On June 19th, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved S. 3181, the Fiscal Year 2009 Homeland Security Appropriations Act.  The bill funds the Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE) Grant and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant at the same levels as Fiscal Year 2008 - $560 million and $190 million respectively.  In the Bush Administration's FY09 budget request, the Administration recommended eliminating funding for SAFER and cutting funding for FIRE to $300 million. 
 
On June 24th, the House Appropriations Committee also approved a Fiscal Year 2009 spending bill for homeland security (bill number pending at press time).  Similar to the Senate, the House committee rejected the Administration's proposed cuts, but approved a slight increase in funding for FIRE and SAFER.  The House bill funds FIRE at $570 million - a $10 million increase over FY08 - and SAFER at $230 million - a $40 million increase over FY08. 
 
In addition to funding FIRE and SAFER grants, the bills also provide funding for the United States Fire Administration (USFA).  The Senate bill funds USFA at $43.3 million, maintaining the same level of funding as FY08.  The House bill provides a slight increase, funding USFA at slightly more than $44.9.  The additional funds are intended to  update the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and make infrastructure improvements at the National Fire Academy (NFA).  The Administration had recommended cutting funding for USFA to $40.9 million for FY09. 
 
Both houses of Congress must now approve their respective spending bills and resolve any differences before sending the final bill to the White House for the President's signature.  President Bush has threatened to veto any appropriations bill that exceeds the Administration's proposed budget, so it remains to be seen what the final outcome will be.