Much at Stake for Fire Fighters in Year-End Congressional Frenzy

December 20, 2012 -- With Congress working overtime to find a solution to the so-called "Fiscal Cliff," the IAFF has been on Capitol Hill fighting for the interests of the nation’s fire fighters.

While most attention has been focused on the high-level negotiations around tax policy and spending cuts, the IAFF has successfully advanced a number of fire fighter priorities while also working to assure that fire fighters are protected in any year-end budget deal.

Among the legislation expected to pass by the end of the week is a bill allowing more fire fighters to run for political office, legislation extending and improving the Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs that will make more money available to professional fire departments, an important expansion of the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) program to cover fire fighters who die from aneurysms, and the creation of a new federal panel that will focus on fire department compliance with health and safety standards.

The IAFF is also working on a special supplemental appropriation bill to help communities recover from Super Storm Sandy. Traditionally, the federal government has reimbursed local jurisdictions for costs associated with emergency response, but there is currently an attempt to limit the amount of funds the federal government will pay for personnel costs for fire fighters and others. The IAFF is working with fire fighter allies on Capitol Hill to assure that communities will get reimbursed for their emergency operations.

Dangers Lurk in Cliff Negotiations

While advancing pro-fire fighter issues, the IAFF is also playing aggressive defense, working to protect fire fighter interests in the high-level Fiscal Cliff negotiations. Of paramount concern are proposals to tax health benefits and require all fire fighters to pay into Social Security. Both issues are included in many of the deficit reduction proposals, including the “Simpson-Bowles” plan, which is generating a lot of support from both sides of the aisle.

Additionally, federal fire fighters who have already contributed millions toward deficit reduction through a series of pay freezes and staffing cuts are again in the crosshairs. House Republicans put forward a proposal December 19 that would require all federal employees to contribute an additional 5 percent of their salary toward their pension.

The holiday season has done little to cool temperatures on Capitol Hill as the debate rages over taxes, spending and deficits. As always, the IAFF will be on the frontlines fighting back against those who want to balance the budget on the backs of fire fighters.