{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/reed-whitehouse-magaziner-welcome-14m-federal-support-local-fire-departments", "Reed, Whitehouse & Magaziner Welcome $1.4M in Federal Support for Local Fire Departments", "2023-08-04", "2023", "2023-08", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to help local communities and fire departments improve operations and safety, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner today announced $1,392,552 to help firefighters in Cranston, Lincoln, Newport, Smithfield, Pawtucket, Portsmouth and other communities purchase new equipment and support advanced training programs.\n\nThe federal funds are being awarded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. These federal grants are designed to enhance local fire departments\u2019 abilities to comply with response, equipment, and operational standards established by the National Fire Protection Association.\n\nThe following communities will receive AFG grants to enhance the safety and training of firefighters and purchase needed equipment:\n\nCranston will receive $160,156 for operations and new safety gear.\n\nRhode Island Department of Business Regulation/Fire Academy will receive $388,695 for two fire pump training simulators and equipment.\n\nLincoln Fire District will receive $24,095 for firefighter gloves and hoods.\n\nNewport Fire Department will receive $671,710 for enhanced paramedic training.\n\nPawtucket Fire Department will receive $24,069 for its code enforcement inspection program.\n\nPortsmouth Fire Department will receive $40,238 for its smoke alarm installation project and $38,133 for operations and safety.\n\nAdditionally a regional award of $45,454 will go to Smithfield for fire simulator training equipment. While the equipment will be located in Smithfield, several local fire departments will have access to it to conduct live fire training, including: Central Falls Fire Department; Cumberland Fire Department; Harrisville Fire Department; Lime Rock Fire Department; Lincoln Fire Department; North Smithfield Fire Department; North Providence Fire Department; Oakland-Mapleville Fire Department; Manville Fire Department; and Woonsocket Fire Department.\n\n\u201cOur firefighters and first responders are real lifesavers. We are grateful for their outstanding service. These federal grants will provide them with the equipment and training they need to protect people and communities, It's a smart investment in the health and safety of our communities,\u201d said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, who helped secure $370 million for the AFG program this year. \u201cI commend all these communities and fire departments for putting together strong applications. I will continue doing everything I can at the federal level to support our dedicated firefighters and ensure they have the safety and emergency response equipment and capabilities they need.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur firefighters are on the frontlines every day keeping our communities safe,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cThis federal funding will help ensure first responders have the tools and resources they need to do their jobs safely.\u201d\n\n\u201cFirefighters put their lives on the line for ours, and we must do our part to keep them safe on the job,\u201d said Representative Seth Magaziner. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in the federal delegation to announce this funding that will provide Rhode Island firefighters with the equipment and training they need to stay safe and prepared.\u201d\n\nIn April, Reed and Whitehouse helped the U.S. Senate extended federal programs that support local fire departments across the country. The Fire Grants and Safety Act reauthorized the AFG program as well as FEMA\u2019s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, and the United States Fire Administration (USFA). Together, these programs are utilized by local fire departments to address staffing needs, purchase equipment, develop fire training and education programs, and improve emergency medical services.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:30:18Z"]], "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://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/reed-whitehouse-magaziner-welcome-14m-federal-support-local-fire-departments"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8718357421457767, "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"}