Bill Overview
Title: Fire Station Construction Grants Act
Description: This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a grant program to modify, upgrade, and construct fire and emergency medical services (EMS) department facilities. Grant recipients may use funds to build, rebuild, or renovate fire and EMS department facilities; upgrade existing facilities to install exhaust emission control systems, install backup power systems, upgrade or replace environmental control systems (such as HVAC systems), remove or remediate mold, and construct or modify living quarters for use by male and female personnel; and upgrade fire and EMS stations or build new stations. Grant recipients must meet one of the two most recently published editions of relevant codes and standards, especially codes and standards that (1) require up-to-date hazard resistant and safety provisions, and (2) are relevant for protecting firefighter health and safety. The bill sets forth provisions regarding (1) grant fund allocations between career and volunteer fire and EMS departments, (2) overtime, and (3) prevailing rate of wage and a requirement for using materials produced domestically for public contracts.
Sponsors: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Target Audience
Population: People working in global fire and EMS departments
Estimated Size: 1500000
- The bill affects individuals working in fire and EMS departments that are due for upgrades or new construction, as it directly influences their working conditions.
- Both career and volunteer fire and EMS departments are included, expanding the scope to many communities across the country.
- Better working conditions, safety and health standards, like up-to-date hazard resistant provisions, will directly affect these workers' wellbeing.
- Building or upgrading facilities may also impact local construction workers, manufacturers of relevant materials, and other related industries.
- This bill may have indirect impacts on the communities served by these fire and EMS departments, as improved facilities can lead to better service delivery.
Reasoning
- Firefighters and EMS workers are directly impacted because their workplaces will see improvements, offering enhanced safety and health, which boosts job satisfaction and wellbeing.
- Volunteer fire departments, which often struggle with funding, could benefit greatly, extending their service capabilities and improving volunteer experiences.
- Communities will receive better service due to improved facilities, potentially impacting local perceptions of safety and wellbeing.
- Construction industries and suppliers of relevant materials will see increased demand, potentially influencing local economies.
- The policy might have limited impact for those in recent facilities or departments with sufficient funding.
Simulated Interviews
Volunteer Firefighter (Rural Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The old fire station is barely holding up. If this grant allows us to renovate, it could make a big difference in our operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Career Firefighter (Suburban California)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- An improved exhaust system would be nice, but we're fortunate to have a fairly modern station already.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
EMS Paramedic (Urban New York City)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The mold in our station is a serious health concern. If the grant can address this, it would prevent a lot of sick days.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Volunteer Fire Chief (Rural Kansas)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's been difficult to recruit volunteers with our old facilities. New amenities could change that and leave a legacy for future chiefs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Construction Worker (Midwestern City)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This grant means more construction work for my crew. This can keep us employed through the next few years.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Volunteer EMT (Small Town Ohio)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having separate living quarters would make us feel more comfortable and respected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Career Firefighter (Philadelphia)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We've just had our facility upgraded; I doubt we will see any immediate benefits from the grant.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Retired EMS worker (Rural Alaska)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved facilities are great for the young ones, but I've done my time. I'm mostly concerned about allocation fairness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Fire Department Engineer (Southern California)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill could increase demand for designs that meet the new standards, keeping my team busy for years.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Volunteer Firefighter (Urban Illinois)
Age: 33 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This grant is crucial for our station. We need modern facilities to serve our community better and attract more volunteers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000000 (Low: $900000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 2: $1020000000 (Low: $920000000, High: $1220000000)
Year 3: $1040000000 (Low: $940000000, High: $1240000000)
Year 5: $1080000000 (Low: $980000000, High: $1280000000)
Year 10: $1200000000 (Low: $1080000000, High: $1320000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Compliance with federal safety and hazard standards could lead to increased initial costs but potentially mitigate future liabilities.
- Direct impacts include improved work environments for fire and EMS personnel, indirectly enhancing public safety service quality.
- Pressure on local infrastructure and skilled labor resources during peak construction could inflate costs.
- Diverse impacts on local economies depending on the extent of construction and renovation activities involved.