1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to investigate consolidation in the fire apparatus manufacturing industry and the role private equity ownership has played in driving up costs for fire departments across the country. In recent years, private equity firms have acquired major fire engine and emergency vehicle manufacturers, reducing the number of independent competitors in this critical market. Fire departments, many of which operate on constrained municipal budgets, have reported dramatic price increases and multi-year delivery delays for new apparatus. When a handful of firms under common private equity ownership control the market, departments lose the negotiating leverage that competition would otherwise provide, and taxpayers ultimately bear the cost. This pattern is not unique to fire apparatus. Private equity roll-ups have occurred across numerous industries essential to public safety and everyday consumer life, frequently followed by price increases, reduced service quality, workforce reductions, and diminished competition. I ask that you: 1 Request that the appropriate committee (such as Judiciary or Homeland Security) investigate pricing practices and market concentration in the fire apparatus manufacturing sector. 2 Examine whether private equity acquisitions in this space have violated antitrust law or warrant closer scrutiny under merger review standards. 3 Support legislative guardrails on private equity roll-ups in industries critical to public safety, healthcare, housing, and other essential services, including stronger disclosure requirements, leverage limits, and antitrust enforcement funding. 4 Hold hearings to give fire chiefs, municipal officials, and workers directly affected by these acquisitions the opportunity to testify about the real-world impact on their communities and jobs. Fire departments should not have to choose between underfunding other critical needs and paying inflated prices driven by financial engineering rather than genuine cost increases. I urge you to take action on this issue and would appreciate a response outlining the steps you plan to take. Thank you for your attention to this matter.