NEEDA - National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association

Fire departments may apply for more than one grant and win approval for grants in more than one catetory, Homeland Security speakers said this week at seminars sponsored by the Congressional Fire Service Institute (CFSI) to which the National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA) belongs.

On behalf of NEEDA members, NEEDA Executive Director, Kenton Pattie attended the sessions.

The 2007 grant program is open for applications until May 4, 2007. The grant funds will be distributed in phases throughout FY 2007 and will ultimately award approximately $492.3 million. While many fire departments are expected to apply, the number receiving grants will be smaller this year than in previous years, Homeland Security spokespeople said.

On February 5th, 2007 the White House released its proposed budget for FY 2008. The $2.9 trillion budget includes a 9.5% increase in non-defense homeland security spending. Although the proposal increase funding in some areas, it would but first reponder grants by $1 billion. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (Fire Act) would be reduced by nearly $250 million from the 07 funding year. Only 30% of the amoung authorized by Congress will be spent in 08, the budget says.

The 07 appropriation for Fire Act grants was $547 million; the 08 proposal is $300 million.

Also in 07 Congress appropriated $115 million for the SAFER program (section 34) but the 08 budget recommended by the Bush Administration has no funds in it for the SAFER program.

Congress has already recommended in the Congressional Budget Resolution $400 million for interoperable communciations grants. The House is currently considering the 08 Homeland Security Appropriations bills.

MORE INFO? www.firegrantsupport.com

YOUR FIRE ESCAPE WITH SAFE-T-BEAR
Originally Posted: March 30, 2007 4:58 PM
Last Updated: March 30, 2007 4:59 PM

The Delaware Children's Fire Safety Foundation has published "Your Fire Escape wthg Safe-T-Bear." The production was previewed at the March 30 meeting of the National Advisory Committee of the Congressional Fire Service Institute (CFSI). The sixteen minute show is appropriate for children. Often children prompt parents and older family members to take more care in preventing fires.

MORE INFO? www.stonehousemedia.com

FIRST RESPONDERS NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S IN YOUR TANK! NEW PLACKARD MARKINGS RECOMMENDED FOR ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES
Originally Posted: March 30, 2007 4:53 PM
Last Updated: March 30, 2007 4:53 PM

The Congressional Fire Service Institute will work with the vehicle manufacturers and the Department of Transp;ortation to develop and pursue legislation to require standard markings on every vehicle that is fueled by alternative uels, E85 fuel, Hydrogen or is a hybrid vehicle. This marking placard shall be of a minimum size to be observable from 25 feet without magnification.

CFSI CALLS FOR SOLUTIONS TO FIRES WHERE DEVELOPMENT AND WILDLANDS INTERSECT
Originally Posted: March 30, 2007 1:46 PM
Last Updated: March 30, 2007 4:43 PM

The Congressional Fire Service Institute National Advisory Committee adopted a resolution that will help Congress focus on the serious problem of wildfires where urban and rural intersect.

The National Advisory Council received an extensive presentation by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (US Department of Commerce)
which shows that Wildland-Urban Interface fires that threaten communities are likely to increase due to increasing pace of Wildland-Urban Interface development, which has doubled in the last 20 years. Of the ten largest fire loss incidents in US history, four occurred pre-1907 and four were WUI fires all within the last 15 years.

2007 FIRE ACT GRANT PROGRAM BEGINS: ANNOUNCED AT CFSI SEMINARS HELD IN THE US SENATE
Originally Posted: March 29, 2007 5:09 PM
Last Updated: March 30, 2007 1:35 PM

Thursday March 29th, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the beginning of the 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Click on the link below to access the program guidance. Due to technical issues, the 2007 AFG E-Grant Application form is not currently available; however, the Homeland Security Department says these technical issues will be resolved shortly.

The 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions are now available.

The announcement was made today during the Congressional Fire Service Institute seminars held in the Russell Senate Office Building.

NEEDA's Executive Director Kenton Pattie attended the sessions which were addressed by various Congressional and fire leaders.

www.firegrantsupport.com/afg/

US GOVERMENT TO HELP ALABAMA RECOVER FROM MARCH 1, 2007 TORNADOES
Originally Posted: March 29, 2007 4:54 PM
Last Updated: March 29, 2007 4:54 PM

The three Alabama counties were found eligible for federal aid after specialists from the AEMA and the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) did a damage assessment. Now the counties, with help from federal and state experts, must put actual dollar amounts on all the losses which qualify for federal aid. This includes debris removal, emergency protective measures and losses to public utilities, buildings, and recreational and other facilities. Once the eligible losses are quantified and any amounts from insurance payments are subtracted, federal grants pay 75 percent of the rebuilding or reconstruction costs and the state pays 25 percent.

Click on the headline above to read this entire story.

LEGISLATION AFFECTING THE FIRE SERVICE: MARCH 28, 2007
Originally Posted: March 28, 2007 4:02 PM
Last Updated: March 28, 2007 4:03 PM

Click here for a select list of fire service legislation pending before Congress, March 28, 2007.

Kenton Pattie, NEEDA Executive Director
703 8560 8552

CONGRESSIONAL FIRE SERVICE INSTITUTE DINNER MARCH 29 TO AWARD FORMER US REP. WELDON; SENATORS DODD, COLLINS AND REPS EMERSON AND KING TAKE CAUCUS LEADERSHIP
Originally Posted: March 7, 2007 2:38 PM
Last Updated: March 7, 2007 2:38 PM

The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) is currently accepting nominations for the inaugural Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award.

The award presentation will take place on March 29th at the 19th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner, in Washington, DC. The National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA) is a member of the CFSI advisory committee and NEEDA members will attend the dinner.

Senator Chris Dodd (CT), Senator Susan Collins (ME), Congressman Peter King (NY) and Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (MO) have been selected as co-chairpersons of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, filling four vacancies in leadership following the 2006 Congressional elections.

On Friday February 16, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced $20.6 million in direct assistance grants to 219 fire departments and first responder organizations through the department's Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.

ARKANSAS LAW MAKES AGENCIES CONSIDER IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESSES
Originally Posted: March 6, 2007 12:32 PM
Last Updated: March 6, 2007 12:32 PM

Arkansas: Senate Bill 55 requires state agencies to analyze the economic impact of a proposed rule on small businesses and to consider less burdensome alternatives that will accomplish the regulatory goal. Singed into law by Governor Mike Beebe.