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Governmental Affairs Committee |
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USFA reauthorization bill advances in House FAMA and FEMSA to hold reception in conjunction with annual CFSI dinner Message to the Fire and Emergency Services From CFSI Secretary Tells House Panel Long-Term Immigration Reform Needs Congressional Action Security Funds Not Well-Spent, Study Says Senate Passage of E-9-1-1 Bill Sets Stage for Final Passage
USFA reauthorization bill advances in House The House Committee on Science and Technology ordered the USFA reauthorization bill reported to the full House by voice vote on February 27. The bill, H.R. 4847, the United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2007, will now be considered by the full House of Representatives before going on to the Senate.
FAMA and FEMSA to hold reception in conjunction with annual CFSI dinner FAMA and FEMSA will hold a reception the afternoon of the annual CFSI National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner. The reception will take place on Thursday, April 3, from 2:00pm to 7:00pm. The Adams Room on the Terrace Level of the Hilton Washington Hotel at 1919 Connecticut Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. -- the hotel where the CFSI dinner will be held -- has been reserved for the reception. Be on the lookout for an e-invitation and additional information in your e-mail inbox soon.
Message to the Fire and Emergency Services From CFSI The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) is once again hosting the annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner and Seminars on April 2-3 in Washington, DC. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of this event, CFSI will be hosting the Fire and Emergency Services Showcase on the National Mall, sponsored by the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA). Against the backdrop of our nation's Capitol, the Mall will be transformed into an incredible display of the technology, training and educational components of our nation's fire and emergency services.
Secretary Tells House Panel Long-Term Immigration Reform Needs Congressional Action Despite the department’s best efforts—and progress—in enforcing the nation’s existing immigration laws, Congressional action is still needed to address the long-standing problem of people illegally entering and remaining in the United States, Secretary Chertoff told the House Judiciary Committee last week. In testimony before the committee, the secretary said, “As long as the opportunity for higher wages and a better life draws people across the border illegally or encourages them to remain in our country illegally, we will continue to face the challenge of securing our border and enforcing our immigration laws in the interior. For this reason, I remain hopeful that Congress will once again work together [with the Administration] to take up this issue and provide a solution that will fix this long-standing problem.” From strengthening the border through greater deployment of infrastructure, manpower, and technology, to assimilating new immigrants into the nation’s civic culture and society, the secretary provided the committee with statistics that clearly show the department’s substantial progress in dealing with immigration issues. In particular, the secretary drew attention to interior enforcement actions, noting that in FY 2007 ICE has removed or returned more than 208,000 illegal immigrants, and also pointed out that ICE’s worksite enforcement program resulted in 4,077 administrative arrests and 863 criminal arrests in targeted worksite enforcement actions across the country. The secretary ended his written testimony by saying that the department stands ready to work with Congress this year to build on the success that is occurring at the border and on interior enforcement, and to advance reforms that will create the necessary temporary worker programs and pathways to citizenship needed to help solve the illegal immigration problems the country faces. The secretary’s complete written statement is available at: http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/testimony/testimony_1204746985090.shtm
Source: DHS Security Funds Not Well-Spent, Study Says A group of researchers from two universities say the most cost-effective way to fight terrorism is not to pour money into homeland security. Where should we be spending our security funds? According to an article by Reuters, the three economists – Todd Sandler and Daniel Arce of the University of Texas at Dallas and Walter Enders of the University of Alabama – say the most cost-effective way to fight terrorism is to boost international police cooperation and increase aid to developing countries. The study found that global spending on homeland security measures has increased by approximately $70 billion per year since 2001. Those measures include intelligence-gathering, checks on air passengers, import inspections and protecting vulnerable infrastructure. And the study also found that while this spending has translated into a drop of just over a third in transnational terrorist attacks, the average number of deaths per year has actually risen by 67 as militants responded by seeking deadlier strikes on softer targets. “Because it is human nature to overspend on unlikely catastrophic events, it is likely that terrorists have succeeded in getting the world to overspend on counterterrorism,” the economists said in the study. To read the full article, click here: http://halifax.metronews.ca/index.cfm?sid=114560&sc=465
USFA Releases New Emergency Incident Rehabilitation Manual for Firefighters and Other Emergency Responders EMMITSBURG, MD. - The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), working with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), has issued an updated version of the manual Emergency Incident Rehabilitation. The revised manual examines critical topics related to emergency incident rehabilitation, including operational issues, human physiology, weather issues, and technology and addresses ways to better protect firefighters and other emergency responders through the use of proper protective clothing and improved tactical procedures. The manual released today updates the original USFA document published in 1992. "Effective emergency incident rehabilitation is an important facet of firefighter health and safety,” said U.S. Fire Administrator Greg Cade. “It is needed on the incident scene to prevent potentially serious and life-threatening conditions from occurring.” Emergency responder rehabilitation is designed to ensure that the physical and mental well-being of members operating at the scene of an emergency do not deteriorate to the point where it affects their safety. It can prevent serious and life-threatening conditions – such as heat stroke and heart attacks – from occurring. Fireground rehab is the term often used for the care given to the firefighters and other responders while performing their duties at an emergency scene. Fireground rehab includes monitoring vital signs, rehydration, nourishment, and rest for responders between assignments. "This rehabilitation of firefighters during emergency operations or training exercises can significantly reduce their risk for illness or injury," said IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. "The IAFF was pleased to work with USFA to enhance firefighter health and safety through this important project.” To download Emergency Incident Rehabilitation and for further information about the USFA/IAFF incident rehabilitation partnership effort, please visit the USFA Web site at www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/research/safety/incident.shtm
Senate Passage of E-9-1-1 Bill Sets Stage for Final Passage On February 27, the Senate passed the IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act (S. 428). Similar legislation, the 911 Modernization Act (H.R. 3403), passed the House last November. S. 428 and H.R. 3403 facilitate the incorporation of emerging technologies into the 9-1-1 emergency system to help make it available and reliable for all Americans. Both bills would require internet phone service or voice-over internet protocol (VOIP) providers to connect to 9-1-1 and E-9-1-1 in accordance with FCC rules governing phone service providers. The National Volunteer Fire Council has expressed concern over provisions in past versions of this legislation that would have allowed VOIP providers to begin offering service without enabling 9-1-1. S. 428 and H.R. 3403 address the increasing need for E-9-1-1 to be deployed for all technologies, appropriate liability protections for 9-1-1 telecommunicators and service providers, and the need for sufficient funding for the current system and for IP-based Next Generation 9-1-1 initiatives. The House and Senate are in the process of appointing conferees to negotiate bill language for final passage. Source: NVFC |
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