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Governmental Affairs Committee |
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GAC Resources For GAC documents, announcements, and information please click here to visit the microsite. Home Day 2007 Toolkit To download the Home Day 2007 Click Here Upcoming Events
HELP THE GAC!
Dear FAMA/FEMSA member: In January, you received an e-mail from the FAMA/FEMSA Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC) asking you to complete a survey that will help the GAC and its consultants learn what congressional relationships FAMA/FEMSA member companies have established. This information is essential to the GAC’s work to increase FAMA/FEMSA’s dialogue with federal government agencies in an effort to educate key officials on the important role our industry plays in providing equipment and services to the nation’s first responders. To help us enhance these efforts, we once again ask you to take a few moments to complete the enclosed survey. Specifically, this survey will help the GAC compile a comprehensive list of FAMA/FEMSA members’ locations and the congressional senators and representatives for those locations, an important step in establishing an educational network with the members of Congress and the administration. Please note that the survey can be conveniently completed online here. We also ask that the survey be completed as soon as possible. We have tried to keep this survey as simple and straightforward as possible. We thank you in advance for your assistance in this important effort. Sincerely, FAMA/FEMSA Governmental Affairs Committee
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IAFC Urges Reauthorization of the USFA 2007 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend to be Held on October 6-7, 2007 Committee Approves Proposal To Increase Investment Options Spread Fire Prevention Messages During Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13 September is Campus Fire Safety Month New Booklet Provides Explanation of the EMS System We Will Fail Again, Ex-FEMA Chief Says
IAFC Urges Reauthorization of the USFA Fairfax, Va., Oct. 2, 2007... On October 2, the president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) testified concerning reauthorization of the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). Fire Chief Steven P. Westermann spoke before the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation. Westermann urged the committee to reauthorize the USFA in FY 2009 at $70 million with a five-year authorization to ensure long-term funding stability for the agency. The U.S. Fire Administration was last reauthorized in 2003. During testimony, Westermann cited the importance of the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) as an essential tool for America’s fire service. NFIRS is the world’s largest national database of annual fire and emergency incident information. Over 21,000 fire departments report to NFIRS each year, reporting an average of 14 million incidents and 1 million fires annually. “Unfortunately, NFIRS is not being utilized to its fullest potential. The current format requires fire departments to submit data on paper or as computer files to the states, which then periodically upload the data to the USFA. Under the current system, there can be a delay of between 12 and 18 months in compiling national data,” said Westermann. The IAFC asked Congress to authorize $3 million over three years for the USFA to enhance NFIRS and transform it into a real-time web-reporting tool. Chief Westermann’s full testimony may be found online at www.iafc.org/gr; click on Testimony (Congressional and Other) to access the text. Westermann is the fire chief of the Central Jackson County, Mo., Fire Protection District and was installed as president of the IAFC in August. His complete bio and photo are available online. Established in 1873, the International Association of Fire Chiefs represents the leadership of over 1.2 million firefighters internationally. IAFC members are the world's leading experts in firefighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public safety legislation.
Source: IAFC 2007 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend to be Held on October 6-7, 2007 Emmitsburg, MD - The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and Thirty-three states experienced line-of-duty deaths in 2006. Deaths Hal Bruno, Chairman of the NFFF Board of Directors, stated: "Survivors For more information about the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
Source: USFA UNITED STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION TO BROADCAST MEMORIAL WEEKEND EMMITSBURG, MD. - FEMA's United States Fire Administration (USFA) will The events will be live on the internet at For further information regarding the events of the upcoming Fallen 2007 Fallen Firefighters Luminary Service (Candlelight Service) 2007 Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Source: NVFC Committee Approves Proposal To Increase Investment Options The House Small Business Committee recently voted to approve a bill that will help small businesses gain access to various funding sources. The Small Business Investment Improvements Act of 2007 will update federal programs such as SBA’s Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) and the New Markets Venture Capital (NMVC). It also lowers fees for the borrowers and surety companies who finance small ventures and creates an Angel Investment Program, among other initiatives.
