NEWARK – Today, U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) announced that Voorhees Fire District has received more than $330,000 in federal funding to hire firefighters through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program.

“Firefighters risk their lives to keep New Jersey communities safe, and this federal funding will help ensure that the Voorhees Fire Department is adequately staffed and prepared for emergency situations,” said Senator Lautenberg, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which funds the SAFER program. “Protecting New Jersey communities is our first priority, and we will continue fighting for federal funds to staff and equip local fire departments.”

“Even in these difficult economic times, the safety of our communities has to be a top priority,” said Menendez. “This funding will help ensure that Voorhees Fire Department has the dedicated firefighters they need to effectively protect the health and safety of the public and their own emergency responses personnel with respect to fire and all other hazards. I’ll never stop fighting to for the federal funding our first responders need.”

As Vice Chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Lautenberg has worked to provide sufficient funding for the SAFER program. The SAFER grant program provides funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations in order to help them increase the number of trained “front line” firefighters in their communities.

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