PATERSON— U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) the lead Democrat on the Homeland Security Subcommittee of Emergency Preparedness, Science and Technology (D-NJ-08) today announced that the Bloomfield Fire Department has been awarded a $329,500 federal grant from the Department of Homeland Security to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters.

The grant comes from the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program.  SAFER grants are awarded through a new innovative federal program that Pascrell helped create which funds fire departments to hire, recruit, and retain firefighters nationwide.  Since the program’s inception last year, only three other New Jersey municipalities have been awarded SAFER funding.

Bloomfield FD, a paid-volunteer combination department will use the grant to build and maintain its twenty-five member volunteer force.  The funding which will be dispersed over a four year period will be used to accomplish the following volunteer recruitment and retention goals:

• Establish a college tuition reimbursement program for volunteers
• Create an incentive program that will reimburse volunteers for required training programs
• Launch a marketing program to recruit new volunteers
• Purchase a new insurance program that will provide extra coverage to volunteer firefighters     
• Create an attendance incentive program to reimburse volunteers

“I am proud to see my work in Washington make a direct impact here in Bloomfield.” stated Pascrell, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.  “The Bloomfield Fire Department will finally have the manpower it needs to bring an even greater level of security to our community.  For too long, the federal government has turned a deaf ear to staffing our fire departments.  This grant demonstrates a change in that short-sighted policy.”
 
“I Thank Congressman Pascrell for his dedication to fire department across America and for again delivering for Bloomfield Township,” stated Bloomfield Fire Chief Joseph Intile.  “This award will go a long way in bringing a greater level of public safety to the people of Bloomfield.  In addition, it will provide relief for Bloomfield’s taxpayers.  Congressman Pascrell’s FIRE grant has brought a variety of new equipment, and health resources to our Department, but he has never forgotten our staffing needs.  This SAFER grant thoroughly addresses those needs.  The holidays have arrived early in Bloomfield this year.”

In 1999, Pascrell authored the first comprehensive national legislation dedicated to meeting the needs of America’s 32,000 fire departments.  Pascrell’s Fire Investment Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act, was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 2000.  The FIRE Act has grown from a $100 million grant program in 2000 to a $545 million grant program this year.  A technical restraint prohibited the FIRE Act grant program from providing funds for staffing.       

Determined to add federal funds for firefighter staffing, Pascrell, the Congressional Fire Service Institute’s 2005 Legislator of the Year, led the fight to push the SAFER grant program through Congress.

Pascrell was an original sponsor of the SAFER legislation and testified before the House Committee on Science on behalf of the SAFER Act.  In his testimony, Pascrell stated the SAFER Act, “can undoubtedly help us meet the urgent needs of fire services throughout our nation.”  Six months later the SAFER grant program passed in Congress.  On November 24, 2003, the SAFER grant program was signed into law.

“Once I sink my teeth into a project, I do not let go,” stated Pascrell.  “Implementing the FIRE grant program is one of my greatest accomplishments in Congress, but I never forgot the staffing clause that was omitted.  Not for one day.  That is why I led the effort to create a staffing grant, and look where we are today.

Pascrell’s FIRE grant program has delivered two federal grants in the amount of $410,629 to Bloomfield Township since 2002. 

In April of 2005, the Congressional Fire Service Institute honored Pascrell as its “2005 Legislator of the Year” for his leadership on behalf of first responders nationwide.  Established in 1989 as a non-profit, non-partisan institute, the Congressional Fire Services Institute is designed to educate Congress about fire and emergency services.   Its mission is achieved by providing an array of programs to engage members of Congress in fire and life safety issues.  Among the national fire service organizations, CFSI strives to build consensus for federal legislation benefiting all facets of the fire and emergency services.

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