Thad Cochran actually said...
If you believe that the current distribution of assistance to firefighter grants is inequitable or should include volunteer fire departments, I hope you will explore something akin to a set-aside that would allow the use of these funds and grants to send those firefighters to training sessions with the more urban and better-organized professional fire departments.
Context
Cochran advocates for equitable funding for volunteer fire departments.
05/12/2009