Press Releases
Pascrell Announces $14K Federal Grant for Secaucus Fire DepartmentFederal public safety award will help keep Hudson County residents safe
Washington,
July 16, 2021
Tags:
Public Safety
U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded a $14,058 federal grant to the Secaucus Fire Department. This federal investment in Hudson County will help Secaucus Fire equip their state-of-the-art fire rescue boat with an electronic communication system which will allow the department to streamline communications with the Coast Guard and other public safety agencies. Rep. Pascrell helped secure funding for the fire rescue boat in 2018, and joined Secaucus firefighters to unveil the vessel one year later. “America is at its best when we invest in our safety and security. Today I am overjoyed to announce this federal award for Secaucus’s Bravest, which will help them continue to protect our communities,” said Rep. Pascrell. “This past year has been especially difficult for our first responders. It is imperative that the federal government continue to have their backs. Working with President Biden, I am more confident than ever that these grants will continue to flow into our cities and towns here in North Jersey. I am proud that we were able to bring this money home for our community, and I will continue to fight for every cent that keeps New Jerseyans safe.” Rep. Pascrell is a longtime champion of public safety funding in the Congress. Earlier this year he helped pass President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which provided an additional $200 million for the Staffing for Adequate Fire Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program in FY21, which supports the hiring and retention of firefighters. The relief package also includes an additional $100 million for Rep. Pascrell’s Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) program in FY21, which helps departments invest in lifesaving equipment and resources, such as personal protective equipment, and provide training and mental health support. Annual funding for the AFG 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. Through his FIRE Act, Rep. Pascrell helps procure hundreds of thousands in federal support for New Jersey firefighters each year. 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. Rep. Pascrell helped pass the CARES Act in March 2020, which also included $100 million in emergency AFG funding. |