Barbara Mikulski: “I rise today to support the Dodd-DeWine amendment increasing funding for firefighter grants. These grants are for local…”

“I rise today to support the Dodd-DeWine amendment increasing funding for firefighter grants. These grants are for local fire departments to ready themselves. The cost of equipment can't be covered on fish fries and bingos alone. The firefighter grant program is a wise and prudent use of Federal funds. I know these funds are used well in my home State of Maryland. This program has no winners or losers. Everyone wins in rural and urban America. I acknowledge that these are tight times and there is a tight allocation. But we must do better for our first responders. When I was the ranking member on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, Senator Bond and I funded firefighter grants at $900 million. While this amendment does not get us to that funding level, it does provide an increase for the program.”