PHOTO: (from left) IAFC Treasurer Rich Carrizzo, IAFC First VP Gary Ludwig, IAFC President Dan Eggleston, Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan, IAFC Second VP Otto Drozd, and IAFC CEO/Executive Director Mark Light. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security)
IAFC leaders are in Washington this week to raise awareness on Capitol Hill about federal funding and legislative priorities important to IAFC members and the entire fire and emergency service. Leading the way are President Dan Eggleston, First Vice President Gary Ludwig, Second Vice President Otto Drozd and Treasurer Rich Carrizzo.
More than a dozen meetings were held with Congressional offices, committees and administration officials, including the acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, on IAFC high-priority issues. Issues include:
- Fire sprinkler retrofit installation tax incentives
- FIRE/SAFER grants
- Hazmat response training
- Helping Emergency Responders Overcome (HERO) Act
- Homeland security issues (Department of Homeland Security)
- National Fire Academy funding
- Next Generation 911
- Rural fire and EMS grants
- Self-driving automobiles (National Highway Transportation Administration)
- T-Band
- Urban search and rescue funding
- US Fire Administration funding
- Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act
- Wildland fire issues (US Forest Service)
Eggleston said these are all important issues to the fire and emergency service and it’s important that members of Congress and federal agencies hear directly from fire chiefs.
We are having a most productive week delivering the IAFC’s message to Capitol Hill. The IAFC encourages all fire chiefs, from small towns to the largest cities, to communicate with your federal representatives on issues important to your department, your community, and the fire and emergency service as a whole.
The IAFC has resources available at IAFC.org. On the Legislative Issues page, fire chiefs can download the IAFC Hot Sheet, which is updated monthly. The Hot Sheet contains all the information you need to talk to your congressmen and senators about federal fire and emergency service priorities.