IAFC President Wolford Joins IAFF General President Kelly in Asking Congress to Re-Open the Federal Government
On October 20, Fire Chief Trisha Wolford, the IAFC’s President and Board Chair, joined IAFF General President Edward Kelly is asking Congress to reopen the federal government. In this letter the House and Senate leadership Chief Wolford and General President Kelly cited the hardships of federal firefighters, who must continue to go to work while not being paid. They also cited the problems that fire departments are having with FEMA grants, because the FEMA GO portal is not operating during the federal shutdown. They also cited the expiration of the add-on payments for the EMS transport of Medicare patients. They strongly urged Congress to reopen the federal government.
FEMA Extends Deadline for Accepting AFG, FP&S, and SAFER Grants to November 24
This week, FEMA extended the deadline for fire departments to accept their Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER), or Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S) grants to “November 24 or the deadline otherwise set forth by the grant award, whichever is later.” With the federal government shutdown, the FEMA GO website is not operational.
The Fix Our Forests Act (S. 1462) Passes Senate Agriculture Committee
On October 21, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry passed the Fix Our Forests Act (S. 1462) by a vote of 18-5. The bill would implement almost 50 of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission’s recommendations. It also would improve coordination of federal wildland fire preparedness efforts; promote the use of prescribed fires and other measures to prevent WUI fires; and promote the development of new technologies to help local fire departments.
S. 1462 must be considered by the full Senate. A House companion bill (H.R. 471) passed on January 23.
Senate Commerce Advances Legislation to Reauthorize PHMSA
On October 22, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation passed the Pipeline Safety Act of 2025 (S. 2975). The bill would reauthorize the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for another five years and increase funding for pipeline safety programs.
S. 2975 must be considered by the full Senate. A similar House bill (H.R. 5301) that would also reauthorize PHMSA passed on September 17.