Editor’s Note:
This article originally appeared in the Congressional Fire Service Institute newsletter; it has been reprinted here with permission.
By Bill Webb
It’s hard to believe that the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program was signed into law 25 years ago. Passage of the legislation was an uphill battle with many obstacles encountered along the way. At the time, a federal grant program for the fire service seemed like a pipedream. Few in Congress supported the idea, asserting that the federal government should not have a role in funding local fire departments — that was the role of local and state governments.
But a core group of members of Congress — including the leaders of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus — recognized the need for the federal government to provide support to address the growing needs and challenges of local fire departments. They refused to capitulate to the notion that the federal government had no business in supporting local fire departments, affirming that the nation’s safety demands federal investment in the fire service. For two years, they were relentless in advocating for the passage of the authorizing legislation, called the FIRE Act, until President Bill Clinton signed it into law on October 30, 2000, as part of the fiscal year (FY) 2001 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Following the death of Congressman Bill Pascrell in 2024, I perused some old files containing letters, memos, and other documents that captured the collective efforts of the national fire organizations and our allies in Congress to advance the FIRE Act. The acronym stood for the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement Act. It reminded me of a myriad of meetings among the fire organizations, members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, and their staff, brainstorming strategies, navigating obstacles, and refusing to give up until a viable path to success was found. We ultimately prevailed because of our collective efforts.
Twenty-five years later, the AFG program (and the SAFER program, which Congress authorized in 2003) continues to deliver support to local fire departments to address their baseline needs. Firefighting gear and apparatus inevitably age and require replacement, while evolving hazards continuously demand new equipment, advanced training, and innovative strategies to keep communities safe. Throughout the years, Congress has reauthorized these programs four times, which is no small feat in this political climate. We can attribute our record of success to the strategy we first used in 2000: working together as a united fire service and supporting a bipartisan group of legislators to advance the legislation.
On the 25th anniversary of the creation of AFG, I want to share with you an article I published following the passage of the FIRE Act 25 years ago today. It is a reminder of what we have accomplished over the years by working together to address the needs of local fire departments and the men and women who are willing to serve and sacrifice as first responders. And let it also serve as a message to the young generation of leaders about the importance of getting engaged in our work in Washington, D.C. There are many competing interests for federal support. You, as young leaders, need to assert yourself as advocates to continue what the previous generation achieved back in 2000 and ensure the fire service of the future is supported.
Stay safe.
