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

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

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

Blumenthal said, "Investing in emergency preparedness is more important now than ever as our state continues to recover and prepare after two of the most damaging storms in Connecticut's history overwhelmed our state. This grant will outfit the Norwalk and Milford fire departments with the most up to date tools to ensure that our first responders are fully equipped to keep our communities safe."

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

"This grant will help ensure that the firefighters who risk their lives every day to protect us have the best possible safety equipment," Himes said. "Amidst the current heated discussions about federal spending, we need to remember that public safety programs like these fire grants are an absolutely critical piece of keeping America and its citizens safe."

Lieberman has a long history of advocating for fire safety. In 2000 and 2003, respectively, he was a cosponsor 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 the AFG and SAFER programs for five years. Since the FIRE and SAFER Acts were signed into law, FEMA has distributed 657 grants for a total of over $75.753 million in Connecticut to help fire departments strengthen their response capabilities. Lieberman is also a Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Caucus for the 112th Congress.