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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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Nation Mourns Nine Firefighters Killed in South Carolina Fire NVFC Calls for Citizen Corps and Fire Corps Authorization in Testimony before House Subcommittee USFA Releases New Citizen Fire Fatality Information Senate Bill Could Have Major Impact on Energy Prices Good Turnout at 2007 National Conference on Community Preparedness
Nation Mourns Nine Firefighters Killed in South Carolina Fire Nine firefighters lost their lives Monday night while fighting a fire at a furniture warehouse in Charleston, South Carolina. This tragedy marks the single greatest line-of-duty loss of American firefighters since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) joins the nation in mourning this loss. “We offer our condolences to the families of these firefighters and to the department,” said Heather Schafer, Executive Director of the NVFC. “This is a terrible tragedy and we all mourn this great loss.” The NVFC honors the memory of all firefighters who have fallen in the line of duty. Their sacrifice and heroism will not be forgotten. The NVFC has compiled a list of resources to assist families and departments of firefighters who die in the line of duty, available at www.nvfc.org/duty.html.
Source: NVFC NVFC Calls for Citizen Corps and Fire Corps Authorization in Testimony before House Subcommittee National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Chairman and La Farge, WI, Fire Department Chief Philip C. Stittleburg testified yesterday before the House Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response. Stittleburg’s testimony focused on the Fire Corps program, which is administered on the national level by the NVFC, in conjunction with the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Fire Corps is a component of Citizen Corps, a national grassroots effort under the Department of Homeland Security to involve citizens in helping their communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to natural and man-made disasters and other emergencies. In recent years, fire and emergency response departments have been struggling with the increasing demands of service coupled with inadequate funding. Firefighters not only respond to local fires and emergencies, but are also tasked with responding to major disasters, both natural and manmade. In an effort to help departments face these increasing demands, Fire Corps was launched in December 2004 with a mission to increase the capacity of volunteer, career, and combination fire and EMS departments through the use of community volunteers to assist in non-operational roles. The testimony outlined Fire Corps’ many benefits, with a focus on how it has greatly increased the ability of the nation’s fire and emergency medical services to provide, maintain, and increase services to their communities. Some exemplary programs were highlighted, including the Johnson County Rural Fire District #1 Fire Corps program in Clarksville, AR, which increased fire safety programming from 100 hours per year pre-Fire Corps to averaging 8,600 hours per year today. Also noted were the Mesa (AZ) Fire Department’s Fire Corps, which donates 29,040 service hours each year, and the Stayton (OR) Fire District’s Fire Corps, which installed reflective address signs in its 104-square-mile district. “A program like Fire Corps that stresses volunteerism and teamwork is a perfect fit in the fire service where those values are prevalent,” Stittleburg said. “Prior to the creation of Fire Corps, Citizen Corps programs did not address the needs of the fire service, leaving out this crucial component of our nation’s emergency services.” Stittleburg concluded his testimony by calling for Congress to pass an authorization for Citizen Corps that would include a sub-authorization for Fire Corps. Citizen Corps was created by the administration and has been funded through appropriations, but has never been authorized. The NVFC believes that a sub-authorization for Fire Corps will allow it to retain its unique characteristics linking Citizen Corps efforts to the fire service. Read the testimony on the NVFC web site at http://www.nvfc.org/pdf/2007-jun-testimony.pdf. For more information about Fire Corps, visit www.firecorps.org.
Source: NVFC COALITION STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF FIRE SERVICE-BASED EMS (Washington, DC) – Fire departments are best equipped to deliver emergency medical service, according to a new white paper. Prehospital 911 Emergency Medical Response: The Role of the United States Fire Service in Delivery and Coordination was prepared by top EMS physicians from three different regions of the United States. The 13-page report describes fire service-based EMS and the time-critical role of the fire service in providing emergency medical care. It is critical that policy makers understand the importance of having emergency medical services provided through the fire service. Fire service-based EMS is prehospital emergency 9-1-1 medical response provided by the nation’s firefighter EMTs and paramedics. Due to the training, expertise, and equipment of fire service-based EMS responders, they are capable of simultaneously securing a scene, mitigating the hazard, and triaging, extricating, treating, decontaminating (if necessary), and transporting the patients who have been injured to an appropriate