On the recordFebruary 17, 2011
Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to add $510 million to assistance to firefighter grants by devastating the Department of Homeland Security's developing science and technology programs. It's only prudent that we use this money in a very responsible manner, by forcing the local communities to comply with the original intent of the SAFER programs, by sharing in the cost of hiring their personnel, by creating new jobs, and by committing to retain newly hired firefighters. In today's lean economy, we cannot use precious taxpayer money to subsidize a local responsibility.
