The Congressional Fire Services Institute’s Board of Directors have announced Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council, is to receive the 2006 Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award. The presentation will take place at the 18th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner on April 6 in Washington, D.C.

Also to be honored at the dinner will be Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) and Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.),. The three have been selected to receive of the 2006 Legislator of the Year Award. The Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International and the International Association of Fire Chiefs have been selected as the 2006 Fire Service Organizations of the Year.

As president of the HSC and previously as vice president of public education for the National Fire Protection Association, Appy was selected for being a national leader in developing programs and public-policy initiatives targeted at keeping people safe from fire and other unintentional injuries.

During her career Appy has spearheaded many efforts to provide local fire departments with the tools and technical support they need to enhance public education efforts, most recently through the HSC’s Expert Network. She is actively involved in CFSI as a member of its National Advisory Committee, providing guidance and information to help educate members of Congress on the importance of prevention and education in protecting local communities against fire and other dangers.

“Meri-K certainly has made outstanding contributions to public safety as a tireless advocate for prevention and education,” said CFSI President William Jenaway.

The three members of Congress are to be honored for their legislative efforts to improve communication capabilities for first responders. On Feb. 2, Congress approved legislation to clear 24mhz of broadcast spectrum for first responders by Feb. 9, 2009. Efforts to secure the spectrum date back to 1996 when the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee issued a report calling for this spectrum for public safety use. Since then, these three members have been public safety’s strongest advocates, according to cfsi, sponsoring legislation and asserting themselves in hearings to establish the date for transition.

“There is a saying that goes, ‘Go the extra mile. It’s never crowded,’” said CFSI Executive Director Bill Webb. “As a result of their perseverance, these three members distinguished themselves as our champions on this important legislative victory for public safety.”

APCO and the IAFC also will be honored for their efforts to secure additional broadcast spectrum for first responders. Both organizations have advocated the need for the additional spectrum, on Capitol Hill and before the Federal Communications Commission and other government agencies.

“Establishing the hard date is a legislative achievement we are certainly proud to hang our hat on,” said Webb.