Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Katherine Clark joined Senators Warren and Markey in thanking the Obama administration for its support of first responders in Watertown. The town was awarded $652,000 from FEMA’s Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant allotment.

“In the wake of last year’s tragedy in Boston, Watertown’s emergency response efforts played a critical role in bringing the suspects to justice,” said Congresswoman Katherine Clark. “I’m grateful for the Administration’s ongoing support for the men and women who put themselves in harm’s way daily for the safety of our community. This grant helps ensure that our first responders will have the resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.

“Our firefighters are out on the front lines every day protecting our communities,” Senator Elizabeth Warren said. “The professionalism and bravery of Watertown’s first responders were widely recognized in the days after the attack at the Boston Marathon last April, and I applaud Chief Mario Orangio and the Watertown Fire Department for their efforts to secure this grant. This award recognizes the critical work our firefighters do day in and day out to keep our families safe.”

“Last April, we saw that Watertown’s first responders are some of the best in the nation, and we owe it to them to provide the support they need to keep our neighborhoods safe,” said Senator Ed Markey. “This SAFER grant will go a long way towards giving the Watertown Fire Department what they need to keep doing their jobs for the public, and I applaud Chief Orangio for his leadership."

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