medical facility. Time efficiency is a key component of the best designed EMS systems. There is no service more capable of rapid multi-faceted response than a fire service-based EMS system. “The fire service has a proud heritage of providing EMS services in local communities across America,” said Chief Dennis Compton. “What this white paper represents is an awareness that EMS begins the second a 9-1-1 call is placed and highly skilled and trained emergency medical personnel from local fire departments are dispatched to the scene to provide the first level of care to victims.” The paper is intended to help organizations as they continue efforts to educate local, state and federal officials about the role of fire-service based EMS. The paper underscores the importance of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant and SAFER programs in training and equipping fire service-based EMS and the role of the Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services (FICEMS) in establishing federal EMS policies. The Coalition has also produced a video, “Fire Service-Based EMS: The Right Response,” to complement the new white paper. It features a number of highly respected fire service-based EMS advocates who share their views about the important role of fire service-based EMS in local communities. The experts include Dr. Franklin Pratt, Medical Director, Los Angeles County Fire Department; Dr. Eugene Nagle, Miami Fire Department; Chief William “Shorty” Bryson, City of Miami Fire Department; and Chief Dennis Compton, International Fire Service Training Association. The report was written by Dr. Franklin D. Pratt, Medical Director, Los Angeles County Fire Department; Dr. Steven Katz, Associate Medical Director, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue; and Dr. Paul Pepe, Riggs Family Chair in Emergency Medicine at Southwest Medical Center. Members of the Fire Service-Based EMS Advocates Steering Committee include the Congressional Fire Services Institute, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, National Fire Protection Association and the National Volunteer Fire Council. A copy of the report is available on the website of each coalition steering committee member organization. Videos can be obtained by submitting a request to the Congressional Fire Services Institute at update@cfsi.org. Source: CFSI USFA Releases New Citizen Fire Fatality Information News Release Date: June 14, 2007 EMMITSBURG, MD. - The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has begun posting civilian fire fatality information on its Web site at www.usfa.dhs.gov. This information is gathered from news media through the Quick Response Program. "We need to remind ourselves, and the public, that each day in this country people die needlessly in preventable residential fires," said Acting Assistant Administrator Charlie Dickinson. "Hopefully, by adding this resource to our Web site, the fire service, media, and the general public will be more motivated to continue our Nation's efforts to prevent deaths and injuries by fire." The Quick Response Program was started fifteen years ago as a tool for getting fire safety and prevention messages to local communities that suffered a fire fatality. USFA safety messages are sent to local media and fire departments in the vicinity of the fire fatality. This is a proactive effort by the USFA to reach citizens at a time when they are receptive to learning about protecting themselves and their families from a similar fate. USFA defines this as a "teachable moment." Through the daily process of scanning the Nation's media for fatal fire incidents, USFA has developed a downloadable spreadsheet that aids in tracking deaths in almost "real time." The Quick Response Program spreadsheet contains reports starting from January 1, 2007 and includes all fatalities reported through Quick Response. USFA estimates the Quick Response Program captures approximately one-third to one-half of the total number of residential fire fatalities that occur each year. To view this new USFA Web site resource, go to www.usfa.dhs.gov and locate the feature titled, "Fire Fatalities." Click on the link titled"Details" and you will be taken to "Residential Fire Fatalities in the News." Here you will find a running total of fire fatalities from across the Nation. Also on this page are the daily reports as provided to USFA. Near the bottom of the page, there is a link called "2007 Fire Fatalities as Provided through Quick Response." From there you will be able to access the Excel file that identifies city, state, age of victim, and other pertinent information compiled from the reports.
Source: USFA Senate Bill Could Have Major Impact on Energy Prices The Senate has begun work on an energy bill, a process that could run through mid-summer. The NAM opposes arbitrary corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) mandates; price controls/gouging schemes that interfere with market forces in addressing supply and demand imbalances; and mandatory renewable portfolio standards (RPS). The NAM supports reducing our need for foreign energy, while creating and preserving jobs through policies including, but not limited to environmentally sensitive OCS development, including allowing coastal states to opt out of federal moratoria; and S. 154 (Obama-Bunning), which would encourage coal-to-liquids technology – without mandates. Take action at: http://www.nam.org/s_nam/doc1.asp?CID=202689&DID=238808.
