By Laura French
WASHINGTON — Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) will serve as the chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus in the 117th Congress, the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) announced Monday.
Murkowski, who joined the U.S. Senate in 2002, has been an advocate for fire and emergency services throughout her career, being named the CSFI’s Legislator of the Year in 2019.
“In recent years, as communities across Alaska have faced record-high fire seasons, I met with firefighters—professional and volunteer—and saw firsthand the dedication and grit it takes to do their job. And in spite of COVID-19, our fire services have never faltered; they adjusted operations as needed and continued toward their mission to protect their respective communities and each other,” Murkowski said in a statement. “I’m proud to chair the Congressional Fire Services Caucus in the 117th Congress in support of firefighters who face disasters head-on, with great courage and commitment. I will continue to advocate for the health and safety of our fire service members, empowering them to serve and protect the public to the best of their abilities.”
The Congressional Fire Services Caucus was established in 1987 to educate members of Congress about the work of fire and emergency services. The caucus was created to be a bipartisan group where Republicans and Democrats could work together to learn about the nation’s fire and emergency services, improve the readiness of local first responders and recognize the valor and dedication of fire and emergency services personnel.
“Senator Murkowski has worked tirelessly in the Senate in support of initiatives to help the fire and emergency services. Her commitment to advancing public safety through bipartisanship makes her well-prepared to lead the Congressional Fire Services Caucus in the 117th Congress,” said CFSI Executive Director Bill Webb, in a statement. “CFSI looks forward to working with her to expand the membership of the caucus in the coming years and ensure that Congress is well-educated on the needs of our nation’s first responders.”
A full list of current Congressional Fire Services Caucus members can be viewed on the CFSI’s website.