CFSI Update
ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCES REFORMS TO PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS' BENEFITS PROGRAM
On Wednesday, May 15th, Attorney General Eric Holder announced a series of reforms to the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program. The changes are a result of a comprehensive review of the program conducted by the Attorney General's office. Read More »
(May 16, 2013) - On May 8th and 9th, the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) hosted the 25th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner and Seminars in Washington, DC. The theme of this year's program was "Renewing Our Commitment." The event was attended by nearly 2,000 fire and emergency services leaders from across the country who attending workshops and met with their members of Congress. Read More »
VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TO ADDRESS 25th ANNUAL NATIONAL FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES DINNER
(April 30, 2013) - The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) is honored to announce that Vice President Joe Biden will deliver the keynote address at the 25th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner. The event will take place on May 9th at the Washington Hilton starting at 6:30 p.m. Read More »
CFSI TO HOST NATIONAL FIRE PARTNERS SHOWCASE
(April 30, 2013) - On May 8th and 9th, the Congressional Fire Services Institute will host the National Fire Partners Showcase to be held in conjunction with the 25th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner and Seminars. The National Fire Partners Showcase is a unique opportunity for members of the CFSI National Advisory Committee, federal agencies, and other organizations to display educational information about their programs and initiatives to make the fire and emergency services safer and better prepared. The exhibits will be located in Columbia Hall at the Washington Hilton (1919 Connecticut Ave, NW), the site of the CFSI Seminars Program. Exhibits are open from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8th and from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 9th. Read More »
FIFTH ANNUAL CFSI FIRE SERVICE BARBEQUE BASH
(April 30, 2013) - The Congressional Fire Services Institute, along with co-sponsors LION Apparel, DuPONT, and the International Association of Arson Investigators, are pleased to announce the CFSI Fire Service Barbeque Bash on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 5:30 pm in Columbia Hall at the Washington Hilton (1919 Connecticut Ave, NW). The DC Fire Fighting BBQ Team will be grilling barbeque favorites with all the trimmings at a casual gathering, where you can come relax and enjoy your peers company. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door and includes all you can eat and drink. To reserve your tickets, please call 202-371-1277 or go to www.cfsi.org. Read More »
Vice President Joe Biden to Address the 25th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner
(April 18, 2013) - The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) is honored to announce that Vice President Joe Biden will deliver the keynote address at the 25th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner. The event will take place on May 9th at the Washington Hilton starting at 6:30 p.m. Read More »
WHITE HOUSE RELEASES FISCAL YEAR 2014 BUDGET PROPOSAL
(April 11, 2013) - On Wednesday, April 10th, the White House released President Obamas Fiscal Year 2014 (FY14) Budget Proposal. The $3.77 trillion budget includes $39 billion in spending for the Department of Homeland Security. This includes a number of programs of importance to the nations fire and emergency services. Read More »
(April 9, 2013) - The Congressional Fire Services Institute and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation have selected Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, the Office of the Oregon Fire Marshal and the Governors Fire Service Policy Council as the recipient of the 2013 Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award. Read More »
(April 5, 2013) - The Congressional Fire Services Institute is urging fire service leaders from across the country to journey to Washington, DC to attend the 25th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner and Seminars Program, a two-day program featuring an agenda of highly educational seminars and opportunities for fire service leaders to meet with their members of Congress. The two-day program culminates with the annual national tribute to our nation's fire and emergency services -- the National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner. Read More »
(April 1, 2013) - The Congressional Fire Services Institutes Board of Directors selected Chief Ron Siarnicki, executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, as the recipient of the 2013 CFSI/Motorola Solutions Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award. The presentation will take place at the 25th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner on May 9 at the Washington Hilton, in Washington, D.C. Read More »
CONGRESS APPROVES FISCAL YEAR 2013 SPENDING MEASURE
(March 21, 2013) Today the House of Representatives approved H.R. 933, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013. The spending measure will keep existing budget caps, setting discretionary spending authority at $984 billion after sequestration is taken into account. This is a reduction of $59 billion from Fiscal Year 2012. Read More »
CONGRESS MAKING PROGRESS ON YEAR-END FUNDING MEASURE
On March 6th, the House of Representative approved legislation to fund the federal government through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2013. The legislation provides $984 billion in funding, which is in line with the figure imposed by the sequestration order. Read More »
DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR APPLICATIONS FOR CFSI AWARDS PRPOGRAMS
CFSI takes great pride in honoring fire service individuals and organizations for outstanding leadership through our annual awards program. On May 9th, CFSI will recognize individuals and organizations that have made the fire and emergency services stronger and better prepared. The award recipients will be honored at the 25th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner before 2,000 fire and emergency services leaders across the nation. Read More »
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER INCENTIVE BILLS INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS
On May 6th, Congressman Peter King (NY-2) introduced H.R. 1009, the Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment and Retention Act. The legislation clarifies the tax treatment of length of service award programs (LOSAPs). Read More »
HOUSE COMMERCE SUBCOMMITTEE TO CONDUCT HEARING ON EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
On March 14th, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will conduct an oversight hearing on FirstNet and Emergency Communications. Chaired by Congressman Greg Walden (OR-5), the hearing will take place at 10:30 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. Read More »
(March 7, 2013) - The Congressional Fire Services Institute and the MedicAlert Foundation will extend the application deadline for the Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Awards Program to March 15th. The previous deadline was March 8th. Read More »
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES STILL AVAILABLE AT 25th ANNUAL NATIONAL FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES DINNER
(February 26, 2013) - Companies and organizations seeking widespread exposure at the 25th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner and Seminars Program should visit our website... Read More »
SEQUESTRATION LOOMS: Congress Has Until Friday to Prevent Major Cuts to All Federal Programs
(February 26, 2013) - If Congress cannot reach an agreement by March 1st to avert sequestration, government agencies will be subjected to $85 billion in across-the-board cuts. These cuts would impact every federal agency. The mood on Capitol Hill is subdued as little progress has been made between the House and Senate to strike a deal. While the majority in the Senate favors additional revenue to offset the size of the spending cuts, the majority in the House is holding firm on spending cuts alone. With five months of the current fiscal already elapsed, the cuts will be implemented over the remaining seven months. Read More »
CFSI PARTICIPATES IN CAPITOL HILL ACTIVITIES TO ADVOCATE FOR SPRINKLER LEGISLATION
(February 26, 2013) - February 20th marked the 10th anniversary of the tragic nightclub fire in West Warwick, RI that claimed the lives of 100 victims - a tragedy that could have been avoided if the venue had automatic fire sprinklers. To raise awareness on Capitol Hill about legislation that would encourage the installation sprinklers in existing structures, the Congressional Fire Services Institute and other national fire service organizations conducted a series of meetings on February 19th with members of Congress to advocate for the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act (FSIA). Read More »
(February 26, 2013) - Nominations for the Dr. Anne W. Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire Safety Education are being accepted through March 1st. Sponsored by the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and the International Fire Service Training Association at Fire Protection Publications, Oklahoma State University (IFSTA/FPP/OSU), the award recognizes individuals for outstanding leadership in fire and life safety education at the national level. Read More »
EMS TODAY: CFSI Hopes to See You There
(February 26, 2013) - Please stop by our booth if you will be attending EMS Today, sponsored by JEMS, an active member of the CFSI National Advisory Committee. The conference and trade show takes place in Washington, DC from March 5th - 9th. The CFSI staff will be available to answer any questions about pending federal legislation that impacts our nation's fire and emergency services. You will find us at Booth 561. Read More »
NATIONAL FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES DINNER UPDATE
(February 11, 2013) - CFSI has announced a time change for the start of the 25th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner. The dinner will begin at 6:30 PM. The date has not changed - it is still on May 9th. Please visit our website (www.cfsi.org) for additional information about the dinner and seminars program. We still have sponsorship opportunities available for companies and organizations seeking to elevate their presence at the event. Please make your reservations soon to ensure yourself a room at the Hilton. Read More »
FIREFIGHTER LINE OF DUTY DEATHS
(February 11, 2013) - The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation announced that the number of line of duty deaths for 2012 was 73. This is significant information, lending proof that the collective efforts among all organizations committed to firefighter health and safety is paying dividends. This marks the third consecutive year (2010-2012) that line of duty deaths were below 80. In the four previous years (2006-2009), the number of LODDs was 98, 116, 115, and 88 respectively. This is a dangerous profession with many inherent risks, but what we are all discovering is that by working together to address the most critical concerns - including the 16 Life Safety Initiatives - we can make the fire service a safer profession. Read More »
