[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 111 (Monday, July 11, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H4657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of 
the selfless service of volunteer firefighters across Pennsylvania's 
Fifth Congressional District, our Commonwealth, and the United States 
of America.
  Yesterday, as a 35-year veteran of my own community volunteer fire 
department, I joined with volunteer firefighters and actually one paid 
fire company from across the Fifth Congressional District in discussing 
their service and the challenges that they are facing. I was proud to 
be joined by more than 20 departments tasked with serving in 
communities and places such as Erie, Jefferson, Elk, McKean, Venango, 
Potter, and Clarion Counties.
  As a volunteer firefighter myself, I was very interested to hear 
about their concerns regarding funding, adequate training, and one of 
the biggest problems facing volunteer fire companies: declining 
enrollment and manpower. I look forward to working with each of these 
companies in the future to help address many of these issues.
  It is hard to overstate the importance of the volunteer men and women 
who put their lives on the line in order to protect their neighbors and 
their communities. I have the highest degree of respect for their 
service, and I look forward to continued cooperation in the future.

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