Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency
Response: The SAFER Grant Program
Lennard G. Kruger
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
April 30June 4, 2010
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RL33375
CRS Report for Congress
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress
Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response: The SAFER Grant Program
Summary
In response to concerns over the adequacy of firefighter staffing, the Staffing for Adequate Fire
and Emergency Response Act—popularly called the “SAFER Act”—was enacted by the 108th
Congress as Section 1057 of the FY2004 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 108-136). The
SAFER Act authorizes grants to career, volunteer, and combination local fire departments for the
purpose of increasing the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry-minimum
standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate protection from fire and fire-related
hazards. Also authorized are grants to volunteer fire departments for activities related to the
recruitment and retention of volunteers. The SAFER grant program is authorized through
FY2010.
With the economic turndown adversely affecting budgets of local governments, concerns have
arisen that modifications to the SAFER statute may be necessary to enable fire departments to
more effectively participate in the program. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (P.L. 111-5) included a provision (section 603) that waives the matching requirements for
SAFER grants awarded in FY2009 and FY2010. The FY2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act
(P.L. 111-32) included a provision authorizing the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive
further limitations and restrictions in the SAFER statute for FY2009 and FY2010.
P.L. 111-83, the FY2010 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill, provided $420
million for SAFER, double the amount appropriated in FY2009. The Administration’s FY2011
budget proposed $305 million for SAFER, a 27% decrease from the FY2010 level. The FY2011
budget proposal for SAFER could receive heightened interest, given high rates of unemployment
and the local budgetary cutbacks that many fire departments are now facing. Meanwhile, on
December 16, 2009, the House considered legislation intended to create jobs and passed the
Senate amendment to H.R. 2847, would May
26, 2010, the House Appropriations Committee released a summary of draft legislation for its
version of the FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations bill. Title III of the draft legislation would
provide $500 million in additional FY2010 funding for
SAFER.
Concerns over local fire departments’ budgetary problems have also framed debate over the
SAFER reauthorization, which is included in H.R. 3791, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of
2009, passed by the House on November 18, 2009. On April 27, 2010, S. 3267, the Fire Grants
Reauthorization Act of 2010, was introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs. On April 28, the Committee ordered S. 3267 to be reported
with an amendment favorably. Congress is considering whether some SAFER rules and
restrictions governing the hiring grants should be permanently eliminated or altered in order to
make it economically feasible for more fire departments to participate in the program.
This report will be updated as events warrant.
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Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response: The SAFER Grant Program
Contents
Background and Genesis of SAFER ............................................................................................1
Authorization—The SAFER Act .................................................................................................2
Appropriations ............................................................................................................................3
FY2010.................................................................................................................................4
FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations...................................................................................4
FY2011.................................................................................................................................5
Modifications of SAFER Program for FY2009 and FY2010........................................................5
Reauthorization of SAFER in the 111th Congress.........................................................................5
House Reauthorization Bill, H.R. 3791..................................................................................6
Senate Reauthorization Bill...................................................................................................7
Implementation of the SAFER Program ......................................................................................7
Tables
Table 1. Authorization Levels for SAFER Grant Program............................................................2
Table 2. Appropriations for Firefighter Assistance, FY2001-FY2010 ...........................................3
Table 3. Recent and Proposed Appropriations for Firefighter Assistance ......................................4
Table 4. State-by-State Distribution of SAFER Grants, FY2005-FY2008....................................8
Contacts
Author Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 10
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Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response: The SAFER Grant Program
Background and Genesis of SAFER
Firefighting and the provision of fire protection services to the public is traditionally a local
responsibility, funded primarily by state, county, and municipal governments. During the 1990s,
however, shortfalls in state and local budgets—coupled with increased responsibilities (i.e.,
counterterrorism) of local fire departments—led many in the fire community to call for additional
financial support from the federal government. Since enactment of the FIRE Act1 in the 106th
Congress, the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program (also known as “fire grants” and “FIRE
Act grants”) has provided funding for equipment and training directly from the federal
government to local fire departments.2
Since the fire grant program commenced in FY2001, funding has been used by fire departments
to purchase firefighting equipment, personal protective equipment, and firefighting vehicles.
