Struggling communities will have access to $742.5 million in grants to maintain and improve public safety in neighborhoods across the country following approval today by Congress of the 2012 Omnibus Appropriations.
Public safety in communities across the United States has been put at risk, as firefighter and paramedic positions have been lost, targeted for elimination or have been left unfilled after a vacancy due to funding shortages as the prolonged economic downturn has decimated local tax revenue. But passage of the 2012 Omnibus Appropriations enables communities to reverse that dangerous trend, with grants providing funding for as many as 7,000 firefighter and paramedic positions.
拨款法案包括2012财年的3.375亿美元，用于足够的火灾和紧急响应（更安全）赠款计划。更重要的是，它保留了规则，使社区能够利用赠款雇用消防员，并使消防员在预算紧张的工作中。该法案还允许社区在2011财政年度使用4.05亿美元的更安全赠款 - 以前已批准的货币 - 租用，重新雇用或保留消防员。直到国会澄清，赠款可用于雇用，重新雇用和保留消防员之前，2011财年的资金一直持有。现在，社区很快将有资格申请2011财年和2012财年更安全的补助金。
“A majority of lawmakers in Washington have shown they understand that public safety at the local level is the frontline of homeland security. The SAFER grant program improves public safety and creates jobs in these tough economic times–it’s a win-win,” International Association of Fire Fighters General President Harold Schaitberger said.
Administered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the SAFER program to date has put more than 5,000 firefighters back to work, giving a much-needed boost to public safety in countless struggling communities.
“Staffing shortages are a direct threat to public safety. Closing fire companies and fire stations to compensate for staffing shortages aggravates the problem, putting residents, businesses and firefighters in even greater danger. Public safety is a cornerstone of small business security in communities across the country, and I urge municipal leaders everywhere to work closely with local firefighters to secure SAFER grants to make neighborhoods safer and more capable of growth once again,” Schaitberger said.
The International Association of Fire Fighters, headquartered in Washington, DC, represents more than 300,000 full-time professional firefighters and paramedics and is the leading advocate for the health and safety of first responders. More information is available atwww.iaff.org
