[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 164 (Monday, October 6, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E936-E937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING LIEUTENANT HUMBERTO VERGARA AS A DISTINGUISHED FIRST RESPONDER 
                       LEADER IN CENTRAL FLORIDA

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. DARREN SOTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 6, 2025

  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, as a dedicated Osceola County Fire Rescue 
Lieutenant with 32 years of service, Lieutenant Humberto Vergara has 
built a career centered on ensuring the well-being, preparedness, and 
safety of firefighters and the communities they serve. With a passion 
for leadership, health, and physical fitness, Lieutenant Vergara leads 
by example, fostering a culture of resilience and excellence within not 
only Osceola County Fire Rescue, but across the entire state of 
Florida.
  Specializing in health and safety initiatives, Lieutenant Vergara is 
the health and safety

[[Page E937]]

chairman at Osceola County Fire Rescue and has successfully developed 
and implemented programs aimed at reducing workplace injuries, 
enhancing physical readiness, promoting mental wellness, and preventing 
cancer. His hands-on approach to fitness training and safety education 
has equipped firefighters with the tools and confidence needed to 
perform their duties effectively under the most challenging conditions.
  Lieutenant Vergara was a founding member of the Florida Firefighter 
Fitness Collaborative, established in 2011. Their mission was to offer 
``Wellness Mutual Aid'' to other fire departments across the state that 
pursued the implementation and/or maintenance of their wellness/fitness 
programs, such as the IAFF Wellness Fitness Initiative.
  Lieutenant Vergara currently serves on the Florida Firefighters 
Safety and Health Collaborative, which focuses on areas of firefighter 
cancer prevention, health and fitness, mental wellness, and firefighter 
safety. Through the FFSHC, Bert chairs the health and safety section 
for the state of Florida. Bert also serves as a member of the First 
Responder Center of Excellence, Health, Wellness, and Fitness Advisory 
Committee. He also serves as an advisor on the IAFF Wellness Fitness 
Initiative Taskforce.
  Lieutenant Vergara continuously seeks opportunities for professional 
development to stay at the forefront of emerging health and safety 
practices. He remains committed to mentoring firefighters, cultivating 
teamwork, and creating sustainable strategies to improve overall 
firefighter performance.
  Lieutenant Vergara was recently the recipient of the University of 
Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Firefighter Cancer 
Initiative, Commitment Award for his contributions to improve the 
health and wellness of Florida's firefighters.

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