Senator Tom Carper of Delaware will serve as the Chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus during the 116th Congress. First elected to the Senate in 2001 after previously serving five terms in the House of Representatives and two terms as Governor, Senator Carper has been a tireless advocate for the nation's fire and emergency services. Throughout his career in public service, he has advanced many initiatives to address the needs of the fire service.
The Fire Caucus leadership also announced the names of two new co-chairs: Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Congressman Mike Bost from the 12th congressional district of Illinois. Senator Murkowski replaces the late-Senator John McCain, the last original co-chairman to serve on the Fire Caucus.
Senator Murkowski issued a statement shortly after accepting the position: “From my earliest days in the Senate I have built strong relationships with Alaska Fire Chiefs and firefighters - professional, volunteer and wildland. On a national level, I have led on many issues of importance to the fire service. I am proud to accept the invitation to Co-Chair the Congressional Fire Services Caucus- a vacancy that was left open after my good friend, Senator John McCain, recently passed. Senator McCain set a high bar, but I am committed to building upon his good work to create a safer future for our firefighters and the communities they risk their lives to protect."
Congressman Bost was first elected to Congress in 2015. Previously, he served in the Illinois state legislature for two decades. During that time, he was also a member of the Murphysboro (IL) Fire Department. “As a former firefighter, I know firsthand the dedication our first responders show to the communities they serve,” said Congressman Bost. “I’m honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with my firefighter brothers and sisters who put their lives on the line for their communities. I’m humbled by this opportunity to be a leading voice for them in Congress through the Fire Services Caucus.”
Not all members of Congress possess an understanding about federal programs that benefit our nation’s first responders, especially the newly-elected members. For this reason, the Congressional Fire Services Institute encourages members of the fire service to contact their federal legislators and request that they join the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. The primary mission of the Fire Caucus is to educate members of Congress about the role of the fire service in protecting local communities and the importance of federal programs that enhance the capabilities of our first responders.
CFSI’s website (www.cfsi.org) contains a complete list of Fire Caucus members. Please visit it to see if your members of Congress are currently members. If not, we encourage you to contact them and ask that they join. The Congressional Fire Services Caucus works in the spirit of bipartisanship, which is a significant reason why it remains one of the largest and most respected caucuses 32 years after it was established in 1987. The only expectation of caucus members is learning about the needs of the fire service and federal programs and legislation that address those needs.
Please contact us at 202-371-1277 or update@cfsi.org if you have any questions about Fire Caucus recruitment or questions about federal legislation impacting the fire service that Congress will consider during the 116th session. With your support, we can make a difference on Capitol Hill!