Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I appreciate my colleague from Alaska's support and cosponsorship of the Fire Grants and Safety Act before us, and I also appreciate and fully agree with this amendment to help smaller communities build new facilities. But I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment because of the unintended consequences it would have. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program historically receives applications for five times the amount of funding that is available. In 2020, there were $2 billion in requests for only $300 million available in funding. This program is massively oversubscribed, and that is why all of the major firefighting services in this country oppose this amendment. That includes the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the National Volunteer Fire Council, and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. All are calling for clean passage of the Fire Grants and Safety Act without amendment. I know my colleague shared the goal of the good Senator from Alaska. I do as well, but I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, join with our firefighters all around the country. Let's send a clean firefighting bill to the House. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska.”