Costello lauds firefighter grant legislation

Staff Report

WEST CHESTER » U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6 of West Goshen, applauded House passage of H.R. 4661, the United States Fire Administration, AFG, and SAFER Program Reauthorization Act, which passed this week on a bipartisan, unanimous basis.

The legislation reauthorizes grant programs for six years, including the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program and the

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Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG). The legislation also provides for better oversight of the grants and training for grant administration.

These programs provide critical support for firefighter and emergency response companies. Both of these grants are awarded through a competitive process to career and volunteer fire departments, and both grants are intended to help meet equipment, training, and staffing needs.

In Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, firefighters and first responders have used these grants for self-loading stretchers for ambulances, coats, portable radios, boots, and gloves, among other resources.

“Communities in Southeastern Pennsylvania and across the country rely on brave first responders, and firefighters and emergency response officials need the appropriate equipment to safely and effectively do their work,” said Costello. “I have been proud to support federal grants that help provide vital resources to our local fire departments.”

Since coming to Congress, Costello has signed onto funding requests for the AFG program and the SAFER Grant program.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Ryan Costello, R-6, second from left, House passage of H.R. 4661, the United States Fire Administration, AFG, and SAFER Program Reauthorization Act. U.S. Rep.