AM Radio Bill passes the U.S House of Representatives
On September 15, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (H.R. 979) passed the U.S. House of Representatives by voice vote. This bipartisan legislation would require manufacturers of automobiles to include AM radio service in every new car as a free and standard service. We hope to see the Senate take swift action to advance their version of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (S. 315), so they can go to a conference with the House with the intent to pass the bill into law this year.
IAFC Leadership Advocates for IAFC Members’ Interests in Washington DC
On the week of September 14-18, the IAFC leadership visited Washington, DC, to advocate for your interests. Chief Mike Snider, the IAFC’s Second Vice President, attended the annual U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD on September 15. The summit reviewed the history of America’s fire and emergency service and discussed future challenges facing local fire departments, including in the fields of wildland fire, technology, and health and safety. IAFC Board Member, Chief Peter Burke, also attended the summit.
Chief Snider then joined Chief Steven Locke, the IAFC’s President and Board Chair, and Chief Ernest Malone, the IAFC’s First Vice President, for meetings with Trump Administration and Congressional leaders. They met with Chief Paul D. Matheis, the U.S. Fire Administrator, to discuss how the IAFC can work with Chief Matheis to address the challenges facing America’s fire and emergency service. The IAFC leadership also met with representatives of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service to get an update on the new agency’s creation at the U.S. Department of Interior.
The IAFC leaders then met with the leadership of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA); House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY); Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY); and Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) to discuss legislative priorities for the end of the 119th Congress. The chiefs discussed the need to fund the Assistance to Firefighters Grant, Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, and Fire Prevention & Safety grants and keep the National Fire Academy open. They also discussed the need to pass legislation to preserve the federal FirstNet Authority; pass legislation to address the wildland fire problem; and regulate lithium-ion batteries in micro mobility devices.
IAFC T&HS Committee Members Testify About 9/11 and its Effects on the Fire Service.
On September 16, members of the IAFC testified before the House Homeland Security Committee on the fire service response to the 9/11/01 attacks; how it shaped America’s fire and emergency services; and what current challenges fire and EMS departments are facing. Chief James Schwartz, the former Fire Chief of the Arlington County (VA) Fire Department and incident commander at the Pentagon response, told the story of his department’s response to the Pentagon and the need to support first responder communications and the Incident Command System. Former Commissioner Daniel Nigro of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) discussed the response to the World Trade Center and the FDNY’s changes to planning and response to terrorism. Later, Chief Thomas Currao, FDNY Chief of Fire Prevention, and Chief John Donnelly, Sr., Fire and EMS Chief of the District of Columbia Fire & Emergency Medical Services Department, answered questions from representatives on planning and response to homeland security events; the need for information and intelligence sharing with the fire service; and the implementation of some of the recommendations from the 9/11 commission report.
Senate Agriculture Committee Passes Legislation to Reform Volunteer Fire Assistance Program
On September 16, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry passed the Agriculture Act of 2026. This bill includes legislation to extend the eligibility for the U.S. Forest Service’s Volunteer Fire Assistance program. Specifically, the legislation would:
- Change the qualifying community population threshold from 10,000 to 15,000 or less.
- Change the percentage of volunteer (non-salaried) firefighting personnel from 80 percent to 70 percent.
- Allow for the Secretary of Agriculture’s discretion in waiving match requirements, similar to other fire and state and private forestry programs.
The bill must still be considered by the full Senate. The House passed its version of the Farm bill (The Farm, Food, and National Security Act (H.R. 7567)) on April 30. The House bill also includes these reforms to the VFA program.
Vanguard Program Application Period Open Through October 15
The application period for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Disaster and Emergency Management University (NDEMU) Vanguard Executive Crisis Leaders Fellowship is open through October 15, 2026.
The Vanguard Executive Crisis Leaders Fellowship is designed for the nation’s most experienced crisis leaders to explore conceptual frameworks and real-world experiences, focusing on current and emerging national challenges. Through collaboration and shared expertise, Fellows build meaningful networks, learn from partners outside the traditional emergency management sphere, and work to build creative solutions to help advance the profession. Through a series of focused discussions with top experts and peers, participants will engage in seminars, site visits with crisis leadership experts, and roundtable sessions to discuss and debate the challenges we share as crisis leaders to improve personal and collective preparedness.
AFC members are encouraged to apply.