Pascrell, Van Hollen, Bost, Fitzpatrick, Murkowski Introduce Bill to Construct New Fire Stations Across America

The bipartisan Fire Station Act would authorize $750 million in fire station construction grants

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S Rep. Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), longtime Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, announced today that he and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) have reintroduced legislation to help fire departments across the United States update existing fire stations and construct new ones where needed. The Facilitating Investments Required for Emergency Services to All Towns in Our Nation (FIRE STATION) Act, would authorize $750 million in fire station construction grants administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for modifying, upgrading, and building fire and EMS department facilities, including local fire and EMS stations and training facilities.

The FIRE STATION Act is co-led in the House by U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) and Mike Bost (R-IL-12), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, and co-led in the Senate by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.

The bipartisan legislation is aimed at ensuring that fire and EMS departments across the nation have access to the resources they need to better serve their communities. The grant funding can be used to build, rebuild, or renovate fire and EMS department facilities; upgrade existing facilities to install exhaust emission control systems; install backup power systems; upgrade or replace environmental control systems, such as HVAC systems; remove or remediate mold; and construct or modify living quarters for use by male and female personnel.

“Firefighters and EMS personnel put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe. They deserve the best possible resources and facilities to carry out their vital work,” said Congressman Pascrell. “Our Fire Station Act will provide critical funding to help modernize fire and EMS department facilities across the nation, ensuring that our first responders have the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”

“Our fire fighters deserve the best possible facilities so they can be ready with everything they need to spring into action when duty calls. Yet nearly half of the fire stations across America require major repairs – with some even posing serious health hazards to the men and women who protect our communities. This bipartisan bill will unlock more funding to ensure our fire and EMS heroes have modern, safe, and mission-ready facilities,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“As co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I am committed to championing legislation that invests in the first responders who put their lives on the line to protect our communities every day,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “I am proud to spearhead this bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will allocate additional resources to our hero fire fighters.”

“As one of the few former firefighters in Congress, it’s a very personal mission for me to ensure our fire stations are upgraded and modernized,” said Congressman Bost. “My role as a co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus provides an important platform to see that mission through. I’m proud to support the Fire Station Construction Grants Act to ensure our firefighters have the safe and effective facilities they need to do their jobs and keep their communities safe.”

“Those who serve as fire fighters throughout Alaska not only deserve functional facilities – but need them – to help them respond quickly and safely to emergencies. Unfortunately, many fire stations in our state are in dire need of repair and updating—which is why I’m joining my colleagues in this bipartisan measure, the FIRE STATION Act, to invest in our fire stations and to support the people that are always there for our communities when we need them most,” said Senator Murkowski.

The legislation requires that FEMA allocate 25% of the grants for career fire and EMS departments, 25% of the grants for combination fire and EMS departments, and 25% of the grants for volunteer fire and EMS departments. The remaining 25% would be open to competition between the various department types. Grantees must meet prevailing wage and labor standards requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act, and procurement requirements under the Buy American Act. Grant awards are limited to $7.5 million per project.

The FIRE STATION Act has been endorsed by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI).

“Fire fighters work long shifts that stretch for 24 hours or more. Their fire stations act as second homes. Fire fighters deserve clean, modern, and safe facilities where they can train and rest between emergency responses. Countless fire stations nationwide have fallen into dangerous levels of disrepair – risking fire fighters’ health and safety. Budget-strapped local governments need assistance repairing and replacing these dilapidated stations. The IAFF applauds Representative Pascrell and Senator Van Hollen for introducing the FIRE STATION Act and fighting for the needs of our fire fighters. We urge Congress to pass this legislation and ensure fire fighters have safe and modern stations that allow them to best serve their communities,” said Edward Kelly, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

“I thank Senator Van Hollen and Representative Pascrell for the introduction of the FIRE STATION Act,” said Chief Donna M. Black, EFO, CFO, the President and Board Chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. “According to research by the National Fire Protection Association, 43 percent of fire departments have facilities that are more than 40 years old. These facilities may be affected by mold, old ventilation systems, and other environmental problems, and they may not have crew quarters for female fire and EMS personnel. This legislation will help fire departments upgrade their stations to meet the life, safety, and health requirements of the modern fire service.”

“I’d like to thank Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Pascrell for reintroducing this important legislation. Thousands of fire stations across the country are outdated and don’t meet current voluntary consensus standards for health and safety. This problem is particularly acute in smaller, rural communities, which often lack the tax base to properly invest in modern facilities for fire and EMS. The FIRE STATION Act will provide a much-needed funds to help fire and EMS departments invest in necessary facilities upgrades,” said Steve Hirsch, Chairman of the NVFC.

“Our nation’s fire and emergency services personnel work tirelessly to protect their communities. We must ensure that the facilities where they sleep, eat, and work are safe and code-compliant,” said Bill Webb, Executive Director of the CFSI. “CFSI thanks Senators Van Hollen and Murkowski and Congressman Pascrell for introducing this piece of legislation that will invest vital federal funding in fire and emergency services infrastructure across the country. We look forward to working with them and other members of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus on passage of this legislation.”

“NFPA’s latest Needs Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service, issued in late 2021, again found significant firefighter health issues at fire stations across the United States. An estimated 44 percent of fire stations are over 40 years old – a statistic that continues to grow. In addition to outdated designs and mold issues, too many stations lack proper ventilation, backup power and facilities for the growing number of female firefighters. We are pleased to support this effort by leaders of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus to invest in improvements in our nation’s fire stations and the health and safety of our nation’s first responders,” said Jim Pauley, President and CEO, NFPA.

A copy of the bill can be viewed here. A one-pager on the bill can be viewed here.

A lifelong supporter of America’s first responders, Congressman Pascrell is committed to ensuring that our fire departments have the tools they need to keep our communities safe. His Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act provides hundreds of thousands in federal support for New Jersey firefighters each year. In 2010, Rep. Pascrell helped secure a $4.5 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Fire Station Construction grant, which funded a brand new fire headquarters for the city.