Washington, D.C. – The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg is urging the membership of the NVFC to redouble its efforts to get active in the legislative process in the upcoming 108th Congress.
Members of the fire service can get active in a variety of ways. They include writing letters, placing phone calls, visiting their legislator’s offices (at home or in Washington), inviting their legislator to department meetings, and developing a working relationship with their key staff. For more information on getting active visit the NVFC Volunteer Fire Service Advocacy Center online at: http://www.nvfc.org/leg/workshop.html.
Below are some of the issues the NVFC will be focusing on during the 108th Congress, which convened on January 7:
- FEMA援助消防员赠款计划– The NVFC is currently working to ensure that this program, which gives direct grants to fire departments, is funded at the fully authorized $900 million level in FY 2003 and kept separate from the large state-based block grant that has been proposed (First Responder Initiative). During this appropriations cycle the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $900 million for the program, while the House Appropriations Committee has only approved $450 million. After approved by both the full House and Senate, the spending bill will go to conference to work out differences in the two bills. Last year the program was funded at $360 million.
- 志愿者倡导– The NVFC will continue to promote laws and regulations that preserve the right of all people, including career firefighters, to serve their communities as volunteer firefighters or EMTs. The NVFC will also be working in the 108th Congress to pass legislation aimed at increasing the retention and recruitment of volunteer firefighters.
- 家town Heroes Survivor Benefit Act- 这项立法是由众议员鲍勃·埃瑟里奇（Bob Etheridge）（D-NC），众议员Steny Hoyer（D-MD）和众议院众议院众议员Curt Weldon（R-PA）和参议员Patrick Leahy（D-VT）提出的。），参议院参议员詹姆斯·杰福德（I-VT）和参议员苏珊·柯林斯（R-ME），将把现任公共安全官员福利计划扩展到消防员，执法人员和EMS人员，他们死于心脏病或心脏病发作或履行职责。
这项立法于2002年11月14日一致通过了众议院。消防局和我们国会的支持者在第107届国会押后之前无法将该法案带到参议院。 - The Rural Fire Department Equipment Priority Act– This legislation, introduced last Congress by Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR), would help provide firefighters with the equipment they need by giving rural fire departments and their cooperators (State Foresters) higher priority when Department of Defense excess property is screened.
- Children’s Sleepwear Safety Act– This legislation, introduced last Congress by Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ) and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), would amend the Flammable Fabrics Act standards to ensure that children’s sleepwear is manufactured in accordance with stricter flammability standards.
