Jefferson Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 28, 2024 – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, secured $298,000 for the City of Slocomb to update police and fire safety equipment.

$278,000 of the congressionally directed funds will enable the City of Slocomb to upgrade public safety firefighting equipment, including replacing a 32-year-old fire tanker truck that hauls water to fight fires at residences without hydrants. These funds are part of the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

Senator Britt also secured $20,000 for the Slocomb Police Department to procure new public safety equipment. These congressionally directed funds are included in the FY25 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

“When I joined the Appropriations Committee, I committed to bringing Alabamians’ hard-earned dollars home. These funds would return to the City of Slocomb to invest in the safety of local families and the brave firefighters and law enforcement officers that keep their community safe,” said Senator Britt.

The FY25 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act and the FY25 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act were recently advanced by the Senate Appropriations Committee and now await consideration by the full Senate.

BACKGROUND:

Senator Britt is an advocate for ensuring the unique needs of Alabama’s communities—rural and urban—are met. This includes supporting law enforcement officers and emergency responders.

Senator Britt is a staunch champion of Alabama’s law enforcement community. She is a cosponsor of the Back the Blue Act, which would strengthen existing laws that protect police officers, increase criminal penalties for individuals who target law enforcement officers, and expand tools that police can use to protect themselves. Senator Britt is also a cosponsor of the Thin Blue Line Act which would expand statutory aggravating factors in capital punishment determinations to include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter or other first responder.

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