Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, announced that $32,165 has been awarded to the Garfield Fire Department and $19,660 to the Secaucus Fire Department as part of the Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) program. Administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, the AFG program provides direct support to eligible fire departments to help them meet the demanding and ever-evolving nature of their work.

Funding for this vital grant program is provided by Rep. Pascrell’s Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act, which was signed into law in 2000 by President Bill Clinton.

"During this perilous time, our communities’ firefighters are putting their lives on the line like never before. This federal investment in Garfield’s and Secaucus’ Bravest will help them continue their noble work to keep us safe,” said Rep. Pascrell, a longtime champion of robust federal support for America’s fire services. “In the House, we passed the CARES Act to provide immediate support to the American people and their families. That support included an additional $100 million in federal funding for the AFG program. We have since passed the HEROES Act to provide even more help for first responders and to protect them from the economic fallout of this crisis. Our firefighters are on the frontlines of public safety and we must have their backs. I will continue to work with federal agencies to ensure North Jersey’s firefighters have every dollar they need to weather this crisis. Every day I am pushing the Senate to enact the HEROES Act as soon as possible.”

Through his FIRE Act, Rep. Pascrell helps procure hundreds of thousands in federal support for New Jersey firefighters each year. The Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided $100 million in funding for the AFG program to help fire departments purchase personal protective equipment and supplies.

Since the outset of the pandemic, Rep. Pascrell has worked to secure millions in emergency federal funding to aid New Jersey in its fight against the virus. He has also helped passed landmark legislation to provide immediate relief to the American people and support state and local employees through this crisis.