FAIRFAX, Va. — President Bush Proposes Budget for Fiscal Year 2008
On February 5, President Bush released his proposed budget for fiscal year (FY) 2008. The proposed $2.9 trillion budget eliminates or reduces 141 government programs and holds the growth in non-security spending to one percent over fiscal year 2007.
The president is requesting $43.3 million for the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), $300 million for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, and $0 for the SAFER grant program. Details about proposed funding for fire-service programs are below.
The release of the president’s budget request is the first step in the annual process for funding the federal government; the final federal budget may change significantly from what the president proposed.
“The International Association of Fire Chiefs will work with the other fire-service organizations and our allies in the House and Senate to ensure that all of the federal programs that assist America’s fire service are adequately funded through the budget and appropriations process,” said Chief Steve Westermann, IAFC first vice president.
Here is how the proposed budget will affect programs that are relevant to the fire service.
Homeland Security
President Bush requested $46.4 billion for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is an eight percent increase over FY 2007. Much of this increase will go toward additional border security, cargo screening and nuclear detection programs. This request includes $100 million for efforts to reorganize FEMA and a total of $3.2 billion for grants to state and local entities for disaster preparedness, response, communications, training and other purposes.
U.S. Fire Administration: The president requested $43.3 million for the USFA. This line item is significant because it will mark only the third time that the USFA would receive its own funding: Congress appropriated nearly $47 million for it in FY 2007. Having a line item elevates the status of the USFA within DHS as a function that deserves individual attention and consideration. As part of the congressionally mandated reorganization of FEMA and DHS programs, USFA will return to FEMA after being removed just one year ago.
FIRE Act and SAFER: The president is requesting $300 million for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (commonly known as the “FIRE Act”), a 2.4 percent increase from the Administration’s proposal last year. The president is also requesting $0 for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Act grant program. These proposed funding levels represent a significant decrease from the $547 million for FIRE and $115 million for SAFER that Congress appropriated for FY 2007.
While the FIRE Act is designed to provide funding for a wide array of purposes, the president’s budget seeks to limit the programs for which fire departments may use this money to training, equipment and personal protective gear. The president has proposed this change in previous fiscal years; however, each time Congress made sure the funds could be used for all hazards and for all types of programs, including wellness and fitness, fire prevention, public education and modifications of facilities for the health and safety of personnel, as the original legislation intended.
The IAFC will join other fire-service organizations to restore funding to these programs in the coming year and to ensure these programs benefit all-hazards preparedness.
State and Local Programs: The president requested $215 million for formula-based grants, including $200 million for the Emergency Management Performance Grants, $15 million for Citizen Corps, $250 million for risk-based grants through the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) and $800 million for the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI). A portion of the SHSGP and UASI funds has been earmarked by the president for law-enforcement terrorism-preparedness purposes. The president’s request would continue the Department’s growing focus on allocating grant funding based on risk and need; however, each state would receive a minimum of 0.25 percent of total SHSGP funds.
Federal Emergency Management Agency: Recent reforms passed by Congress have designated FEMA as a stand-alone response agency within DHS. These reforms have triggered a reorganization of several constituent components of DHS and FEMA, with a new organizational structure now under review. Beginning in March, the new structure will formally go into effect, with USFA, grants and training programs moving to FEMA. Former IAFC President Chief R. David Paulison will continue to serve as the FEMA administrator.
Wildland Fire Programs
The president has proposed $1.65 billion for wildland fire management through the Department of Agriculture, which includes an unspecified amount for the Volunteer Fire Assistance program to fund technical, financial and related assistance to rural fire departments for organizing, training and equipping firefighters. Congress appropriated $13 million for the program in FY 2006 and has not settled on a final funding level for FY 2007 at this time.
The president also proposed eliminating the Department of Interior’s Rural Fire Assistance program to help rural and volunteer fire departments that routinely help fight fires on or near land owned by the Department. In previous years, the IAFC has worked with the other major fire-service organizations to restore funding for this program in Congress. In FY 2006, the program received $10 million, and a final funding number has not been established by Congress for FY 2007 at this time.
The IAFC intends to work with its allies in Congress to ensure that federal wildland fire programs are adequately funded for FY 2008.
Interoperable Communications
The president’s budget proposal for FY 2008 includes funding for interoperable communications programs designed to improve voice and data capabilities for emergency responders. The majority of this funding comes through a $1 billion program originally authorized in 2006, which will provide resources for the purchase of interoperable communications equipment beginning later this year. Additional assistance will be available through DHS’s SAFECOM program. While the president’s FY 2008 budget does not address public-private interoperable communications programs, the IAFC is working with other public-safety organizations to push for Congress to act on this important issue.
As the primary fire-service leadership organization in the United States, the International Association of Fire Chiefs looks forward to working with other fire-service organizations and Congress to ensure all of the federal programs that assist America’s fire service are adequately funded in the coming fiscal year.
DHS Reviews National Response Plan and National Incident Management System
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is coordinating a comprehensive review of the National Response Plan (NRP) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to assess their effectiveness and identify improvements. The review process, which includes participation from all levels of stakeholders, commenced in October 2006 and is scheduled to conclude by June 1, 2007.
NIMS is a key element in the national framework for domestic incident management. It provides a nationwide template that enables federal, state, local and tribal governments and private-sector and non-governmental organizations to work together efficiently and effectively to manage the consequences of domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, location or complexity, in order to reduce the loss of life and property.
As part of the review process, stakeholders are asked to participate in two formal comment periods on both documents to ensure their effectiveness as national doctrine for incident management.
National Incident Management System: Work groups representing all levels of stakeholders have been working diligently, under a very compressed timeframe, to develop a first draft of the NIMS document, which has been released for national comment between February 1–19. Due to the tight time constraints, the work groups focused on resolving key concepts rather than providing technical edits. As you review the document, please take this into account and concentrate on providing substantive advice and administrative comments to this document. A technical edit will be conducted simultaneously during this review process.
National Response Plan: The NRP/ESF 4 subcommittee of the IAFC’s Emergency Management Committee will be working to prepare a response for the IAFC. We encourage all of our members and departments to review this document and provide feedback to DHS. Version 1 can be accessed at www.dhs.gov/xprepresp/programs/gc_1166653070655.shtm.