Chris Dodd: “this is the FIRE Act. I introduced this with Senator DeWine in 1999. It became law in the year 2000. Senator Warner and…”

“this is the FIRE Act. I introduced this with Senator DeWine in 1999. It became law in the year 2000. Senator Warner and I were able to get $100 million for our 20,000 fire departments across the country. One million people serve in our fire services. We had a number--about $750 million--which this budget rolls back to $500 million for these firefighters across the country for the basic homeland security issues of first responders. This amendment would restore that number to $750 million, and over 10 years it would be $1 billion a year, which is paid for by reducing the tax cut. I do not need to tell my colleagues how important this is to the million firefighters in 20,000 departments across this country. They need equipment. They need personnel. Many of their members are off in the Persian Gulf as I speak because they have been called up in the National Guard and Reserve services. These dollars would provide for new firefighters, replacements, as well as safety equipment. Two-thirds of all departments are badly understaffed and too many still do not have the basic safety equipment. This amendment allows for those numbers to be restored to the numbers we appropriated and agreed to last year. I urge the adoption of the amendment.”