Congress Passes Tester's Bipartisan Bill to Boost Resources for Montana’s Local Fire Departments
Daines, Rosendale and Zinke vote in favor
By Denise Rivette
On June 18, Congress took a significant step in supporting local fire departments across the country by passing the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S. 870), which was co-sponsored by Senator Jon Tester. Senator Steve Daines voted in favor, as did Representatives Matt Rosendale and Ryan Zinke for the House version. It now awaits President Biden’s signature. Upon the president’s signature, the continuation of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs will be assured. These vital programs, that allocate $750 million annually to maintain safety and emergency response capabilities in counties nationwide, were facing a statutory termination date of September 30, 2024. That date has now been extended to September 30, 2030.
Senator Tester announced in a press release that as part of his continued efforts to support first responders and keep Montana communities safe, he sponsored the Fire Grants and Safety Act to help local fire departments access funding for training, personnel, and equipment.
“Montana firefighters have our backs in some of the most difficult and dangerous situations, and I’ve made it a priority to always have their backs in the Senate,” said Tester. “That’s why I’m proud Congress passed my bipartisan bill to provide critical funding that will help local departments improve staffing and purchase equipment. I’ll always do everything in my power to ensure our firefighters have the resources they need to keep Montana communities safe.”
In response to an email sent earlier today asking his thoughts on the bill, Senator Steve Daines replied enthusiastically, “I’m glad to support much-needed funding for Montana fire departments. Our Montana firefighters put their lives on the line every single day, we must do everything we can to ensure they have the resources they need to continue protecting our communities.”
The bill not only reauthorizes the AFG and SAFER Programs, but it also increases funding for the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) through 2028. AFG and SAFER are the main sources of federal funding for firefighters and help departments purchase equipment and increase staffing. Both programs are particularly important to small, rural, and volunteer fire departments.
Montana Independent News reached out via text Wednesday morning to the fire chiefs in Red Lodge, Roberts, Joliet and Bridger to assertain the effect of these grants on local departments, but no response was received by press time.
The bipartisan Fire Grants and Safety Act is supported by Congressional Fire Services Institute, International Association of Fire Fighters, International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Volunteer Fire Council, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, International Society of Fire Service Instructors, and National Fire Protection Association.
Daines and Tester have consistently supported Montana’s firefighters. Tester currently serves as Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, which he joined in 2007. Daines joined the caucus in 2016. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Tester also recently secured $648 million for AFG and SAFER in the 2024 government funding bill.
In addition, yesterday Tester announced that, in his role as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he secured $43,301,694 in Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds to support critical law enforcement, firefighting, and infrastructure priorities across Montana. From that amount, Carbon County will receive $1,472,876. That is a 4.8% increase over Carbon County’s Fiscal Year 23-24 PILT budget of $1,405,431.
“Montana’s rural counties rely on PILT funding to provide essential services they otherwise would not be able to afford,” said Tester. “I’m proud to have secured this funding to help Montana counties rebuild schools, plow roads, and keep law enforcement officers on the beat, and I will keep fighting to ensure these resources will be there for the folks that count on them.”
PILT makes payments to counties with large amounts of untaxable federal land for services like law enforcement, mental health programs, and libraries.