September 28, 2009
Exton, PA -- Today, Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) congratulated the Malvern Fire Company on being awarded $1,076,845 to upgrade their station. The funding announcement follows Congressman Sestak’s visit to Malvern FC in June of 2009 and his contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urging support for the funding. This award is part of more than $380 million in grants – funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)– to pay for fire station construction and port and transit security initiatives nationwide while creating jobs and stimulating local economies.
“I am very proud of the members of the Malvern Fire Company,” said Congressman Sestak. “Malvern Fire Company was just one of one hundred and four stations nationwide to receive this funding. I would like to specifically commend Chief Paul Wilkins and John Rychlak, President of the company, who have both worked closely with my staff and FEMA representatives throughout the application process. This award is a testament to their hard work and dedication. Not only will this stimulus money help increase safety for the residents of Malvern and the surrounding communities, but it will also help generate much needed local construction work.”
The Fire Station Construction Grant Program (SCG) is awarding $166 million for fire departments to build new or modify existing fire stations to enhance response capabilities and protect communities from fire-related hazards. These grants will replace unsafe or uninhabitable structures and expand fire protection coverage in compliance with National Fire Protection Association standards.
In awarding ARRA funds, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) prioritizes shovel-ready projects that infuse resources into local economies quickly while meeting critical security needs. DHS has obligated more than 30 percent of its ARRA funds to date, and is on track to obligate more than 50 percent by the end of September 2009.
ARRA, signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 19, committed more than $3 billion for homeland security projects through DHS and the General Services Administration (GSA)—including $610 million to FEMA for grants to local communities across the country.
Since taking office in January 2007, Congressman Sestak has been an active supporter of both professional and volunteer firefighters, and is a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. He emphasized the importance of properly funding first responder grant programs, which received $3.5 billion in the Homeland Security Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2010 passed by the House earlier this year. The legislation includes $420 million for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) to help local fire departments with equipment and staffing needs. He also submitted several fire company projects for Federal Appropriation funding.
The Malvern Fire Company, which has more than 60 personnel and includes both professional and volunteer firefighters, has served the Malvern community for more than 120 years. Founded in 1888, it currently operates five pieces of emergency medical apparatus and five pieces of emergency fire apparatus. Their current building also serves as their training facility, an emergency evacuation location for the community and it provides community meeting space. The building was constructed in 1982, and although serving the company well for many years, has fallen into disrepair, and the costs to maintain it continue to increase. They currently provide essential emergency fire, rescue and medical services to their primary jurisdiction, which is about 10 square miles in size and inhabited by about 20,000 people. They also provide mutual aid emergency services to nearby communities. These services are provided primarily by volunteers, which saves the community a substantial amount of money. They have acquired and maintain the apparatus and equipment needed to appropriately and professionally respond to thousands of emergency calls each year. In order to provide these services, they rely heavily on the community to provide the necessary funding, in the form of fundraising events, donations and grants, but this grant comes as needed assistance, as they struggle to meet financial demands.
Born and raised in Delaware County, former 3-star Admiral Joe Sestak served in the Navy for 31 years and now serves as the Representative from the 7th District of Pennsylvania. He led a series of operational commands at sea, including Commander of an aircraft carrier battle group of 30 U.S. and allied ships with over 15,000 sailors and 100 aircraft that conducted operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. After 9/11, the Congressman was the first Director of Deep Blue, the Navy’s anti-terrorism unit that established strategic and operations policies for the Global War on Terrorism. He served as President Clintons Director for Defense Policy at the National Security Council in the White House, and holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. According to the office of the House Historian, Congressman Sestak is the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to the U.S. Congress.
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