SHELTON, MILFORD, NORWALK FIRE DEPARTMENTS RECEIVE OVER $272,000 IN GRANTS

WASHINGTON — Connecticut Senators JoeLieberman and Richard Blumenthal and Representatives Rosa DeLauro andJim Himes announced Friday that fire departments in Shelton, Milford,and Norwalk will receive over $272,000 from the U.S. Department ofHomeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grants program (AFG).The grants will be used to purchase critical emergency equipment, suchas defibrillators and thermal imaging devices.

"This grant demonstrates FEMA's continued commitment to assisting Connecticut firefighters and emergencyresponders, who put themselves in danger every day so the rest of us can be safe," said Lieberman. "This grant will enable fire departments inShelton, Milford, and Norwalk to purchase firefighting equipment toprotect Connecticut's growing communities. Residents of thesecommunities can be assured that the federal government and their localfire departments are doing everything they can to prepare foremergencies on any scale."

Blumenthal said, "Investing in emergencypreparedness is more important now than ever as our state continues torecover and prepare after two of the most damaging storms inConnecticut's history overwhelmed our state. This grant will outfit theNorwalk and Milford fire departments with the most up to date tools toensure that our first responders are fully equipped to keep ourcommunities safe."

"These critical funds will help to ensure that our local firefighters have the tools they need to protectConnecticut families. I am very pleased that Shelton, Milford andNorwalk will receive these funds, and applaud FEMA's efforts to helpcommunities in this difficult economy," said DeLauro. "These brave menand women put themselves in harm's way to protect our homes andbusinesses every day, and we should support their service."

"This grant will help ensure that thefirefighters who risk their lives every day to protect us have the bestpossible safety equipment," Himes said. "Amidst the current heateddiscussions about federal spending, we need to remember that publicsafety programs like these fire grants are an absolutely critical pieceof keeping America and its citizens safe."

Lieberman has a long history ofadvocating for fire safety. In 2000 and 2003, respectively, he was acosponsor of the FIRE and SAFER Acts and on March 18, 2011, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee—chaired by Lieberman—passed the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act, legislation that reauthorizes theAFG and SAFER programs for five years. Since the FIRE and SAFER Actswere signed into law, FEMA has distributed 657 grants for a total ofover $75.753 million in Connecticut to help fire departments strengthentheir response capabilities. Lieberman is also a Co-Chair of theCongressional Fire Caucus for the 112th Congress.