President's budget calls for cuts to grants, USFA

The proposed cuts to the grant program are small, USFA would see a bigger percent of budget cut

WASHINGTON — In the first round of the fiscal year 2014 budget debate, President Obama submitted his budget to Congress.

Both houses of Congress will get their crack at the budget before ironing out the differences in a joint committee then sending it back to the president for a signature.

Obama's budget would cut SAFER and AFG money by $2.5 million each from the FY2013 level of $337.5 million. USFA would also see a $2.7 million cut, but that comes off of a FY2013 budget of only $44 million.

However, the International Association of Fire Chiefs reports that after sequestration cuts, the FY2014 proposed budget is $14.7 million increase above its estimated post-sequestration and -rescission cuts of $320.3 million.

The president's budget would eliminate the automatic budget cuts that took effect March 1, known as sequestration. That move, trimmed about 5 percent off all funding for FY2013, with some exceptions like defense.

"The president's budget request is the first step in the appropriations process," said National Volunteer Fire Council Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. "The NVFC will work closely with Congress to ensure that adequate support is provided to critical fire and emergency services programs and agencies."

The budget request also includes an additional $1 billion First Responder Stabilization Fund for the SAFER grant program to be used to retain, re-hire, and hire firefighters. Preference would be given to fire departments that are implementing programs and policies that focus on the recruitment of post-9/11 veterans for firefighter positions, according to IAFC.

The Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement — yes, its acronym is FLAME — used to pay for wildland firefighting is funded at $407 million. This represents the full amount of the 10-year average cost of wildland firefighting activities.