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Fire departments could lose in Homeland Security stalemate

2 min read
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Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey is concerned a stalemate in Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security could impact hundreds of fire departments across the state that depend on grants to purchase vehicles and equipment.

The funding bill connected to the department must be passed by Feb. 27, but the Democrat said a House version passed last month that connects the funding to immigration reform is Republicans trying to “score political points” at the risk of affecting local first responders.

The Republican-controlled Senate has not been able to reach the 60-vote super majority to overcome the Democratic filibuster that would bring the House version of the bill to the floor for a vote.

Casey said Homeland Security funding should be independent of immigration reform and called for a “clean bill” to come to the floor.

“There are just certain areas of work here that should not be immersed in politics,” Casey said. “I realize people want to make a point, but there are some Republicans out there … who think this is a really bad idea.”

He pointed to the $19.7 million in funding emergency responders in Pennsylvania received from the department in the last full fiscal year. The department received more than 1,000 applications from the state for grants this year.

Two fire departments in Washington County received a total of $177,359 in fiscal year 2013. Allegheny was the biggest beneficiary in the state from the grant that year, with 25 departments receiving nearly $2.5 million through the program.

“It’s a significant amount of money, but it’s also significant for what it pays for. Just imagine what this means for fire companies?” Casey said. “This is basic equipment these fire companies need and they should not have to tolerate politics in Washington that puts them at risk and their communities at risk when they don’t have these grants.”

He could not predict how the stalemate would end.

U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper. St. Clair, did not immediately return a phone call to discuss his position on the funding bill.

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