H.R. 4090 would reauthorize appropriations, which expire at the end of 2023, for operations of the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and for two grant programs that organization administers:
Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), which funds training and purchases of equipment and vehicles, and
Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER), which helps state, local, and tribal fire departments hire and retain firefighters and first responders.
H.R. 4090 would authorize the appropriation of $95 million annually over the 2024-2028 period for USFA’s operations. (The Congress provided $58 million for that purpose in fiscal year 2023.) The bill also would authorize the appropriation of $750 million annually for each grant program over the 2024-2028 period. (The Congress provided $360 million for each program in fiscal year 2023.)
In addition, H.R. 4090 would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an audit of the USFA, including barriers that prevent fire departments from accessing federal grants, and report to the Congress within three years of enactment. Using information from GAO about the cost of similar audits, CBO estimates that implementing that requirement would cost about $1 million.