Many in the fire-service community argued that notwithstanding the fire grant program, there
remained a pressing need for an additional federal grant program to assist fire departments in the
hiring of firefighters and the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. They asserted that
without federal assistance, many local fire departments would continue to be unable to meet
national consensus standards for minimum staffing levels, which specify at least four firefighters
per responding fire vehicle (or five or six firefighters in hazardous or high-risk areas).3 Fireservice advocates also pointed to the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program4 as
a compelling precedent of federal assistance for the hiring of local public safety personnel.
In support of SAFER, fire-service advocates cited and continue to cite studies performed by the
U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association,5 the Boston Globe,6 and
the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)7 which concluded that many
fire departments fall below minimum standards for personnel levels. According to these studies,
1
Title XVII of the FY2001 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 106-398).
2
For more information, see CRS Report RL32341, Assistance to Firefighters Program: Distribution of Fire Grant
Funding, by Lennard G. Kruger.
3
These refer to consensus standards developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): NFPA 1710
(“Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and
Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments”), and NFPA 1720 (“Standard for the Organization and
Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by
Volunteer Fire Departments”). NFPA standards are voluntary unless adopted as law by governments at the local, state,
or federal level, and are also often considered by insurance companies when establishing rates. Another applicable
standard to this debate is the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard on respiratory
protection in structural firefighting situations (29 CFR 1910.134(g)), which requires at least four firefighters (two in
and two for backup) before entering a hazardous environment wearing a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus.
4
For more information on the COPS program, see CRS Report RL33308, Community Oriented Policing Services
(COPS): Background, Legislation, and Funding, by Nathan James.
5
U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association, Four Years Later—A Second Needs
Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service, FA-303, October 2006, 159 p. Available at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/
pdf/publications/fa-303-508.pdf.
6
Dedman, Bill, “Deadly Delays: The Decline of Fire Response,” Boston Globe Special Report, January 30, 2005.
Available at http://www.boston.com/news/specials/fires/.
7
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, 1998 - 2005,” March 2006, 16 p. Available at
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/pdfs/progress.pdf.
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the result of this shortfall can lead to inadequate response to different types of emergency
incidents, substandard response times, and an increased risk of firefighter fatalities.
On the other hand, those opposed to SAFER grants contend that funding for basic local
government functions—such as paying for firefighter salaries—should not be assumed by the
federal government, particularly at a time of high budget deficits. Also, some SAFER opponents
disagree that below-standard levels in firefighting personnel is necessarily problematic, and point
to statistics indicating that the number of structural fires in the United States has continued to
decline over the past 20 years.8
Authorization—The SAFER Act
In response to concerns over the adequacy of firefighter staffing, the Staffing for Adequate Fire
and Emergency Response Act—popularly called the “SAFER Act”—was introduced into the
107th and 108th Congresses. 9 The 108th Congress enacted the SAFER Act as Section 1057 of the
FY2004 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 108-136; signed into law November 24, 2003).
The SAFER provision was added as an amendment to S. 1050 on the Senate floor (S.Amdt. 785,
sponsored by Senator Dodd) and modified in the FY2004 Defense Authorization conference
report (H.Rept. 108-354). The SAFER grant program is codified as Section 34 of the Federal Fire
Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229a).
The SAFER Act authorizes grants to career, volunteer, and combination fire departments for the
purpose of increasing the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry-minimum
standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate protection from fire and fire-related
hazards. Also authorized are grants to volunteer fire departments for activities related to the
recruitment and retention of volunteers. SAFER grants are authorized through FY2010. Table 1
shows the authorization levels for the SAFER grant program.
