III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 743 

Congratulating the International Association of Fire Fighters on the 100th 

anniversary of its founding. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 22, 2018 

Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. REED, and Mr. VAN HOLLEN) 

submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Congratulating the International Association of Fire Fighters 

on the 100th anniversary of its founding. 

Whereas, on February 28, 1918, delegates representing 24 

firefighter unions united to form the International Association of Fire Fighters (referred to in this preamble as 

the ‘‘IAFF’’) to ‘‘organize all fire fighters . . . foster a 

higher degree of skill and efficiency . . . improve and 

protect members’ health and welfare . . . establish safety 

standards . . . cultivate friendship and fellowship . . . 

provide proper compensation for work performed . . . 

and improve social and economic conditions’’; 

Whereas, in 1918, at the first IAFF Convention, the IAFF 

adopted 20 resolutions to benefit firefighters and the fire 

service, including resolutions relating to— 

(1) a two-platoon system; 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 743 ATS 

(2) pension laws; 

(3) automatic sprinkler systems; 

(4) building inspections; and 

(5) the removal of hazards for fire prevention; 

Whereas, throughout the history of the IAFF, the IAFF has 

successfully improved the knowledge, skills and abilities 

of the domestic defenders of the people of the United 

States by designing, developing, and deploying high quality standardized training in a multitude of disciplines, including— 

(1) hazardous materials response; 

(2) responding to incidents involving weapons of 

mass destruction; 

(3) confined space operations; 

(4) responding to incidents involving illicit drug labs; 

and 

(5) planning and responding to high-consequence incidents; 

Whereas the IAFF has been the national leader in every significant firefighter health and safety initiative for nearly 

a century, including— 

(1) the recognition of and fight against occupational 

diseases and illnesses, such as cancer and cardiovascular 

ailments; 

(2) the promotion of physical fitness screening and 

training; and 

(3) the promotion of mental health and wellness, including awareness and treatment of post-traumatic 

stress; 

Whereas, on March 5, 2017, the IAFF opened the first-ofits-kind Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health 

Treatment and Recovery to provide science-based treatVerDate Sep 11 2014 19:46 Dec 22, 2018 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR743.ATS SR743

pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 743 ATS 

ment to firefighters struggling with post-traumatic stress 

and co-occurring health issues, such as substance abuse, 

depression, and anxiety; 

Whereas the mission of the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery reinforces the commitment of the IAFF to prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of all IAFF members and provides a safe space for 

firefighters to seek treatment and heal; 

Whereas the IAFF actively works to secure the enactment of 

legislation at all levels of government that directly impacts the jobs, economic security, and safety of firefighters and emergency medical personnel, including— 

(1) the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 

1974 (15 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.); 

(2) the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–347; 124 Stat. 3623); 

and 

(3) legislation establishing— 

(A) the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program (part L of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10281 

et seq.)); 

(B) the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and 

Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229)); 

(C) the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program (section 34 of the 

Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 

(15 U.S.C. 2229a)); and 

(D) presumptive illness compensation in a majority of States; 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 743 ATS 

Whereas the IAFF has served as a leader in the widespread 

integration of fire and emergency medical services, ensuring that nearly all professional firefighters in the United 

States play a critical role in the delivery of emergency 

medical services as cross-trained, dual-role firefighters 

who are trained in both fire suppression and Emergency 

Medical Services response; 

Whereas the IAFF has partnered with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (referred to in this preamble as the 

‘‘MDA’’) to raise funds to support the search for the 

cause of and cure for muscle diseases, including— 

(1) by declaring the MDA the charity of choice of 

the IAFF in 1954; and 

(2) by participating in Fill the Boot campaigns to 

raise more than $630,000,000 for the MDA; 

Whereas, in furtherance of the mission of the IAFF to aid 

IAFF members and their families in times of need, the 

IAFF established the IAFF Foundation to provide— 

(1) aid to professional firefighters and emergency 

medical personnel following natural disasters; 

(2) assistance to IAFF members and their families 

for the treatment and care of burn injuries; 

(3) scholarships to the children of fallen IAFF members; and 

(4) maintenance of the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial to honor IAFF members who have made the ultimate 

sacrifice in the line of duty; 

Whereas the IAFF memorializes the thousands of firefighters 

and emergency medical personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of others, including— 

(1) the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on September 11, 2001; 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
5 

•SRES 743 ATS 

(2) the scores of firefighters and emergency medical 

personnel who have died in the years since September 11, 

2001, of injuries and illnesses relating to the events of 

September 11, 2001; and 

(3) the firefighters and emergency medical personnel 

who have died of occupational disease; 

Whereas each of the firefighters and emergency medical personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of 

others is fondly remembered and respected by IAFF 

members; 

Whereas, as of December 2018, the IAFF has headquarters 

in both Washington, DC, and Ottawa, Ontario, and represents more than 313,000 full-time professional firefighters and paramedics in more than 3,200 affiliates; 

Whereas, as of December 2018, greater than 85 percent of 

the population in communities throughout the United 

States and Canada is protected by firefighters and paramedics who are members of the IAFF; 

Whereas the sustained and ongoing commitment of the members of the IAFF to the people of the United States and 

Canada serves the public interest; and 

Whereas countless firefighters from across the United States 

are honored at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial 

created by Congress and located on the campus of the 

National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) congratulates the International Association 

3 of Fire Fighters on the 100th anniversary of its 

4 founding; 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
6 

•SRES 743 ATS 

1 (2) recognizes the expertise and devotion to 

2 service demonstrated by the International Associa3 tion of Fire Fighters as the International Associa4 tion of Fire Fighters continues to be the voice for 

5 and represent the professional interests of fire6 fighters and emergency medical responders across 

7 the United States and Canada; and 

8 (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of 

9 the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolu10 tion to the General President of the International 

11 Association of Fire Fighters. 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS