America’s federal government plays a crucial role in supporting our first responders.
We can thank the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) for helping educate members of Congress about the critical challenges we face. CFSI helps enlighten our leaders about how the federal government can support emergency responders.
CFSI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy institute that has been highly influential on Capitol Hill for 30 years. Members of Congress turn to CFSI for timely information about the tools we need to properly protect and serve the nation.
CFSI’s caucus is one of the largest in Congress and its strength comes from our National Advisory Committee (NAC), which is unique within the fire service; it consists of 38 national fire and emergency service organizations. Its role is to develop consensus positions on major issues, allowing the fire service to deliver unified messages to Congress.
Our current chair, Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware, joins a long list of storied individuals in leading the caucus, including Sen. Joe Biden (Delaware) and the late Sen. John McCain (Arizona), among others.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance this caucus plays in keeping our nation’s first responders safely equipped for any emergency response.
Your role is even more critical!
Please join me as prominent members of the administration and the CFSI leadership gather on April 23-24 in Washington for the 2019 National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner.
Nearly 2,000 notable fire service members will travel from all over to attend. I hope you will be one of them.
Our representatives on Capitol Hill must hear directly from fire chiefs about the importance of properly funding the U.S. Fire Administration, the National Fire Academy, and the FIRE/SAFER Grant Programs. Also critical is legislation protecting the T-band, repairing the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act, passing the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act, import issues surrounding autonomous vehicles and cost accounting for EMS.
If you cannot attend, please arrange to meet with your federal representatives when they are available back in their districts.
The IAFC's Legislative Hot Sheet (PDF) has information especially designed to help you prepare.
We are making a difference!
Fire Chief Dan Eggleston
President and Chairman of the Board