PHOTOS: With Senate Set to Consider Peters’ Bipartisan Bill to Extend Federal Support for Local Fire Departments, Senator Joins Firefighters & Local Officials in Sterling Heights

STERLING HEIGHTS, MI – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, visited the Sterling Heights Fire Department today to highlight the need to pass his bipartisan legislation that would extend federal grant programs that provide critical resources to Michigan fire stations. The bill is expected to be considered by the full Senate this week after passing out of committee last month. The legislation would reauthorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, and the United States Fire Administration (USFA). The programs are set to expire and used by local fire departments across Southeast Michigan to address staffing needs, purchase equipment, develop fire training and education programs, and improve emergency medical services.

During the event, Peters participated in a fire safety demonstration using equipment that the Sterling Heights Fire Department purchased with funding from the AFG program, and met with firefighters who were hired using SAFER grants. Peters was also joined by Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor and Sterling Heights Fire Department Chief Kevin Edmond.

“We have a responsibility to ensure our firefighters — who put their lives on the line every day — have the tools and resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively,” said Senator Peters. “My bipartisan bill that the Senate is considering would ensure these widely used federal grant programs can continue providing support to local fire departments across Southeast Michigan and our state.”

“I’m grateful to Senator Peters for leading this effort to ensure that fire stations can continue to count on critical federal programs,” said Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor. “Cities like Sterling Heights count on these resources to ensure our firefighters can do their jobs effectively and today, we saw firsthand just how instrumental federal grant programs are for keeping our community safe. I urge Congress to pass the Fire Grants and Safety Act as soon as possible to support local fire departments here in Michigan and across the nation.”

“By passing Senator Peters’ Fire Grants and Safety Act, Congress can help ensure that firefighters and first responders in Sterling Heights, and across the state, have the resources and equipment needed to protect their communities,” said Sterling Heights Fire Chief Kevin Edmond. “I am grateful to Senator Peters for leading this important bill and for his continued commitment to supporting the health and safety of our first responders.”   

Since 2018, the Sterling Heights Fire Department has received more than $2.7 million from these federal grant programs. For example, the department received $507,270 in 2021 from the AFG program to purchase equipment, upgrade vehicles, and fund health care screenings for firefighters. In 2019, the department received $1,766,993 from the SAFER grant program to hire an additional six firefighters and paramedics.

In 2021, Michigan fire departments at-large received more than $10.8 million from the AFG program, and more than $8 million from the SAFER grant program. This visit highlighted the need to pass Peters’ Fire Grants and Safety Act to reauthorize these critical grant programs.

Peters also discussed a bipartisan law he wrote to help protect the health and safety of firefighters and emergency responders from PFAS exposure. The Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act directs federal agencies to develop best practices, training, and educational programs to reduce, limit and prevent exposure to PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they do not naturally break down.

To download high-resolution photos from the visit, click here or on the images below. Images are courtesy of Senator Peters’ office.

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