http://www.iaff.org/en-gbWed, 18 Nov 2009 22:31:16 GMTWed, 18 Nov 2009 22:31:16 GMThttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss60http://www.iaff.org/media/rssIMG.jpghttp://www.iaff.org/12038IAFF - Always on the front line.http-equiv="PICS-Label" content='(PICS-1.1 "http://www.icra.org/ratingsv02.html" l gen true for "http://www.iaff.org/" r (n 0 s 0 v 0 l 0)'67891011SaturdaySundayhttp://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=758 &S=RSSNovember 18, 2009 -- By a vote of 395-31, on November 18, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3791, the FIRE Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009. The bill makes improvements to both the Assistance to Fire Fighters (FIRE Act) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs that will significantly benefit professional fire departments in the United States. The House also adopted the Firefighter Fatality Reduction Act as an amendment to H.R. 3791. The amendment, offered by Representative Ed Permutter (D-CO) promotes fire department compliance with industry consensus standards -- a top IAFF priority. The amendment passed by a vote of 358-75. ]]>11/18/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=755 &S=RSSNovember 18, 2009 – The Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA) is celebrating a historic milestone in unity after affiliation votes conducted by two IAFF affiliates. In November, the 692-member Mississauga Professional Fire Fighters Association voted to re-affiliate with the OPFFA after a nine-year absence. The Mississauga vote followed a decision earlier this year by 80 members of the Pearson Airport Professional Fire Fighters Association, who voted to affiliate with the OPFFA for the first time.]]>11/18/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=749 &S=RSSNovember 10, 2009 – By a 220-215 vote late Saturday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the most comprehensive reform of our nation’s health insurance system since Congress created Medicare and Medicaid over four decades ago. The bill (H.R. 3962) creates a new insurance exchange similar to the one available to members of Congress and expands Medicaid to reduce our nation’s uninsured population by over two-thirds—all without taxing health benefits.]]>11/10/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=747 &S=RSSNovember 9, 2009 – To more than 1,100 attending fire fighters and paramedics, IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger kicked off the 20th John P. Redmond Symposium held in Los Angeles, California, November 8-12. Schaitberger kept to the conference theme – Preparing You for Survival: The Fire Ground, the Economy and Beyond – as he provided updates on issues important to the future of fire fighter health and safety.]]>11/10/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=746 &S=RSSNovember 6, 2009 -- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has posted the program guidance for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. The application period begins November 16, 2009, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time and closes December 18, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The program guidance includes information on the new rules governing the use of SAFER funds to rehire fire fighters who have been laid off, bring back positions that are not being filled as a result of the current financial crisis and to prevent further reductions in staffing.]]>11/6/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=744 &S=RSSNovember 6, 2009 -- On Tuesday, November 3, voters in many states went to the ballot box. In two states – Maine and Washington – ballot initiatives that would have severely impacted professional fire fighters and other public safety personnel were roundly rejected. Several municipal elections were also of great importance to the IAFF where IAFF members or relatives were running for office.]]>11/6/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=741 &S=RSSNovember 6, 2009 -- BLEVE Entertainment Group, LLC continues to work to raise money for the IAFF’s and Fraternal Order of Police’s (FOP) disaster relief funds from sales and performances of the country music single, “My First Ride,” featuring recording artists Ronnie Milsap and Trace Adkins. The single is the title of a new CD that includes songs by George Strait, Vince Gill, James Otto, Kevin Bacon and the Bacon Brothers and Mike Reid. For each CD sold, $2 will be donated to the IAFF Disaster Relief Fund.]]>11/6/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=734 &S=RSSNovember 4, 2009 -- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin accepting applications for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants beginning November 16, 2009, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The application period will close December 18, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications for $210 million in SAFER funding will be available through the Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) web site, along with program guidance. A second application period will open in early 2010 for the $420 appropriated for Fiscal Year 2010.]]>11/4/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=737 &S=RSSNovember 3, 2009 -- On November 5, the IAFF will be joining the AFL-CIO and other labor unions in a nationwide "Day of Action" campaign against an excise tax to finance health care reform. The goal is to mobilize union members across the nation to generate thousands of phone calls, faxes and emails to members of Congress until real health care reform for workers is enacted.]]