[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 203 (Saturday, December 22, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8029-S8030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 743--CONGRATULATING THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF 
         FIRE FIGHTERS ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDING

  Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Van Hollen) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 743

       Whereas, on February 28, 1918, delegates representing 24 
     firefighter unions united to form the International 
     Association of Fire Fighters (referred to in this preamble as 
     the ``IAFF'') to ``organize all fire fighters . . . foster a 
     higher degree of skill and efficiency . . . improve and 
     protect members' health and welfare . . . establish safety 
     standards . . . cultivate friendship and fellowship . . . 
     provide proper compensation for work performed . . . and 
     improve social and economic conditions'';
       Whereas, in 1918, at the first IAFF Convention, the IAFF 
     adopted 20 resolutions to benefit firefighters and the fire 
     service, including resolutions relating to--
       (1) a two-platoon system;
       (2) pension laws;
       (3) automatic sprinkler systems;
       (4) building inspections; and
       (5) the removal of hazards for fire prevention;
       Whereas, throughout the history of the IAFF, the IAFF has 
     successfully improved the knowledge, skills and abilities of 
     the domestic defenders of the people of the United States by 
     designing, developing, and deploying high quality 
     standardized training in a multitude of disciplines, 
     including--
       (1) hazardous materials response;
       (2) responding to incidents involving weapons of mass 
     destruction;
       (3) confined space operations;
       (4) responding to incidents involving illicit drug labs; 
     and
       (5) planning and responding to high-consequence incidents;
       Whereas the IAFF has been the national leader in every 
     significant firefighter health and safety initiative for 
     nearly a century, including--
       (1) the recognition of and fight against occupational 
     diseases and illnesses, such as cancer and cardiovascular 
     ailments;
       (2) the promotion of physical fitness screening and 
     training; and
       (3) the promotion of mental health and wellness, including 
     awareness and treatment of post-traumatic stress;
       Whereas, on March 5, 2017, the IAFF opened the first-of-
     its-kind Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment 
     and Recovery to provide science-based treatment to 
     firefighters struggling with post-traumatic stress and co-
     occurring health issues, such as substance abuse, depression, 
     and anxiety;
       Whereas the mission of the Center of Excellence for 
     Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery reinforces the 
     commitment of the IAFF to prioritizing the safety and well-
     being of all IAFF members and provides a safe space for 
     firefighters to seek treatment and heal;
       Whereas the IAFF actively works to secure the enactment of 
     legislation at all levels of government that directly impacts 
     the jobs, economic security, and safety of firefighters and 
     emergency medical personnel, including--
       (1) the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 
     U.S.C. 2201 et seq.);
       (2) the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 
     2010 (Public Law 111-347; 124 Stat. 3623); and
       (3) legislation establishing--
         (A) the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program (part L 
     of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act 
     of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10281 et seq.));
         (B) the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (section 
     33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 
     U.S.C. 2229));
         (C) the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response 
     Grant Program (section 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and 
     Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229a)); and
         (D) presumptive illness compensation in a majority of 
     States;
       Whereas the IAFF has served as a leader in the widespread 
     integration of fire and emergency medical services, ensuring 
     that nearly all professional firefighters in the United 
     States play a critical role in the delivery of emergency 
     medical services as cross-trained, dual-role firefighters who 
     are trained in both fire suppression and Emergency Medical 
     Services response;
       Whereas the IAFF has partnered with the Muscular Dystrophy 
     Association (referred to in this preamble as the ``MDA'') to 
     raise funds to support the search for the cause of and cure 
     for muscle diseases, including--
       (1) by declaring the MDA the charity of choice of the IAFF 
     in 1954; and
       (2) by participating in Fill the Boot campaigns to raise 
     more than $630,000,000 for the MDA;
       Whereas, in furtherance of the mission of the IAFF to aid 
     IAFF members and their families in times of need, the IAFF 
     established the IAFF Foundation to provide--
       (1) aid to professional firefighters and emergency medical 
     personnel following natural disasters;
       (2) assistance to IAFF members and their families for the 
     treatment and care of burn injuries;
       (3) scholarships to the children of fallen IAFF members; 
     and
       (4) maintenance of the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial to 
     honor IAFF members who have made the ultimate sacrifice in 
     the line of duty;
       Whereas the IAFF memorializes the thousands of firefighters 
     and emergency medical personnel who have made the ultimate 
     sacrifice in service of others, including--
       (1) the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on September 
     11, 2001;
       (2) the scores of firefighters and emergency medical 
     personnel who have died in the years since September 11, 
     2001, of injuries and illnesses relating to the events of 
     September 11, 2001; and
       (3) the firefighters and emergency medical personnel who 
     have died of occupational disease;
       Whereas each of the firefighters and emergency medical 
     personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of 
     others is fondly remembered and respected by IAFF members;
       Whereas, as of December 2018, the IAFF has headquarters in 
     both Washington, DC, and Ottawa, Ontario, and represents more 
     than 313,000 full-time professional firefighters and 
     paramedics in more than 3,200 affiliates;
       Whereas, as of December 2018, greater than 85 percent of 
     the population in communities throughout the United States 
     and Canada is

[[Page S8030]]

     protected by firefighters and paramedics who are members of 
     the IAFF;
       Whereas the sustained and ongoing commitment of the members 
     of the IAFF to the people of the United States and Canada 
     serves the public interest; and
       Whereas countless firefighters from across the United 
     States are honored at the National Fallen Firefighters 
     Memorial created by Congress and located on the campus of the 
     National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the International Association of Fire 
     Fighters on the 100th anniversary of its founding;
       (2) recognizes the expertise and devotion to service 
     demonstrated by the International Association of Fire 
     Fighters as the International Association of Fire Fighters 
     continues to be the voice for and represent the professional 
     interests of firefighters and emergency medical responders 
     across the United States and Canada; and
       (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the General 
     President of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

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