{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/whitehouse-amo-celebrate-federal-firefighter-grants-in-smithfield", "Whitehouse, Amo Celebrate Federal Firefighter Grants in Smithfield", "2024-09-09", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "SMITHFIELD, RI \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01) joined local elected officials as well as local firefighters to announce a $477,677 federal grant for Smithfield Fire Department. Awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, the federal funds will help Smithfield update their current communications system and provide training for firefighters to better respond to a wide range of emergencies.\n\nThis funding is part of the nearly $7 million in federal grants for fire departments and first responders that Rhode Island\u2019s congressional delegation has helped deliver this year.\n\n\u201cWe fill up the bucket [as a delegation] but the fire departments have to win the grants \u2014 these are competitive grants,\u201d said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. \u201cSo bravo and congratulations to Smithfield for winning half a million dollars, nearly, for an upgrade to their communications system. Congratulations to [Smithfield Fire] Chief Seltzer and recognition to [Smithfield Police] Chief Dolan as well.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur fire departments should be fully-staffed, highly-trained, and well-equipped. That\u2019s the motto and that\u2019s the metric by which we need to hold ourselves accountable,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo. \u201cThanks to these federal funds, Smithfield will be able to purchase the radios and provide the training that firefighters don\u2019t just deserve, but have earned, through their service.\u201d\n\nStill photos from the event can be downloaded HERE\n\nFull video of the event can be viewed HERE\n\nLEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND\n\nOver the last two years, Rhode Island fire departments and other first responders across the state have been awarded over $30 million in federal funding through FEMA AFG and Staffing For Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant funding. Congress appropriated $648 million for the AFG and SAFER programs in the fiscal year 2024 appropriations law. The federal grant program is designed to enhance the department\u2019s ability to comply with response, staffing, and operational standards established by the National Fire Protection Association.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/whitehouse-amo-celebrate-federal-firefighter-grants-in-smithfield"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.9831950776278973, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}