Kanjorski Announces $35,112 for Courtdale Volunteer Hose Company

WASHINGTON - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) today announced that the Courtdale Volunteer Hose Company received a $35,112 federal grant for upgrade of its airpacks.

The money is part of the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) grant program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Congressman Kanjorski has long been a vocal advocate in ensuring firefighters and other emergency responders are well-equipped.

"Grants like these are essential to small volunteer fire companies like Courtdale, which rely upon fundraising and donations for equipment and operations. We must provide our emergency personnel with the best equipment possible, and I am pleased that the federal government recognizes this. These men and women risk their lives for others and the government must protect them," Congressman Kanjorski said.

Courtdale Fire Chief Steve Matello said the FIRE grants are a tremendous help. "These grants are important because we're a small department and we're pretty much self-sufficient. Most of our income comes from fundraising. If we didn't get this grant, we were going to take out a loan to upgrade our airpacks," Chief Matello said.

Congressman Kanjorski was among 286 cosponsors of the FIRE Act of 2000. More than $8.5 million in federal grants has been awarded to fire companies in the 11^th congressional district since the FIRE grant program began. To date, 80 fire companies in the 11^th congressional district have benefited from this federal grant program.

Congressman Kanjorski has developed a resource guide for firefighters that includes comprehensive federal and state grant and contact information. The guide is available on Congressman Kanjorski's Web site, http://kanjorski.house.gov/.

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