Table 1. Authorization Levels for SAFER Grant Program
(billions of dollars)
FY2004
FY2005
FY2006
FY2007
FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
1.0
1.03
1.061
1.093
1.126
1.159
1.194
Two types of grants are authorized by the SAFER Act: hiring grants and recruitment and retention
grants. Hiring grants cover a four-year term and are cost shared with the local jurisdiction.
According to the statute, the federal share shall not exceed 90% in the first year of the grant, 80%
in the second year, 50% in the third year, and 30% in the fourth year. The grantee must commit to
retaining the firefighter or firefighters hired with the SAFER grant for at least one additional year
after the federal money expires. Total federal funding for hiring a firefighter over the four-year
8
See Lehrer, Eli, “Do We Need More Firefighters?” Weekly Standard, April 12, 2004, p. 21-22. Available at
http://www.sipr.org/default.aspx?action=PublicationDetails&id=44. See also Easterbrook, Gregg, “Where’s the Fire?”
New Republic Online, August 9, 2004. Available at http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=express&s=easterbrook080904.
9
107th Congress: S. 1617 (Dodd), H.R. 3992 (Boehlert), H.R. 3185 (Green, Gene). 108th Congress: S. 544 (Dodd),
H.R. 1118 (Boehlert).
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grant period may not exceed $100,000, although that total may be adjusted for inflation. While
the majority of hiring grants will be awarded to career and combination fire departments, the
SAFER Act specifies that 10% of the total SAFER appropriation be awarded to volunteer or
majority-volunteer departments for the hiring of personnel.
Additionally, at least 10% of the total SAFER appropriation is set aside for recruitment and
retention grants, which are available to volunteer and combination fire departments for activities
related to the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. Also eligible for recruitment and
retention grants are local and statewide organizations that represent the interests of volunteer
firefighters. No local cost sharing is required for recruitment and retention grants.
Appropriations
The SAFER grant program receives its annual appropriation through the House and Senate
Appropriations Subcommittees on Homeland Security. Within the appropriations bills, SAFER is
listed under the line item, “Firefighter Assistance Grants,” which is located in Title III—
Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. “Firefighter Assistance Grants” also includes
the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
Although authorized for FY2004, SAFER did not receive an appropriation in FY2004. Table 2
shows the appropriations history for firefighter assistance, including SAFER, AFG, and the Fire
Station Construction Grants (SCG) grants provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act (ARRA). The Bush Administration requested no funding for SAFER in each its budget
proposals for FY2005 through FY2009. Table 3 shows recent and proposed appropriated funding
for the SAFER and AFG grant programs.
Table 2. Appropriations for Firefighter Assistance, FY2001-FY2010
AFG
SAFER
SCGa
Total
FY2001
$100 million
$100 million
FY2002
$360 million
$360 million
FY2003
$745 million
$745 million
FY2004
$746 million
$746 million
FY2005
$650 million
$65 million
$715 million
FY2006
$539 million
$109 million
$648 million
FY2007
$547 million
$115 million
$662 million
FY2008
$560 million
$190 million
$750 million
FY2009
$565 million
$210 million
FY2010
$390 million
$420 million
Total
$5.202 billion
$1.109 billion
a.
$210 million
$985 million
$810 million
$210 million
$6.521 billion
Assistance to Firefighters Fire Station Construction Grants (SCG) grants were funded by the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (P.L. 111-5).
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Table 3. Recent and Proposed Appropriations for Firefighter Assistance
(millions of dollars)
FY2009
(Admin.
request)
FIRE Grants
(AFG)
FY2010
(Admin.
request)
FY2010 (P.L.
111-83)
FY2011
(Admin.
request)
300
565
170
390
305
0
210
420
420
305
300
775
590
810
610
SAFER Grants
Total
FY2009
(P.L. 110-329)
FY2010
For FY2010, the Obama Administration proposed $420 million for SAFER, double the amount
appropriated in FY2009. According to the budget justification, this increase will enable fire
departments to increase staffing and deployment capabilities to attain 24-hour staffing and ensure
that communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards.
