IAFF-Backed Provisions Included in Iraq War Supplemental

May 2, 2007 -- President George W. Bush has vetoed the Supplemental Appropriation Bill providing funding for the Iraq War that also includes a number of provisions important to the nation’s fire fighters. Bush rejected the measure because it seeks to end U.S. military involvement in Iraq, but his veto derails several other provisions included in the bill.

In addition to addressing the Iraq War, the legislation included assistance for New York City fire fighters who responded to 9/11 and for Louisiana fire fighters affected by Hurricane Katrina. The bill also included funding for pandemic flu preparedness and emergency management grants, and contains an increase in the minimum wage.

The IAFF has been actively engaged in the New York and Louisiana funding issues for several months. The medical screening and treatment program established after 9/11 for New York fire fighters has proven extremely beneficial to fire fighters and their families, but the program has run out of money. Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Vito Fossella (R-NY) have the led the bipartisan effort to provide additional funding, and with the active support of the IAFF convinced congressional appropriators to include money in the Iraq Supplemental.

The assistance to Louisiana is in the form of a waiver of the local match required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA has made funds available to many communities in the Gulf Coast, but current law requires communities to match 10 percent of the federal funding with local dollars. Many of the most heavily damaged communities are unable to afford even this modest matching requirement. As a result, funding that could be used to rebuild fire stations is stuck in the pipeline. The waiver included in the Iraq War Supplemental would provide access to this desperately needed funding.

The next step remains unclear. Congressional leaders are scheduled to meet with President Bush May 2 to discuss how to move forward on the Iraq War controversy. Both sides agree that funding needs to be provided to the troops but Democrats may insist on language that sets benchmarks for the Iraqi government and projects a non-binding timeframe for a withdrawal of U.S. troops. President Bush continues to resist any language that ties his hands on the operation of the War.

The IAFF will be working to include the provisions benefiting the nation’s fire fighters in whatever legislation eventually emerges from these negotiations.