Source: NAM Good Turnout at 2007 National Conference on Community Preparedness FEMA’s Citizen Corps program was the focal point of the 2007 National Conference on Community Preparedness, which was hosted by the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) and the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) in Alexandria, Va. Held June 10-13, the conference was titled, The 2007 National Conference on Community Preparedness – Partnerships and Collaboration Through Citizen Corps. Making the keynote remarks, FEMA Administrator David Paulison emphasized the importance of collaboration between emergency management and Citizen Corps Councils, especially during the planning, training, and exercises conducted before an emergency. DHS Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Al Martinez-Fonts spoke about the need to work with businesses to leverage the resources they can offer communities in which they operate, as well as to increase private sector resilience by training and preparing employees for disasters. Over 600 people attended the conference, representing a cross section of organizations engaged in community preparedness: emergency management agencies, public health agencies, fire and police services, Citizen Corps councils, local, state, and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. Conference materials will be posted to the Citizen Corps Web site in the near future at: www.citizencorps.gov. In another preparedness development, DHS last week announced that it is sponsoring the fourth annual National Preparedness Month this September. Each year, the department leads a coalition of organizations whose members agree to distribute emergency preparedness information and sponsor activities across the country that promote preparedness. More information about this announcement is available at: http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1181763393616.shtm. Source: DHS Bipartisan Coalition Of Senators And Representatives Asks President To "Unlock" Hometown Heroes Benefits On June 7, a bipartisan group of 101 Members of Congress – led by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Representatives Bob Etheridge (D-NC) and Peter King (R-NY) – sent a letter asking President Bush to direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award benefits authorized by Congress under the Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act. The NVFC and other fire service groups sent a similar letter to the President several weeks ago. When the Congressional letter was first made available for signature, the NVFC encouraged its members and the public to urge their Representative and Senators to sign the letter. In the letter, the Members of Congress expressed concern over the DOJ’s slow implementation of the Hometown Heroes Act. The Act was supposed to make it possible for the families of public safety officers who die from heart attack or stroke within 24 hours of participating in emergency response activities to be able to collect a Public Safety Officer’s Benefit (PSOB). PSOB is a one-time death and disability payment to the families of public safety officers who die in the line of duty. It has been three and a half years since the bill became law, and yet DOJ has approved only six claims out of 264 applications. “In 2004, then-Attorney General Ashcroft mandated that all PSOB claims should be processed in no more than 90 days,” the letter reads. “Unfortunately, more than three years since the passage of the Hometown Heroes law, and more than eight months since DOJ finalized its rule on the law’s implementation, over 80 percent of the claims still languish. The Department of Justice appears to be giving them less than its full support with its delays and denials. We are disappointed that this situation remains unresolved. The families of our nation’s first responders have waited too long.” The letter goes on to ask the President to direct his Administration to expedite all outstanding claims and ensure that benefits are awarded in line with the intent of Congress. The legislation was intended to create a presumption that the heart attack or stroke was caused by work in the line of duty, unless there was clear evidence to the contrary. DOJ instead has placed an unnecessary burden on applicants by requesting volumes of paperwork, including 10 years of medical history. The lawmakers are concerned that DOJ may be intentionally misinterpreting the direct, expressed intent of Congress and the President. Heart attacks and strokes account for nearly half of firefighter deaths each year. On March 22, the Harvard School of Public Health published a study that shows firefighters are much more likely than the general public to die of a heart attack or stroke during and after participating in emergency response. Source: NVFC The U.S. Fire Administration has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities in Charleston, South Carolina: Date of Incident: 06/18/2007 Name: William "Billy" Hutchinson Name: Mike Benke Name: Louis Mulkey Name: Mark Kelsey Name: Bradford "Brad" Baity Name: Michael French Name: James "Earl" Drayton Name: Brandon Thompson Name: Melven Champaign Fire Department: Charleston Fire Department Incident Description: Nine Charleston Fire Department firefighters passed away while operating in the interior of a Sofa Super Store attempting to rescue two employees. Initial reports indicate that rapid fire progress caused the roof of the structure to collapse along with large shelves that held heavy furniture, trapping the firefighters. Identified as those who lost their lives are Captain William "Billy" Hutchinson, 48; Captain Mike Benke, 49; Captain Louis Mulkey, 34; Engineer Mark Kelsey, 40; Engineer Bradford "Brad" Baity, 37; Assistant Engineer Michael French, 27; Firefighter James "Earl" Drayton, 56; Firefighter Brandon Thompson, 27, and Firefighter Melven Champaign, 46. Witnesses reported at least four citizens were rescued by firefighters. More details are pending further investigation. The cause of the fire is not believed to have been intentional. Funeral Arrangements: Pending Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Donations can be sent to The City of Charleston Firemen's Fund, P.O. Box 304, Charleston, SC, 29402. Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Melven Champaign at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/ The U.S. Fire Administration has received notice of the following firefighter fatality: Name: David Allan Rufer Fire Department: Monroe Fire Department Incident Description: Firefighter Rufer collapsed from a cause still to be determined while involved in SCBA and hose drills. Aid was rendered immediately by fellow firefighters and continued while Rufer was being transported to Monroe Clinic, where he was pronounced deceased. Visitation: 06/15/2007 @ 1600-2000hrs at the Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home, 1455 Mansion Drive, Monroe, WI. Funeral Arrangements: 06/16/2007, time is tentatively set for 1000hrs. St. Johns United Church of Christ, 1724 14th Street. Apparatus and personnel for the funeral procession will be staged at the Monroe Fire Station 11110 18 Ave. (Grid: 16T BN 83636 19878). Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Memorial donations in honor of Firefighter David Allan Rufer may be made to the Monroe Volunteer Firefighters, Inc., PO Box 24, Monroe, WI 53566-1850 Tribute is being paid to Firefighter David Allan Rufer at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/ The U.S. Fire Administration has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities: Name: Mark S. Carter Name: David A. Middleton Name: Felix M. Roberts Name: Bradley W. Green Name: Dennis Cheshire Name: John Keane Tribute is being paid to these firefighters at
Source: USFA |
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FAMA/FEMSA GAC Hill Day - September 27, 2007 - Washington, DC |
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