Nearly one in five members of Congress won’t return to their seats in January, and the fire service has a lot riding on who replaces them.
Congress controls the federal grants that many fire departments have come to depend on, and it decides the future of the equipment and communications tools departments rely on. The incoming lawmakers will have to learn what the fire service needs, and it’s up to us to teach them.
That was the backdrop when the National Advisory Committee (NAC) of the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) met in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 13. The NAC is composed of more than three dozen constituent groups that work across organizations to present a unified approach to fire service legislative issues. I represent FireRescue1 on the NAC.
CFSI advocacy supports federal fire grants
CFSI is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the sole mission of advocacy for the fire service. It raises funds through membership and advocacy donations — and it is a powerhouse. CFSI is directly and indirectly responsible for nearly $10 billion in Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and Fire Prevention grant funding over the life of the programs. It’s important to note that 100% of that funding goes to the recipients and their administrative functions. CFSI does not receive any of it.
In support of grant reauthorization back in 2023, CFSI issued a “911-call-to-Congress.” The call also stressed the urgency of funding approval for the U.S. Fire Administration. CFSI led the charge to have all of our constituent partners and fire departments across the country contact their representatives and implore them to push the funding authorizations through — collectively, we were successful.
Those grant programs have, unfortunately but predictably, become the lifeblood of many fire departments. Most fire service leaders agree that these programs were never meant to be permanent, yet we still have not identified alternative funding mechanisms. The 2023 reauthorization was the fourth in the life of these programs. The new sunset date is Sept. 30, 2030, when the fifth reauthorization will be due — which gives us a little breathing room.
Let’s review some of the other significant issues we discussed at the meeting. These topics are really just a small sample of what our constituent partners need to prepare for in the upcoming legislative cycle.
FirstNet faces reauthorization
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) was created to solve the critical communication failures exposed by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Although years of discussion about a single interoperable broadband system for public safety occurred, it wasn’t until 2012 — after the 9/11 Commission Report formally recommended better interoperability — that Congress created FirstNet. The RFP followed in 2016.
In 2017, AT&T was awarded the 25-year project. Congress seeded it with $7 billion in spectrum-auction proceeds, and AT&T makes annual payments to the FirstNet Authority for the right to use the network’s spectrum. The expected lifetime value of the contract is estimated at over $46 billion. Although the award runs 25 years (theoretically to 2042), congressional funding is subject to appropriation, like every other funding initiative.
The first reauthorization for FirstNet is looming. The current sunset for the authority’s authorization is February 2027 — a nanosecond in political terms. We are working through that process and will let you know if and when additional advocacy is needed.
Many new faces are coming to Congress
Each Congress has 535 voting members: 435 Representatives and 100 Senators. The current session, the 119th, ends in January. Part of our NAC discussions focused on the expected turnover as a result of normal attrition and the upcoming midterm elections. A normal election cycle sees about 11% of member turnover through attrition and election results. But recent reporting indicates that 99 of the current lawmakers will not return to their seats — whether through retirement, a run for another office or a primary loss. That amounts to 18%, not counting general election turnover. We all know how volatile this election season has been, which lends some credence to predictions of significant election turnover in the 120th Congress, in both parties.
Losing 18% of the current membership (which does not include election turnover) is likely to create significant upheaval in priorities and workloads. CFSI must be ready to navigate that upheaval on behalf of the fire service at large. It would be no stretch for the fire service to get “lost” in the Washington labyrinth, if given the opportunity.
To this point, Michaela Campbell, executive director of CFSI, noted: “With so many lawmakers leaving Capitol Hill, the 120th Congress is an opportunity to build new relationships and strengthen support for the fire and emergency services, but we all have to put in the work. Every member of the fire and emergency services community needs to connect with new lawmaker offices and reconnect with returning member offices, educate them about our policy issues, and encourage them to join the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. CFSI looks forward to working with our partners to build those relationships and keep fire and emergency services policy priorities moving forward in the next Congress.”
One fire service, two days in Washington
CFSI’s National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner provides a tremendous opportunity to meet those lawmakers and provide your input. The 37th annual event will be held Feb. 17 and 18, 2027, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Feb. 17 is Hill Day, where hundreds descend on the Capitol to meet with representatives or their staff. In many cases, the most fruitful meetings are with those staff members who are policy experts who keep the bills and initiatives moving forward. This advocacy is crucial to moving our fire service issues through the congressional process.
Feb. 18 is a day for educational seminars and the dinner, with a tribute to the nation’s fire service and the presentation of awards:
- Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award, co-sponsored with Motorola Solutions;
- Dr. Anne W. Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire Safety Education, co-sponsored with the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA);
- Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award, co-sponsored with CFSI, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), VFIS and UL Research Institute’s Fire Safety Research Institute;
- CFSI/Masimo Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Award, so-sponsored with Masimo; and
- CFSI Legislator of the Year Award, presented to members of Congress for supporting national fire and emergency services.
Learn more and register for the event.
Get involved
We’ve got our work cut out for us, and federal advocacy cannot rest on the same few voices. The perennial discussion at CFSI has been generational — specifically, finding ways to engage a broader cross section of firefighters, including younger members, on the need for federal advocacy. In our strategic planning sessions, we discussed program development, membership expansion, new ways for constituents to engage and fundraising, and we encouraged each organization to brainstorm ways for up-and-coming members to become involved with CFSI. As those efforts mature, we will share that information.
Remember, CFSI is a 501(c)(3), not a government entity, agency or department. It advocates for our priorities, including federal grants like AFG and SAFER, without receiving any federal grants itself. Our collective success relies on organizations like CFSI and on the next generation of firefighters who will carry this work forward. Get involved and stay involved — our future depends on it!
