We had a very successful trip to Washington DC. We had fourteen Chiefs and the Director of FETI attending this year. We want to encourage more Chiefs to make this trip a priority.

Our Congressional Delegation was very receptive not only to us but to the concerns we presented to them. Here is the list of items we discussed this year.

a.       FEMA reimbursement policy on limiting pay to 16 hours per day

b.      Community Loan Forgiveness

c.       Urban Search and Rescue

d.      State and Federal Legislation

e.       Fire/Safer Grant Programs

f.        Funding for the US Fire Administration and the National Fire Academy

g.       Creation of a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network

h.       Federal Taxation of Volunteer Incentives

i.         Clarify the IRS’s Treatment of Volunteer Firefighters

j.        Tax Incentives for Retrofit of Fire Sprinklers Systems

k.      Job Protection for Volunteer Firefighters and EMS

l.         Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones College Fire Prevention

m.     Campus Fire Safety Education Act of 2010

n.       Protect Children form Dangerous Lighters Act

Yes,we had a diverse list and more important we had a diverse group of Chiefs, paid, combination, and volunteer departments throughout our state were represented. Several of those Chiefs are Board Members of the LSFA and LFCA. What a great opportunity to work toward a common goal to make the Fire Service better not only in our great state of Louisiana but in the Nation. As we discussed the many subjects with our Representatives and Senators, I soon realized we were not only educating our Congressional Delegation but educating ourselves to the passion the Chiefs have for making their departments better.

In closing, I would like to thank all the Chiefs who attended this year’s pilgrimage to DC it was a great success.