash fire service programs in fiscal year (FY) 2012. The proposed U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) FY 2012 Appropriations Bill would cut the FIRE and SAFER Grant programs by more than half and cut the U.S. Fire Administration by over $3 million.
In addition, the bill would limit Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) funding to the top-10 highest-risk urban areas, and only appropriate a total of $1 billion to fund to the UASI, the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP), the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) and other DHS grants programs. By comparison, Congress appropriated $725 million each for the SHSGP and UASI programs in FY 2011.
The following chart illustrates, in millions, how the FY 2012 House-proposed funding levels compare to those in FY 2010 and FY 2011, and the President’s proposed FY 2012 budget.
|
Program
|
FY 2010
|
FY 2011
|
FY 2012
(Budget Proposal)
|
FY 2012
(House Appropriations Subcommittee)
|
|
USFA
|
45.59
|
45.59
|
42.54
|
42.54
|
|
Fire
|
390
|
405
|
250
|
200
|
|
SAFER
|
420
|
405
|
420
|
150
|
|
UASI
|
887
|
725
|
920
|
*†
|
|
SHSGP
|
950
|
725
|
1,050
|
*
|
|
MMRS
|
41
|
35
|
0
|
*
|
|
Interoperable Communications
|
50
|
0
|
0
|
*
|
|
US&R
|
32.5
|
35.25
|
29.11
|
35.25
|
*The draft bill by the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee would only appropriate a total of $1 billion to fund the SHSGP, UASI, MMRS, Citizen Corps, Public Transportation Security Assistance and Railroad Security Assistance, Over-the-Road Bus Security Assistance, Port Security Grants, Driver’s License Security Grants, and Interoperable Emergency Communications Grants. The bill would have the $1 billion distributed at the secretary’s discretion.
†The bill would limit UASI funds to the top 10 highest risk urban areas.
"This is an absolute travesty," said Chief Jack Parow, the IAFC president and chairman of the board. "It's remarkable that Congress would consider slashing important DHS grant programs on the 10th anniversary of 9/11."
"The House will be in recess from May 16 through May 20," continued Parow. "I encourage you to meet with your local representative in the district during this upcoming week. Please educate him or her about the important role that the fire service plays in homeland security and how the FIRE and SAFER grants and other DHS grants are vital to helping us to respond to all-hazards."
The IAFC Hot Sheet and Issues Discussion documents contain information that you can use for your meetings with your representative. You can access these documents in the Lobbying Resources section of the IAFC Government Relations web page. You can locate contact information for your Representative on the U.S. House of Representatives website by inputting your full 9-digit zip code at the top right-hand corner of the home page.