Each year CFSI picks legislators that we feel have made a significant contribution to the fire service. This has been an ongoing tradition at CFSI and below is a list of past recipients. We would like to congratulate these members of Congress and encourage all members to follow their footsteps and continue to work hard for the fire service.

The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) presented Senator Jon Tester (MT) the 2018 CFSI Legislator of the Year. A co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus since 2013, Senator Tester has been a tireless champion on Capitol Hill for the nation’s fire and emergency services.

“Our nation’s firefighters serve on the frontlines every day,” said Senator Jon Tester. “Their job is to save lives, protect property, and keep our families and communities safe. Our job is to make sure they have the training, equipment, and resources to do it. I’m honored to receive this award and partner with the men and women who keep us safe.”

“As a co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus and the Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Tester has shown a strong commitment to the men and women of the American fire service,” said Bill Webb, Executive Director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute. “The Senator played a leading role in advancing legislation to reauthorize the Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs, as well as the United States Fire Administration. In addition, he has consistently fought to increase funding for first responder grant programs, including AFG and SAFER, and to ensure support for the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. We are grateful for the leadership he has shown on the issues of importance to the nation’s fire service. It is an honor to recognize him as CFSI’s 2018 Legislator of the Year.”

CFSI Vice President M.H. Jim Estepp and Director Webb presented the award to the Senator earlier today in his Senate office on Capitol Hill.

Legislator of the Year Previous Recipients

2016

Senator John McCain

2016

Congressman Bill Pascrell

2015

Congressman Steny Hoyer

2014

Senator Barbara Mikulski

2013

Senator Susan Collins

2012

Senator Joseph Lieberman

2011

Congressman Peter King

2010

Senator Christopher Dodd

2009

Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (Posthumously)

2008

Congressman David Price

2007

Congressman Curt Weldon (ret.)

2006

Senator John McCain – Arizona

Congressman Curt Weldon – Pennsylvania

Congresswoman Jane Harman – California

2005

Congressman Christopher Cox – California
Congressman Bill Pascrell – New Jersey

2004

Congressman Bob Etheridge – North Carolina

2003

Congressman Jim Walsh – New York

2002

Senator Robert Byrd – West Virginia

2001

Senator John Warner – Virginia
Senator Carl Levin – Michigan
Senator John McCain – Arizona
Senator Ernest Hollings – South Carolina
Senator Chris Dodd – Connecticut
Senator Mike DeWine – Ohio
Congressman Bill Pascrell – New Jersey
Congressman Curt Weldon – Pennsylvania
Congressman Steny Hoyer – Maryland
Congressman Floyd Spence – South Carolina
Congressman Ike Skelton – Missouri
Congressman Nick Smith – Michigan
Congressman Bob Ehrlich – Maryland

1999

Senator Judd Gregg – New Hampshire

1998

Senator Paul Sarbanes – Maryland

1997

Congressman Bill Emerson – Missouri

1995

Senator Joe Biden – Delaware
Congressman Curt Weldon – Pennsylvania

1994

Senator Daniel K. Inouye – Hawaii
Congressman Norman Mineta – California

1993

Senator Richard Bryan – Nevada

1992

Congressman Richard Boucher – Virginia