Both the House- and Senate-passed versions of H.R. 2892, the FY2010 Department of Homeland
Security appropriations bill, provided $420 million for SAFER in FY2010. According to the
House Appropriations Committee (H.Rept. 111-157), the additional funding is part of a targeted
and temporary effort to “stem the tide of layoffs and ensure our communities are protected by an
adequate number of firefighters.” The Committee directed FEMA to consider the prospect and
occurrence of firefighter layoffs at a local fire department when evaluating SAFER grant
applications.
The Conference Report for the FY2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act
(H.Rept. 111-298) was passed by the House on October 15, and by the Senate on October 20.
H.Rept. 111-298 provided $420 million for SAFER, identical to the levels in both the House and
Senate. The bill was signed into law, P.L. 111-83, on October 28, 2009.
On December 16, 2009, the House considered legislation intended to create jobs and passed the
Senate amendment to H.R. 2847 (Commerce, Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies
appropriations for FY2010). H.R. 2847 would provide $500 million in additional FY2010
funding for SAFER. Local matching requirements would not apply to this or any other FY2010
SAFER funding, and DHS is directed to grant waivers from existing statutory requirements which
would: permit grantees to use SAFER funds to rehire laid-off firefighters and fill positions
eliminated through attrition; remove the current requirement that grants must run for four years
followed by one year funded by nonfederal sources; and remove the current grant cap of
$100,000 per hired firefighter. DHS is further instructed to ensure that funding is made available
for the retention of firefighters and that grants are awarded no later than 120 days after enactment.
Any unused funds may be transferred to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program after
notification to the House and Senate
FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations
On May 26, 2010, the House Appropriations Committee released a summary of draft legislation
for its version of the FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations bill. Title III of the draft legislation,
“Preventing Layoffs of Teachers, Police, and Firefighters, and Preserving Student Assistance,”
would provide $500 million in additional FY2010 funding for SAFER. For grants funded under
this additional money, local matching requirements would not apply, and DHS is directed to grant
waivers from existing statutory requirements which would: permit grantees to use SAFER funds
to rehire laid-off firefighters and fill positions eliminated through attrition; remove the current
requirement that grants must run for four years followed by one year funded by nonfederal
sources; and remove the current grant cap of $100,000 per hired firefighter. DHS is further
instructed to ensure that funding is made available for the retention of firefighters and that grants
are awarded no later than 120 days after enactment. Any unused funds may be transferred to the
Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program after notification to the House and Senate
appropriations committees.
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The FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations bill is due to be marked up by the House
Appropriations Committee. The Senate passed its version of the FY2010 Supplemental
Appropriations bill (H.R. 4899) on May 27, 2010. The Senate bill does not contain funding for
SAFER.
FY2011
The Administration’s FY2011 budget proposed $305 million for SAFER (a 27% decrease from
the FY2010 level) and $305 million for AFG (a 22% decrease). The total amount requested for
firefighter assistance (AFG and SAFER) was $610 million, a 25% decrease from FY2010.
Modifications of SAFER Program for FY2009 and
FY2010
With the economic turndown adversely affecting budgets of local governments, concerns have
arisen that modifications to the SAFER statute may be necessary to enable fire departments to
more effectively participate in the program. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (P.L. 111-5) included a provision (section 603) that waives the matching requirements for
SAFER grants awarded in FY2009 and FY2010. Currently, according to the statute, the federal
share shall not exceed 90% in the first year of the grant, 80% in the second year, 50% in the third
year, and 30% in the fourth year. Legislation introduced into the 111th Congress, H.R. 2759,
would waive those cost-share requirements for SAFER grants already awarded in FY2008.
Additionally, the FY2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-32) included a provision
(section 605) giving the Secretary of Homeland Security authority to waive certain limitations
and restrictions in the SAFER statute. For grants awarded in FY2009 and FY2010, waivers will
permit grantees to use SAFER funds to rehire laid-off firefighters and fill positions eliminated
through attrition, will allow grants to extend longer than the current five -year duration, and will
permit the amount of funding per position at levels exceeding the current limit of $100,000.
