Today Congressman Henry Cuellar, together with officials from the Roma Volunteer Fire Department, announced the awarding of a federal grant in the amount of $54,755 to the Fire Department.

The grant was awarded to the Volunteer Fire Department to purchase new equipment for their fire trucks, and provide several members of the volunteer fire department with new fire-fighter bunker protective gear, including a jacket, pair of pants, gloves, helmet and boots.

Congressman Cuellar says the safety and well-being of our men and women when responding to an emergency situation is a top priority of his.

“As Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response, it’s important to me that our first responders—those tasked to keep our community members safe in times of emergencies—are equipped with the latest protective gear and equipment,” says Congressman Cuellar. “When I learned what the Roma Volunteer Fire Department needed the money for, it was crucial that this grant be awarded.”

Meanwhile, Fire Chief Jose H. Garcia says with Congressman Cuellar’s help this year, they were finally able to receive the much needed money.

“I’ve tried over the last seven or eight years to receive grant money, and this time we worked with Congressman Cuellar’s office.  I am very grateful for his help and look forward to more funding opportunities in the future.”

The Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program is an important component of the Administration’s larger, coordinated effort to strengthen the nation’s overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and fire-related hazards.  Since 2004, AFG has provided almost $2.2 billion to first-responder organizations for the purchase of equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

This award is round 22 of Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program announcements.  The grant was written through the combined efforts of Roma Mayor Rogelio Ybarra, Fire Chief Garcia, City Manager Cristanto Salinas, and Grant Writer Josie Hinojosa. The ceremonial check was presented to the Chief by Congressman Henry Cuellar at the grant announcement held at the Roma Fire Station on Monday, February 11, 2008.

For more information on grants, please contact the Office of Congressman Henry Cuellar at (202) 225-1640.  For information on Congressman Henry Cuellar, visit his website at www.cuellar.house.gov.

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