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Fire fighters and emergency medical personnel will receive billions in aid from an economic stimulus package, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, to address the response to and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The IAFF lobbied with Congress and the administration to ensure fire and EMS needs were included in the bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 96-0, passed the House by voice vote and was signed into law.

The IAFF and FirstNet Built with AT&T, in a public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority, are committed to educating fire fighters and paramedics about the benefits of FirstNet and the impact it can have on public safety communications during these critical times.

After receiving Peer Support Training from the IAFF, two Alabama members – Hoover Local 4035 member Toby Rigsby and Pelham Local 5049 member Jim Terrell – are developing Alabama’s first statewide peer support program for fire fighters.

Southwest, IN Local 5259 is one of the newest affiliates to join the IAFF.

Nominations for the 2020 Local Leadership Awards are due by 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Friday, May 1.

Since opening in March 2017, the IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery has helped more than 1,200 IAFF members struggling with behavioral health problems.

To reduce exposure and slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID 19), IAFF members and the entire emergency response community are quickly developing new protocols and response strategies. One example is Miami Beach Fire Rescue, in cooperation with Miami Beach, FL Local 1510, which created a dedicated COVID 19 response unit.

The president’s nationwide emergency declaration (under the Stafford Act) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic frees up more than $40 billion in emergency federal funds to help combat the virus, and specifically allows state and local governments to be reimbursed up to 75 percent for emergency protective measures under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance Program.

The North Central Fire District, which serves Kerman, Biola and the unincorporated areas of Fresno in central California, is among the newest to form a new IAFF local.

Groves, TX Local 1905 is one of the IAFF’s newest affiliates.