Government

Cornyn encourages fire departments to apply for grant funding

Offers assistance to fire departments in application process for key funding – May 4 deadline

From the Office of Senator John Cornyn

April 18, 2007

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn encouraged Texas fire departments on Wednesday to apply for grant funding available to help purchase firefighting vehicles and safety and rescue equipment, as well as fund training and support operations. Sen. Cornyn offered his assistance to firefighters in the application for the grants, which come through the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

“This funding will help ensure our first responders—those serving on the front lines of our hometown security—have the resources they need to keep our communities safe,” Sen. Cornyn said. “I encourage firefighters to apply for these important funds and will assist throughout the application process.”

The Office of Grants and Training, a component of the DHS Preparedness Directorate, partners with state and local officials to strengthen the capabilities of first responders in addressing emergencies and catastrophic incidents. The program provides a broad array of assistance to America ’s emergency responders through funding, coordinated training, exercises, equipment acquisition and technical assistance.

More than $492 million is available this year to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency management organizations across the nation.

Sen. Cornyn has held roundtables with emergency first responders across the state as part of his ongoing effort to highlight security needs in Texas hometowns. The events provide communities the opportunity to express their needs and concerns directly to Sen. Cornyn.

The online application form for the grants is available on the Web at www.firegrantsupport.com. For more information or assistance with the grant process, please contact John Wyatt in Sen. Cornyn’s Washington , D.C. office at 202-224-2934 or visit: www.cornyn.senate.gov.

Fire departments have until May 4, 2007 to complete and submit their applications.

Sen. Cornyn serves on the Armed Services, Judiciary and Budget Committees. In addition, he is Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Border Security and Refugees subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee’s Airland subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.