PRESIDENT TO DELIVER STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
(February 11, 2013) - President Barack Obama will deliver the annual State of the Union Address on February 12th at 9:00 p.m. EST. The address will outline many of the Administration's funding priorities for the coming year. Shortly after the address, the White House is expected to release its budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2014 (the federal budget cycle is October 1st - September 31st). Of particular interest to the national fire service organizations is the budget for the Department of Homeland Security. Following the release of the budget, CFSI will study the proposal and provide its findings on figures for key fire service programs - including USFA/NFA and AFG/SAFER. Read More »
SEQUESTRATION: A Term Once Foreign to Many Is Now the Name Du Jour in Washington, DC
(February 11, 2013) - In 2011, Congress was at an impasse on raising the debt ceiling. In a move that many members of Congress now regret, they approved the Budget Control Act of 2011 which granted authority to raise the ceiling as long as Congress could agree on a concomitant level of cuts. The task fell on a Super Committee - a 12-member panel - to recommend $1.2 trillion in budget cuts over the next ten years. If the Committee failed (which it did), the legislation would trigger sequestration, an across the board cut to virtually every discretionary federal program. Congress had until the end of 2012 to act. Read More »
The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) is accepting nominations for the Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award. Sponsored jointly by CFSI and Motorola Solutions, Inc, the award recognizes individual leadership in advancing fire and life safety initiatives. The award presentation will take place on May 9th at the 25th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner in Washington, DC. Read More »
The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) are accepting nominations for the Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Safety Leadership Award. Presented annually at the CFSI National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner, the award recognizes organizations for outstanding leadership in advancing firefighter health and safety. Taking place on May 9, 2013 in Washington, DC, the dinner will be attended by our nation's top political leaders and 2,000 state and national fire service officials. The nomination deadline is March 15th. Read More »
Imagine the message it sends to members of Congress when they see 2,000 fire service leaders walking the halls of Congress, delivering messages about how our legislative representatives can best address the needs and challenges of local fire departments across the nation. On May 8-9, CFSI will host the 25th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner and Seminars programs, offering an array of programs and opportunities to engage both members of Congress and administration officials in discussions about first responder issues. Read More »
CFSI ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THEIR 2013 AWARDS PRPOGRAMS
CFSI takes great pride in honoring fire service individuals and organizations for outstanding leadership through our annual awards program. With support from a number of organizations that share our commitment to firefighter health and safety, our awards program raises national awareness to the work being performed by individuals and organizations to make the fire and emergency services better prepared and safer for those who serve. Information about the following awards can be found by clicking each of the following: Read More »
113th CONGRESS BRINGS CHANGES TO CONGRESSIONAL FIRE SERVICES CAUCUS
Congressman Dave Reichert, representing the 8th congressional district of Washington, was selected the Chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus for the 113th Congress. Elected to the House in 2004, Congressman Reichert is a former sheriff of King County, Washington. He received numerous awards for his achievements in law enforcement and since his election to Congress, Reichert has broadened his efforts to include all of public safety, including the fire and emergency services. In recognition for his work on behalf of the fire service, he was selected to serve as a co-chairman of the Fire Caucus in 2008. Read More »
CFSI Executive Director Bill Webb delivered the keynote address at the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications annual meeting in San Diego on January 19th. Later in the week, he attended the Vision 20/20 conference in Baltimore where he re-presented the Dr. Anne W. Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire Safety Education to Meri-K Appy. Nancy Trench and Paul Valentine took part in the presentation on behalf of the International Fire Service Training Association at Oklahoma State University, the co-sponsor of the award. Read More »
UPDATE ON FUNDING FOR AFG AND SAFER FOR 2013
Questions abound about funding for the AFG and SAFER grant programs for the 2013 cycle. Unfortunately, there is little to share until Congress can complete its work on the FY13 appropriations legislation. Currently, the federal government is operating on a continuing resolution (CR). This enables federal agencies to continue to operate, but only funds basic functions and not grant programs. The current CR expires at the end of March. By then, we expect Congress will have completed their work and approved appropriations legislation that will fund all government programs including AFG and SAFER through the end of the fiscal year. So stay tuned. Read More »