FAIRFAX, Va. — On April 6, 2006 the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) will host the 18th annual National Fire & Emergency Services Dinner at the Washington Hilton and Towers in Washington, D.C. The IAFC encourages all fire chiefs to come to Washington, D.C. to discuss fire service priorities with their members of Congress and participate in the CFSI events and dinner.
In order to better prepare our members and other interested parties, the IAFC will host a session on important legislative issues in the State Room of the Washington Hilton at 5:15 p.m. on April 5, the night before the dinner.
This CFSI dinner provides an excellent opportunity for IAFC members to meet with their representatives in Congress to discuss fire service priorities. In order to assist in preparing for these meetings, we recommend that all attendees take advantage of the IAFC’s Legislative Action Alert. These materials include a “Hot Sheet,” which highlights those issues that are the highest priority for the IAFC and the nation’s fire service:
• Funding for the FIRE Act and SAFER
• Funding for the U.S. Fire Administration and National Fire Academy
• Tax Incentives for Retrofit of Fire Sprinkler Systems
• Job protection for volunteer firefighters and EMS.
The Hot Sheet is available on the Government Relations page on the IAFC’s Web site, http://www.iafc.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=23. It contains suggested talking points on these priorities. In addition, IAFC members will have access to a more detailed “Issues Update” that provides comprehensive background information and legislative strategy for several important issues.
Each year, the attention of our nation’s highest officials is trained upon the fire service during the National Fire & Emergency Services Dinner. The IAFC’s legislative briefing materials are intended to help our members speak with a knowledgeable unified voice on these issues.
Home Day Events
If you are unable to attend the CFSI Dinner, the IAFC recommends that you take part in the “Home Day” activities on the week of April 17. This event is sponsored by the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers Association (FAMA), the Fire and Emergency Manufacturers and Services Association (FEMSA), the IAFC, the CFSI, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC).
FAMA/FEMSA companies in your area will be inviting you to join them in meeting at their facilities with their members of Congress. The purpose of these events will be to thank members of Congress for their support and discuss the issues of importance to the fire service.
Events such as the CFSI Dinner and the Home Day activities serve as great opportunities for you to build a relationship with your Senators and Representative. It is important that your members of Congress hear directly from you in order to ensure that Congress adequately meets the needs of the fire service in this tight budget environment. The IAFC would like to remind its members that any time is a good time to sit down with a member of Congress to advance the agenda of America’s fire service.