Senator Chris Dodd (CT), Senator Susan Collins (ME), Congressman Peter King (NY) and Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (MO) have been selected as co-chairpersons of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, filling four vacancies in leadership following the 2006 Congressional elections. They will join veteran caucus leaders Senator John McCain, Senator Joe Biden, Congressman Steny Hoyer and Congressman Rob Andrews in educating their congressional colleagues about the challenges facing our nation’s first responders during the 110th Congress.
The largest caucus in Congress with over 300 members, the Congressional Fire Services Caucus is a bipartisan caucus dedicated to increasing awareness on Capitol Hill about the challenges and needs of our nation’s firefighters and rescue personnel. Founded by Congressman Curt Weldon in 1987, the Caucus has played a major role in enacting legislation benefiting our nation’s first responders, most notably the FIRE Act, SAFER and legislation reallocating broadcast spectrum for public safety use. The four new caucus leaders will bring to the Caucus leadership a broad range of expertise and leadership on homeland security issues.
Elected to Congress in 1981, Senator Chris Dodd serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. In 2001, he was selected as a co-recipient of the Congressional Fire Services Institute’s Legislator of the Year for his work on the FIRE Act. He continues his efforts in the Senate, advocating for increased funding for the program, while also calling for increased support for the SAFER program. He has also been very supportive of programs conducted by both CFSI and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation on Capitol Hill.
Senator Susan Collins, elected to the Senate in 1996, is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Prior to the 2006 elections, Senator Collins was the Chairperson of the Committee and worked closely with the national fire service organizations on a range of legislative issues addressing the reorganization of the Department of Homeland Security and first responder grant programs. She is also a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services.
Like Senator Collins, Congressman Peter King is the ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security. As former chairman of the committee during the 109th session, Congressman King developed a strong working relationship with the fire service organizations, seeking their input on legislation pending in his committee that impacted first responder readiness.
Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson entered Congress in 1997, winning the seat once occupied by her late-husband Congressman Bill Emerson, the 1995 CFSI Legislator of the Year. A member of the House Committee on Appropriations and former Chairperson of the House Rural Caucus, Congresswoman Emerson brings to the Caucus leadership a profound understanding of homeland security issues, particularly as it relates to rural communities.
“The most important element in the selection of these four new leaders is their reputation for working in a bipartisan spirit on first responder issues,†said CFSI Executive Director Bill Webb. “Moreover, each of them have a history of working with the fire organizations in Washington and have always been willing to listen to our concerns. CFSI looks forward to working with them and the veteran leaders of the caucus during the 110th session.â€