Reauthorization of SAFER in the 111th Congress
The current authorization of SAFER expires on September 30, 2010, and the 111th Congress has
begun to consider reauthorization. On July 8, 2009, the House Committee on Science and
Technology, Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation, held a hearing on the reauthorization
of both SAFER and AFG..10 Testimony was heard from FEMA and many of the major fire-service
organizations including the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the International
Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), and the
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Witnesses asserted that under current economic conditions, many jurisdictions find it difficult to
comply with current SAFER statutory restrictions governing the hiring grants sought by career
and combination departments. For example, according to the IAFF, DHS data show that “since
10
See http://science.house.gov/publications/hearings_markups_details.aspx?NewsID=2539.
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SAFER’s inception four years ago, seventy-eight grantees have had to repay the federal
government a total of $62.7 million because they failed to meet the rigorous requirements,” and
that an “additional seventy-one grants totaling $51.4 million were declined by municipalities that
felt they could not meet the program’s obligations.”11 According to the IAFC, in 2008, “the DHS
10
See http://science.house.gov/publications/hearings_markups_details.aspx?NewsID=2539.
Kevin O’Connor, Assistant to the General President, International Association of Fire Fighters, written statement
before the House Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation, Committee on Science and Technology, July 8, 2009,
(continued...)
11
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reported a greater than 12 percent drop in SAFER grant applications from 2007, including a 20
percent drop in applications from all-career and combination departments with a majority of
career firefighters.”12
According to hearing witnesses, current restrictions that make it difficult for fire departments to
use SAFER hiring grants include the requirement that a SAFER hiring grant extend for five years
with an increasing local match required each year (with the fifth year completely funded by the
local fire department); the requirement that departments must maintain staffing levels over that
five-year period; the statutory cap of $100,000 per firefighter; and restrictions on using SAFER
funds to rehire laid-off firefighters and fill positions eliminated through attrition.
The ARRA and the FY2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act gave DHS the authority to waive
some of those SAFER restrictions only for FY2009 and FY2010. With respect to the longer-term
reauthorization provisions affecting SAFER hiring grants, witnesses at the July 8 hearing
recommended:
•
establishing an across-the-board 20% match rather than the sliding scale under
current law;
•
shortening the length of the grant period from five years to three years;
•
eliminating the funding cap of 100K per firefighter for hiring grants that
currently cover salary and benefits over a four-year period; and
•
making the temporary waiver authority granted in the ARRA and the 2009
Supplemental Appropriations Act permanent, thereby granting DHS authority to
waive the restriction on using grants to avoid or reverse layoffs, to waive the
local match, and to waive the requirement that personnel levels must be
maintained during the life of the grant.
Meanwhile, the NVFC expressed strong support for the recruitment and retention SAFER grants,
and argued that in addition to currently eligible state and local interest organizations, national
interest organizations should also be eligible for those grants.
House Reauthorization Bill, H.R. 3791
On October 13, 2009, H.R. 3791, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009, was introduced by
Representative Mitchell. The legislation reflects an agreement reached among the major fire
service organizations on the reauthorization language. H.R. 3791 was referred to the House
Committee on Science and Technology, and approved (amended) by the Subcommittee on
Technology and Innovation on October 14, 2009, and by the full Committee on October 21, 2009.
H.R. 3791 was reported (amended) by the Committee on November 7, 2009 (H.Rept. 111-333,
Part I), and passed by the House on November 18, 2009.
(...continued)11
Kevin O’Connor, Assistant to the General President, International Association of Fire Fighters, written statement
before the House Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation, Committee on Science and Technology, July 8, 2009,
p. 8, http://democrats.science.house.gov/Media/file/Commdocs/hearings/2009/Tech/8jul/O'Connor_Testimony.pdf.
