On the recordApril 19, 2023
the funds this amendment targets have already been obligated to States to help communities continue recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, at the end of last year, the Senate unanimously passed legislation led by Senators Cornyn and Padilla that also allows States and localities to use these funds to respond to natural disasters and fund infrastructure and community development projects. Under this amendment, this funding would be redirected to the U.S. Fire Administration--an account that should be consistently funded through the annual appropriations process. Firefighters deserve steady, dedicated funding for their programs. Redistributing this funding could weaken our Nation's ability to continue responding to and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and would pull funds from a program that is supporting our communities, families, and small businesses in important ways. Firefighters and the communities they protect are counting on us to reauthorize these programs to help them get the safety equipment and the training they need in order to do their job. We should not have to choose between supporting our Nation's recovery and investing in our communities and helping our Nation's firefighters. I would urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida.
