Durbin and Bustos Announce a More Than $23,000 Investment in Peoria First-Responder Capabilities
[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has made a $23,600 investment in the Peoria Fire Department in Peoria, Illinois for fire prevention and safety. Today’s funding will help support and improve the capability of the department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies.
“Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens,” Durbin said. “As these brave men and women put themselves in harm’s way, we must ensure that they are equipped with the best tools possible to do their jobs well, and today’s grants will help meet that goal.”
“The Illinois men and women who put their lives on the line for us every day deserve our full support,” Bustos said. “These funds will help make sure our brave first responders have the equipment they need to continue to do their jobs and ensure the safety of our local communities.”
The funding is provided through the DHS’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program which seeks to strengthen the Nation’s overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and fire related hazards. Since 2001, the AFG has provided approximately $5.25 billion in federal funding to first-responder organizations across the country to help purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, training, and vehicles. In Fiscal Year 2012, the program will award approximately $337.5 million nationwide.