President George W. Bush, members of the Congress and the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, and fire chiefs from around the country convened April 18 in Washington, D.C., for the 14th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner and Seminars presented by the Congressional Fire Services Institute.

The theme of this year's dinner, “Protecting Our Nation,” was inspired by the events of Sept. 11 and honored the valor of those who gave their lives in the terrorist attacks. The event also reflected on the contributions of all first responders who risk their lives every day in the line of duty.

Warmly received by the attendees, Bush discussed support for first responders in the form of his $3.5 billion Homeland Security budget proposal. Calling firefighting “one of the highest callings in our country, and one of the hardest,” he acknowledged that America will always depend on firefighters to respond when disaster strikes. “There is no substitute for the raw courage of the firefighter,” he said.

The Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award was presented to the family of the late FDNY Deputy Chief Ray Downey, who died at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. Accepting the award for Downey were his wife and five adult children, including two sons who are currently New York firefighters. The award is sponsored by Motorola and was presented by Bill Barnett, vice president of Motorola.

Among Congressional speakers addressing the 1,950 attendees were Reps. Curt Weldon (Pa.) and Steny Hoyer (Md.), as well as Sens. Paul Sarbanes (Md.) and Joseph Biden Jr. (Del.).

Seminars held on Capitol Hill earlier that day offered fire chiefs, organizations and local officials the opportunity to interact with federal authorities and members of Congress.

Included in the seminars was a forum on federal government and homeland defense conducted by Mike Byrne, division director of the Readiness, Response and Recovery Division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Mike Brown, FEMA acting deputy director.

“We need a management system to coordinate our responses,” Byrne said, referring to disaster response. “Whether it's police, firefighters or EMS, don't sit back and think ‘we need a system.’ Don't sit back and talk about that. If nothing is happening in your locale or state, take the initiative yourself.”

Chief Bruce Varner of the Carrollton (Texas) Fire Department said the problem for many departments is obtaining enough funding to match for the grant process. Addressing that issue, Byrne said, “Figure out how to get on the Federal Register and make those same comments and get them on the record.”

As for federal funding issues, Byrne said, “We use the words homeland security way too much. FEMA will not lose site of this mission. If we win the war on terrorism and never have another terrorist act, there will be another hurricane, flood or disaster. We need to prepare for wildfires in Colorado, as well as the hurricanes. It will help us prepare for all other hazards.”

Bush administration members involved with the fire and emergency services gathered in a roundtable discussion earlier in the day to discuss their fire service agenda and the mission of USFA. Participants included: Steve Austin, CFSI chair; U.S. Fire Administrator Dave Paulison; Dr. Denis Onieal, National Fire Academy superintendent; Cortez Lawrence, USFA Fire Programs director; Alex Furr, FEMA Data Shop director; and Kirby Keifer, National Fire Academy deputy superintendent.

Paulison discussed the funding increase from $100 million to $360 million of the Assistance to Firefighters grant program and USFA's smoke alarm, heart attack and seatbelt awareness campaigns for firefighters.

“The first responders are an integral part of our homeland defense. We're beginning to be a part of the nucleus of FEMA,” Paulison said. “The director has a heart for the fire service that I have not seen for a long time.”

Onieal announced that the Emergency Management Institute courses would be introduced to the state emergency and fire academies. “Higher education, state and local colleges have to work together,” he said.