Hoyer Meets with Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) met with representatives of the Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland as part of the International Association of Fire Fighters’ (IAFF) annual convention. Mike Rund, President of the Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland; Jeffrey Buddle, Vice President of the Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland; Andy Panetelis, President of the Prince George’s County Professional Fire Fighters; Courtney Shannon, Vice President of the Professional Fireifighters, Paramedics, and EMTs of Charles County; and Greg Russell, President of the National Capital Federal Firefighters IAFF Local 121 attended today’s meeting.
“I’m pleased I could meet with representatives of the Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland to discuss issues important to the brave fire fighters who put their lives on the line everyday to keep our communities safe,” stated Congressman Hoyer. “Throughout my career, I’ve been proud to advocate on their behalf and ensure that we maintain federal investments, such as the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Firefighters Program, so they have the resources and personnel needed to do their jobs safely and effectively. I will continue working to ensure that we are making these important investments in our fire stations in Maryland and in communities throughout the country, and I appreciate their input today.”
Congressman Hoyer led a bipartisan letter with 113 other Members of Congress to the House Appropriations Committee asking that the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Firefighters Program both be funded at Fiscal Year 2012 levels for Fiscal Year 2013.
As co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, Congressman Hoyer took a lead role in helping to establish the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, grant funding awarded to fire departments and EMS organizations to enhance their response capabilities and strengthen health and safety protections for the public and emergency response personnel. He also helped establish the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Firefighters (SAFER) Program to help fire departments hire new firefighters, recruit and retain volunteer firefighters, and provide relief to stations operating short of staff.