12
Jeffrey Johnson, First Vice President, International Association of Fire Chiefs, written statement before the House
Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation, Committee on Science and Technology, July 8, 2009, p. 6,
http://democrats.science.house.gov/Media/file/Commdocs/hearings/2009/Tech/8jul/Johnson_Testimony.pdf.
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Technology and Innovation on October 14, 2009, and by the full Committee on October 21, 2009.
H.R. 3791 was reported (amended) by the Committee on November 7, 2009 (H.Rept. 111-333,
Part I), and passed by the House on November 18, 2009.
H.R. 3791, as passed by the House, reauthorizes SAFER grants at a level of $1.196 billion per
year through FY2014. The legislation would modify the SAFER grant program by shortening the
grant period to three years, establishing a 20% local matching requirement for each year,
removing the existing federal funding cap per hired firefighter, making national organizations
eligible for recruitment and retention funds, and allowing DHS in the case of economic hardship
to waive cost share requirements, the three-year grant period, and/or maintenance of expenditure
requirements.
Senate Reauthorization Bill
On April 27, 2010, S. 3267, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2010, was introduced and
referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. On April 28,
the Committee ordered S. 3267 to be reported with an amendment favorably. S. 3267 would
reauthorize both AFG and SAFER. Regarding SAFER, S. 3267 would:
•
shorten the grant period to three years, with grantees required to retain for at least
1 year beyond the termination of their grants those firefighters hired under the
grant;
•
establish a 25% local matching requirement for each year;
•
limit the amount of funding provided for hiring a firefighter in any fiscal year at
not to exceed 75% of the usual annual cost of a first-year firefighter in that
department;
•
make national organizations eligible for recruitment and retention funds;
•
allow DHS in the case of economic hardship to waive cost share requirements,
the required retention period, the prohibition on supplanting local funds, and/or
maintenance of expenditure requirements; and
•
reauthorize the SAFER grant program from FY2011 through FY2015 at a level
of $950 million per year, with each year adjusted for inflation.
In comparison with H.R. 3791, the Senate bill has a higher match requirement for hiring grants,
retains a maximum amount limit for hiring grants per firefighter, and continues to require
applicants to retain hired firefighters for at least one year after the grant expires (unless a waiver
is obtained). For both AFG and SAFER, certain changes to current law made by the Senate bill
would sunset on October 1, 2015.
Implementation of the SAFER Program
Prior to FY2007, the SAFER grant program was administered by the Office of Grants and
Training within the Preparedness Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
However, Title VI of the Conference Agreement on the DHS appropriations bill (P.L. 109-295;
H.Rept. 109-699), the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, transferred
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most of the existing Preparedness Directorate (including SAFER and fire grants) back to an
enhanced FEMA.
Table 4 shows the state-by-state distribution of SAFER grant funds, from FY2005 through
FY2008. Of the total federal share requested for FY2008, 34.4% was requested by all paid/career
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departments, 14.7% by all volunteer, 19.2% by combination (majority paid/career), and 28.1% by
combination (majority volunteer).13 The most recent SAFER annual report (for FY2006) shows
that grants for hiring accounted for 84.3% of the total federal share awarded. The majority of
SAFER funds awarded in FY2006 went to career departments and suburban areas.14 For the latest
information and updates on the application for and awarding of SAFER grants, see the official
SAFER grant program website at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/safer/.