Source: NASE Spread Fire Prevention Messages During Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13 October 7-13 marks Fire Prevention Week (FPW), and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and Fire Corps have teamed up to provide fire safety tips each day of the week to help keep your families, friends, and communities safer. Please share these tips and continue to pass on the message of fire safety every day. Consider asking local media outlets to post the Fire Corps’ FPW Letter to the Editor to inform the public about FPW and encourage members in your community to help by volunteering with their local Fire Corps program. Together we can all make a difference. FPW Tips of the Day October 8 – Practice Your Escape Plan
Source: Fire Corps September is Campus Fire Safety Month The People’s Burn Foundation, in cooperation with Campus Firewatch, recently released Student Attitudes and Views of Burn and Fire Safety, a study conducted to learn what college students know about burn and fire safety and determine how to effectively communicate the importance of these topics to this age group. According to the study, the 2006-2007 academic year was the most fatal one on record, with 20 campus-related fire deaths identified by Campus Firewatch. September is Campus Fire Safety Month and it is a great time for your Fire Corps members to reach out to local campuses with fire and life safety messages to decrease this unfortunate statistic. There are many ways Fire Corps programs can inform college students about how to protect themselves, their friends, and their property from fires. These include conducting smoke alarm checks at off-campus houses, distributing fire and life safety literature in dorms and during collegiate events, and partnering with campus organizations to recruit students to become members of your Fire Corps team. The list is endless, bound only by your imagination. Campus Fire Safety Month has served as an incentive for schools across the country to reach out to their students and teach them the importance of knowing how to prevent fires from occurring, or, if one should break out, what to do. For more information on Campus Fire Safety Month, visit www.campusfiresafetymonth.org. Read the full study - Student Attitudes and Views of Burn and Fire Safety.
Source: Fire Corps New Booklet Provides Explanation of the EMS System The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of EMS has published a new booklet entitled Emergency Medical Services: 24/7 Care – Everywhere,designed to explain in detail the EMS system and how all its parts work together. The booklet is a great resource for those who are unfamiliar with how the EMS system works, or to serve as an introduction to EMS for the general public. EMS is part of an intricate system of agencies and organizations. These include hospitals, communications and transportation networks, rehabilitation facilities, trauma centers, specialty care centers, and so forth. This publication helps outline how all of the components of the EMS system interact and work together as part of a coordinated system of care. In addition to describing how EMS is implemented at the local level, the booklet also discusses how it operates at the state and federal levels. To view the Emergency Medical Services: 24/7 Care – Everywhere booklet, visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov and select Emergency Medical Services from the Quick Picks. To order copies, email your request to nhtsa.ems@dot.gov. If you have questions about the publication, contact Laurie Flaherty in the Office of EMS, at (202) 366-2705 or laurie.flaherty@dot.gov. Source: NVFC We Will Fail Again, Ex-FEMA Chief Says Federal Emergency Management Agency director R. David Paulison made headlines last week as he announced that the agency is ready to handle an emergency of the same magnitude as hurricane Katrina. But former FEMA head Michael Brown begs to differ. In an article on the NewsOK.com website, staff writer Chad Previch says Brown made the remarks late last week to Oklahoma officials. Brown said the country isn’t prepared for another Hurricane Katrina because of layers of bureaucracy. Brown told state emergency management officials to be prepared for federal responders to push them aside during the next major disaster in an attempt to prove they’ve learned from the deadly hurricane. “He urged them to push back and tell FEMA what is needed to work together,” Previch adds. “As long as this administration is in ... they will so overreact that they will come into a state like Oklahoma and you will be overwhelmed,” Brown told more than 200 state emergency managers and state and local officials. “That doesn’t work, either. Overreaction is not a lesson learned… If there’s a major disaster in this country... and you don’t correct that bureaucracy, we will fail again.” To read the full article, click here: Link
Source: Disaster Resource Guide
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities: Name: John Lietzke Fire Department: Olivet Fire Department Incident Description: While operating his privately owned vehicle and Funeral Arrangements: September 29, 2007 at 1300 hours, Assembly of God, Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending Tribute is being paid to Firefighter John Lietzke at Name: Mike Reagan Fire Department: Sharon Hill Fire Company Incident Description: Firefighter Reagan passed away from injuries Funeral Arrangements: Visitation on 10/04/2007, 1500-2000 hours with a Memorial Fund Contact and Address: In honor of Firefighter Mike Reagan, Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Mike Reagan at Source: USFA |
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