[WASHINGTON D.C., 4/12/2022] – Hill Day, hosted annually at Capitol Hill every April, has come to be a staple event to drum up support and awareness for our first responders and to both thank Congress members for their support as well as lobby for important Fire and EMS-focused initiatives.
As per usual, Hill Day was filled with representatives and leaders from America’s largest fire emergency manufacturers and services companies. Firefighters & EMS Fund was an important voice among these during the event, with a particular focus on the impact that grants like SAFER can have on behavioral health and wellness of firefighters; helping to relieve fatigue and prevent burnout.
Executive Director of Firefighters & EMS Fund Nile Porter attended the event on behalf of the organization. “Witnessing the way the fire services community rallies around each other to solve new problems is utterly inspiring and reaffirms our commitment to the work we do for this industry,” Porter stated. The mission of Firefighters & EMS Fund is to provide a grassroots voice for firefighters across the country in the state and local political process; meeting with federal representatives during Hill Day is an important aspect of understanding the politics of fire and emergency services at a macro level, allowing us to more effectively roll out local and statewide initiatives.
This year, attendees broke into teams and met with congressional aides to urge their offices to fund AFG (Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program) and SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) at full authorization levels of $750 million each. This amount of funding is critical as the industry has seen dramatic increases in the cost of equipment- mainly due to new science behind the protectiveness of old designs and inflation that has been exacerbated by the Coronavirus Pandemic.
During these Hill Day events, Firefighters & EMS Fund renewed their membership with the esteemed Congressional Fire Services Institute, host of Hill Day and the 32nd Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner. “We are honored to continue our partnership with CFSI, as our two missions are so closely aligned. Together we can accomplish so much more for our first responders within the political process,” Porter stated.
For more information on the mission and initiatives of Firefighters & EMS Fund, visit www.fireandemsfund.com
Firefighters and EMS Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. Contributions are not tax deductible. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Contact Firefighters and EMS Fund
Jane Porter
Executive Director
(703) 844-2285
media@fireandemsfund.com
