The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and other national fire service organisations have urged the Senate to pass S. 4882, the Fire Grant and Safety Act, before the end of this Congress.

The Fire Grant and Safety Act would reauthorise the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) programs as well as the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) through 2030.

The AFG and SAFER grant programs provide departments across the country with needed funding for training, staffing (including volunteer recruitment and retention), and equipment.

The USFA ensures the fire service is prepared to respond to all hazards and is the lead federal agency for fire data collection, public fire education, fire research, and fire service training.

The current authorization for these critical programs expires at the end of Fiscal Year 2023. The NVFC has asked members to reach out to Senators by December 9 to ensure their preservation and urge them to support and pass S. 4882.