From the offices of U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski and Benjamin Cardin:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin (both D-Md.) today announced the Abingdon Volunteer Fire Department won $186,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program to hire a full time recruiter to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters. As a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Mikulski fights each year to increase federal funding for the fire grants program. Senator Cardin is a member of the Finance and Budget committees.
“I know how important this funding is to Maryland communities – often it’s the difference between life and death. First responders protect our homes and communities, and the federal government has a responsibility to protect them by providing them with the tools they need to do their jobs safer and smarter,” Senator Mikulski said.
“Every day when our first responders report for duty, they don’t know what they will face. That’s why I fight every year for the equipment, training, and staffing our protectors and communities deserve.”
“Now more than ever, we need to make sure that our first responders have the resources they need to protect our families and communities,” Senator Cardin said. “From fires to natural disasters to possible terrorist threats, these brave men and women put their lives on the line for all of us. Federal investment in our first responders is vital because we must ensure that they have the equipment and training they need to protect us from harm and to perform their jobs safely and efficiently.”
The Abingdon Volunteer Fire Department will use the competitive award to hire a staff person to recruit volunteer firefighters and increase the department’s retention of volunteers. For more information, please contact Ron Evans at 410-638-3955.
The goal of any SAFER grant is to enhance the ability of grantees to attain and maintain 24-hour staffing. The objective of the program is to award grants directly to volunteer, combination, and career fire departments to help the departments increase the number of frontline firefighters, and to rehire firefighters who were laid off due to the economy.
Since 2001, Maryland fire departments and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) units have received more than $95 million in fire grant funding, nearly $2 million of which has gone to fire departments and EMS units
in Harford County.
Rob in Bel Air says
Do Senators Barbara Mikulski and Benjamin Cardin even know where Abingdon is? I’m happy that there is some effort to increase the number of volunteers for the county’s volunteer fire companies . . . but a $186,000? I thought the government was broke.
decoydude says
ROB IN BEL AIR – Do I detect a hint of party politics? The party politics game continues to produce incompetent leadership and failing policies paid for by hardworking middle class taxpayers. I am waiting for you to dump equal critical frustration on both major political parties; then, you’ll have my ear.
Abingdon Volunteer says
I’m glad we got this money. Every little bit helps. We are hurting for manpower. Come on down and fill out an app. 3306 Abingdon Road, Abingdon MD 21009.
Rob in Bel Air says
Volunteer,
I agree with you that more volunteers are needed and what I wrote above was not intended to be disrespectful to the members. I hope the money is put to good use (since this country is running short of it). I also hope it is not loaded up with all types of the usual stipulations and requirments that are generally associated with federal dollars. I may be wrong, but I just don’t see this money being used just to increase the number of qualified volunteers.
Rob in Bel Air says
DecoyDude,
No doubt that both parties have and are failing this country, including those now in charge of the house (the Tea Party don’t look so bad now). Unfortunately, MD politics has been dominated by a single party (generally run by Baltimore City, PG, and Montgomery counties. That leaves the rest of MD unrepresented. When one party rules . . . anything can be jammed down our throats with little or no opposition. O’Malley, Miller and Bush have been running this state and it’s becoming costly to tax payers. Wait until the gas and alcohol tax hits . . . and next year? What will be next? They can’t stop spending. At the Federal level, the two senators representing this state are no different. They voted for legislation (Obama-care) that most in the U.S. did not want. But that did not matter because “their” president wanted it and needed it. It costs them the house . . . but that was the price to pay. I blame both parties for the financial shape this country is in, but I blame the democrats in Annapolis for the deficit in this state. We (the taxpayers) will be picking up the costs for the democrats’ addiction to spending.