Homeland Security & First Responder Issues
Take Center Stage at Fire Fighters Legislative Conference, March 19-22
Impressive Bipartisan Line Up: Bush Chief of
Staff Andrew Card, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Potential
2008 Presidential Contenders: Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), Chuck Hagel (R-NE),
Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM)
March 19-22, Hyatt Regency Washington on
Capitol Hill 400 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington D.C.
Washington DC - Homeland security, first responder
issues, mid-term elections and other challenges facing fire fighters will be
the focus of discussion at the March 19-22, 2006 Legislative Conference of
the International Association of Fire Fighters being held at the Hyatt
Regency on Capitol Hill.
Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean and
Republican National Committee Chair Ken Mehlman are also among the
extraordinary list of bipartisan speakers lined to address more than 700
professional fire fighters from across the nation attending this conference.
“The support of fire fighters and this union is a proven,
powerful political tool in elections and in getting laws passed,” says IAFF
General President Harold A. Schaitberger. The IAFF’s support for John Kerry
early in the 2004 election is widely regarded as the catalyst that push
Kerry to his decisive early primary victories. That same election, the IAFF
also support many high profile Republicans, including holding a reception
for Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert at the Republican National
Convention.
“The IAFF’s track record of working with any legislator or
candidate who works with us – regardless of political party – has served to
increase this union’s ability to win support for critical legislation and in
the desire of candidates from across the political spectrum to court us for
our support.”
Agenda for Monday, March 20 – session runs from 8:30
a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tentative time and order for confirmed speakers
(all times approximate)
-
8:45 a.m. -- Harold A. Schaitberger, General
President, IAFF
-
9:15 a.m. -- Senator Joe Biden (D-DE)
-
10:00 a.m. -- Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
-
10:30 a.m. -- Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
-
10:45 a.m. -- Ken Mehlman, Chair, Republican National
Committee
-
11:20 a.m. -- Secretary Michael Chertoff, Department
of Homeland Security
-
1:50 p.m. -- Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM)
-
2:35 p.m. -- Governor Howard Dean, Chair, Democratic
National Committee
-
3:20 p.m. -- Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
-
3:45 p.m. -- Andrew Card, Chief of Staff to President
George W. Bush
The International Association of Fire Fighters,
headquartered in Washington, DC, represents more than 272,000 full-time
professional fire fighters and paramedics who protect 80 percent of the
nation’s population. The IAFF’s political action committee, FIREPAC, is one
of the top 25 federal PACs out of the over 4,500 in the country. More
information is available at www.iaff.org.
Click here for
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