>11/4/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=730 &S=RSSNovember 2, 2009 -- More than 86 IAFF members and family members representing 28 states and one province participated in the 34th Annual Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC to support the IAFF Burn Foundation, raising more than $93,000 – a new record.]]>11/2/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=714 &S=RSSOctober 22, 2009 -- The U.S. Congress has approved legislation restoring notification requirements for emergency response personnel exposed to infectious diseases while on duty. The provision was included as part of S. 1793, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 408-9, and passed the U.S. Senate unanimously. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law in the near future.]]>10/22/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=705 &S=RSSOctober 19, 2009 -- A House-Senate Conference Committee has approved a final version of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriation for FY 2010 that doubles funding for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. HR 2892 increases the SAFER appropriation to $420 million, providing funding to hire thousands of fire fighters. The bill passed the House on October 15 by a vote of 307-114, and is scheduled for a final vote in the Senate. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law.]]>10/19/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=699 &S=RSSOctober 14, 2009 -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) CDC has released updated interim guidance on infection control measures to prevent transmission of the 2009 H1N1 influenza. The updated guidance applies uniquely to the special circumstances of the current 2009 H1N1 pandemic and will be updated as necessary as new information is available. In addition, the CDC has published questions and answers that address the special circumstances of the current 2009 H1N1 pandemic. The IAFF is advising members to be aware of and take the necessary precautions for responding safely and effectively to an H1N1 flu outbreak.]]>10/14/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=697 &S=RSSOctober 14, 2009 -- The FY 2010 Defense Authorization bill soon to be approved by Congress includes several provisions important to the nation’s federal fire fighters. HR 2647 eliminates the National Security Personnel System (NSPS), transitions employees in Hawaii and Alaska to locality pay, credits federal employee sick leave toward retirement, and excludes a provision to create special age requirements for military retirees for certain federal jobs, including fire fighter positions. ]]>10/14/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=696 &S=RSSOctober 14, 2009 -- The IAFF has appointed James Ridley director of the IAFF Hazardous Materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction Training Department. Ridley, a career fire fighter for 29 years, was president of Fort Wayne, IN Local 124 for 11 years. “I’m honored to be asked to take over a program that’s so important to the health and safety of first responders,” Ridley says.]]>10/14/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=695 &S=RSSOctober 13, 2009 -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano has announced President Obama’s intent to nominate Elizabeth M. Harman, a former fire fighter and current director of the Hazardous Materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction Training Department at the IAFF, to become an assistant administrator at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).]]>10/13/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=691 &S=RSSOctober 14, 2009 -- Applications for the 2010 Political Training Academy, scheduled for February 27-March 5, 2010, in Baltimore, Maryland, must be received at the IAFF no later than Friday, November 6. ]]>10/13/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=687 &S=RSSOctober 9, 2009 – As an IAFF affiliate leader, you know all too well that health care costs are rising out of control and that escalating insurance premiums are diminishing wages and other benefits. Affordable health insurance is also a growing need among retired fire fighters who often lose coverage under employer-paid plans when they separate from service. While the health care debate on Capitol Hill remains contentious, the IAFF is committed to fighting on its members' behalf for health care reform that protects the benefit plans our members have and reduces the costs both to our members and their employers.]]>10/9/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=685 &S=RSSOctober 9, 2009 -- Legislation about to be introduced in Congress would make improvements to both the Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE Act) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs that will significantly benefit professional U.S. fire departments. The IAFF and other national fire service organizations have secured the endorsement of a key congressional committee for a compromise proposal that will reauthorize the FIRE Act and SAFER programs for seven years and change the way grants are awarded.]]>10/9/2009http://www.iaff.org/linker.asp?id=684 &S=RSSOctober 7, 2009 -- Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has announced he will release $8.1 million in federal stimulus funds to help municipal fire departments that have been forced to make layoffs and leave vacancies unfilled. The funds will be used to rehire 127 fire fighters who were laid off because of budget reductions. The announcement marks the first round of awards to fire departments from the $20 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act discretionary funds the Patrick administration set aside specifically to help fire departments address staffing reductions caused by the current recession.]]>10/7/2009