WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), the longtime co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, today joined members of Congress at the White House to watch President Biden sign Pascrell’s own Fire Grants and Safety Act into law. The law will help send aid to fire departments across America.

“When I came to Congress, fire departments across America were literally holding bake sales to pay for their gear,” said Congressman Pascrell, whose FIRE Act established the lifesaving AFG program supported by this bill. “The Assistance to Firefighter Grants were the first program ever to send federal dollars directly to fire departments. Since their creation, the AFG and SAFER programs have provided over $14 billion to fire departments and first responders from coast-to-coast and saved countless lives. I am delighted my legislation is now the law of the land to give our local firefighters the help they need to protect us. God bless our first responders.” 

As the longtime co-chairman of the House Fire Services Caucus, Congressman Pascrell spearheaded efforts to pass this bill which will provide a five-year reauthorization for the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), the Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) Program, and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant (SAFER) Program. Congressman Pascrell wrote the original landmark FIRE Act that first established the AFG program for equipment and training, and also led to creation of SAFER a few years later to help departments meet staffing needs.