Table 4. State-by-State Distribution of SAFER Grants,
FY2005-FY2008
(millions of dollars)
FY2005
13
14
FY2006
FY2007
FY2008
Total
Alabama
1.611
6.215
4.236
7.314
19.376
Alaska
1.051
0.205
0.418
1.438
3.112
Arizona
1.560
3.559
4.428
6.613
Arkansas
0.394
1.820
0.377
3.834
6.425
California
5.221
5.212
4.259
4 .212
18.904
Colorado
1.584
3.479
1.730
2.02
8.813
Connecticut
0.130
0.191
0.856
3.92
5.097
Delaware
0
0.135
0
0.398
0.533
District of Columbia
0
0
0
0
0
Florida
6.576
9.329
6.217
18.486
40.608
Georgia
5.354
2.085
2.842
17.438
27.719
Hawaii
0
0
0
1.626
1.626
Idaho
0.063
0.621
0.626
0.774
2.084
Illinois
1.340
4.463
9.933
5.85
21.586
Indiana
0
0.099
2.687
6.528
9.314
Iowa
0.169
0.144
0.980
1.288
2.581
Kansas
0.667
0.045
1.029
1.872
3.613
Kentucky
0.152
2.890
0.429
2.466
5.937
Louisiana
3.430
3.078
4.728
8.62
19.856
Maine
0.081
0
0.316
0.951
1.348
Maryland
0.096
1.862
1.526
3.171
6.655
Massachusetts
1.300
2.079
4.372
2.690
10.441
Michigan
1.759
0.592
0
0.823
3.174
Minnesota
0.300
1.089
0.375
3.246
5.01
Mississippi
0.756
0.594
0.115
1.608
3.073
16.16
Latest SAFER application statistics are available at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/docs/2008SAFERApps.pdf.
A complete statistical run-down is available at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/docs/2006SAFERReport.pdf.
Congressional Research Service
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Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response: The SAFER Grant Program
FY2005
FY2006
FY2007
FY2008
Total
Michigan
1.759
0.592
0
0.823
3.174
Minnesota
0.300
1.089
0.375
3.246
5.01
Mississippi
0.756
0.594
0.115
1.608
3.073
Missouri
1.467
3.547
4.551
2.381
11.946
Montana
0.034
0.255
2.635
2.955
5.879
Nebraska
0
0.873
0.632
1.951
3.456
Nevada
1.500
1.714
0.632
0.086
3.932
New Hampshire
0.400
1.035
1.528
0.225
3.188
New Jersey
6.374
3.971
2.953
4.389
17.687
New Mexico
0
3.123
1.309
0.108
4.54
New York
1.540
2.991
2.845
4.412
11.788
North Carolina
2.155
5.533
5.371
18.183
31.242
North Dakota
0
0.609
0
1.518
2.127
Ohio
1.319
1.881
2.255
3.737
9.192
Oklahoma
0.147
0.699
0.531
2.782
4.159
Oregon
1.710
2.141
2.649
2.071
8.571
Pennsylvania
1.244
1.475
2.633
3.515
8.867
Rhode Island
0.400
0
0.105
0
0.505
South Carolina
0.456
0.863
3.218
8.158
12.695
South Dakota
0.063
0.311
0.211
0.552
1.137
Tennessee
2.700
2.719
3.683
1.856
10.958
Texas
0.951
10.961
8.779
Utah
0.900
3.312
2.098
5.162
Vermont
0
0.621
0.632
0
1.253
Virginia
2.091
3.554
0.782
1.849
8.276
Washington
2.298
2.897
7.340
9.476
22.011
West Virginia
0
0.187
0.681
0.16
1.028
Wisconsin
0
0.072
1.223
4.502
5.797
Wyoming
0
0
0.316
2.329
2.645
Puerto Rico
0
0
0
0
0
Northern Mariana Islands
0
0
0
0
0
Marshall Islands
0
0
0
0
0
Guam
0
0
0
0
0
American Samoa
0
0
0
0
0
Virgin Islands
0
0
0
0
0
Republic of Palua
0
0
0
0
0
Total
Congressional Research Service
61.356
105.142
113.665
19.06
208.618
39.751
11.472
488.781
9
Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response: The SAFER Grant Program
Source: Department of Homeland Security. FY2008 awards data current as of December 15, 2009.
Congressional Research Service
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Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response: The SAFER Grant Program
Author Contact Information
Lennard G. Kruger
Specialist in Science and Technology Policy
lkruger@crs.loc.gov, 7-7070
Congressional Research Service
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