Location: 114th

(June 15, 2016) – On June 9^th, the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Homeland Security approved the draft Fiscal Year 2017 spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security.  The $47.8 billion spending bill contains $6.7 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is $432 million above the White House’s requested funding level. 

Included in the bill is funding for a number of programs important to the nation’s fire service.  The Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs are funded at $345 million each, the same level as the current fiscal year.  The bill also provides $42.5 million for the United States Fire Administration (USFA) and an additional $1.5 million for infrastructure improvements at the agency’s Emmitsburg, Maryland campus.  The Urban Search and Rescue System is funded at $36.28 million, and increase of $1.1 million over the current fiscal year. 

On May 26^th, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved S. 3001, that chamber’s version of the FY17 Homeland Security spending measure.  The Senate bill funds the FIRE/SAFER grant programs at a combined $680 million, $10 million less than the current fiscal year.  USFA is funded at $44 million and the Urban Search and Rescue System is funded at $35.18 million, the same funding levels the current fiscal year. 

Back on February 9^th, the White House released its FY17 budget proposal and recommended reducing funding for the FIRE/SAFER grant programs by $20 million.  The Administration also recommended reducing USFA’s funding level to approximately $42.3 million. 

The full House Appropriations Committee is expected to consider the draft spending bill on June 22^nd.