Senator Marshall Highlights Firefighter Appreciation Day

Great Bend - Today, as the nation recognizes National Firefighter Appreciation Day, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) is honoring the brave men and women across Kansas who run toward danger so the rest of us don't have to. From the volunteer departments in Western Kansas to the crews serving Wichita and Kansas City, Kansas firefighters exemplify the courage, sacrifice, and community spirit that define our state.

"As a doctor, I've seen firsthand what happens in those critical minutes before a firefighter or first responder arrives on scene - and I know that lives hang in the balance," said Senator Marshall. "These men and women don't clock in for the paycheck - they do it because they love their neighbors and their communities. Kansas is full of that kind of character, and I'm proud to go to bat for them every single day in the United States Senate."

Kansas is home to hundreds of fire departments - the vast majority of them volunteer - protecting communities that stretch across nearly 82,000 square miles. In rural Kansas, a volunteer firefighter will drive across the county to reach a wildfire, and departments often operate on shoestring budgets, relying on aging equipment and the generosity of local donors. Senator Marshall has consistently advocated in Congress for robust federal funding to ensure no Kansas firefighter is left without the tools they need to do their job safely.

As part of the annual federal appropriations process, Senator Marshall has submitted the following funding requests on behalf of Kansas fire and emergency management. These requests reflect conversations with fire chiefs, union leaders, emergency managers, and community members across all 105 Kansas counties:

• The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program at FEMA helps fire departments obtain the equipment, protective gear, vehicles, and training necessary to protect the public
• The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program at FEMA ensures fire departments have the staffing levels necessary to make it home safe
• The National Firefighter Registry for Cancer at the CDC: the nation's largest firefighter cancer registry that helps better understand and reduce the link between firefighting and cancer
• Read the full letter HERE.

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