U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is looking to get a boost in federal funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) in the fiscal year 2025 appropriations bill. The AFGP provides funding for local fire departments to purchase equipment and emergency vehicles and address staffing shortages. As many fire departments across New York State continue to rely on outdated equipment and struggle with staffing shortages, Gillibrand is pushing for additional federal funding for the AFGP to ensure firefighters have what they need to stay safe as they protect their communities.
“Fire departments across our state are operating with outdated fire trucks and protective gear, and replacing it can cost millions of dollars that many of them just don’t have,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program provides federal funding to fill those gaps, allowing departments to buy new emergency response vehicles, personal protective gear, breathing apparatuses, infrared cameras, hazmat detection devices, and more. It also helps fire departments struggling with staffing shortages to hire or retain trained firefighters. Every year, I fight to include AFGP funding in the government spending bill and deliver money for hundreds of fire departments across New York State. This year, I’m calling for increased funding to address nationwide needs. Firefighters put their lives on the line for us, and we owe it to them to provide the resources they need to do their jobs.”
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program offers multiple types of grants, including Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), which help fire departments acquire new emergency vehicles, protective gear, and equipment, and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER), which help fire departments hire and retain trained firefighters to meet industry minimum standards and ensure 24-hour staffing. Last year, Gillibrand helped secure over 200 AFG and SAFER grants totaling nearly $50 million for fire departments across New York State.
