Chris Dodd: “This budget contains a $250 million cut in FIRE Act grants. There have been over 19,000 awarded since the program was…”

“This budget contains a $250 million cut in FIRE Act grants. There have been over 19,000 awarded since the program was established from 33,000 departments across the country. These fire departments absolutely need the equipment and training resources. In addition, the SAFER Act will put 75,000 new firefighters on the street over the next seven years. Recent studies by major organizations indicate there are chronic shortfalls in the numbers of people who serve in paid and volunteer and combination departments. This is a good amendment. We are asking those who make more than $1 million a year to take a little less of a tax cut than they would ordinarily get. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.”