Senator ... Soldier ... Patriot ...
Experience and Leadership Our Country Needs

A Message from the General President

We have a core political philosophy on which all of our political work hinges. We will support those who support us.

In the 2008 Presidential election, there are a number of candidates with solid records on fire fighter and working family issues. The proven, demonstrated ability to lead on those issues are what we weigh the most when deciding who will receive the considerable support and endorsement of our great union. These successes tell us what kind of leadership each candidate will offer as our President.

So we did the background work and looked at the candidates' records on fire fighter and working family issues. We saw which issues they have a history not just of supporting, but where they led the fight to change things for the better, and where they would in the future. And we examined the strengths each candidate would bring in a general election.

We listened to the candidates' words, hosted forums and printed them in our magazine.

We talked with our leaders and members across the country... and after all of that work, your IAFF Executive Board took that information, got together and found that one candidate out of all those running in both parties really stood head and shoulders above the rest when it came to support for fire fighters, for protecting our country and on issues that are important to our economy, our families and their quality of life.

That candidate is U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, and that's why your IAFF Executive Board voted unanimously today to endorse Senator Dodd for President of the United States.

His full record is laid out on our web site, at www.firefightersfordodd.com

Chris understands service, duty and leadership. He's spent his entire adult life serving our country and its citizens.

As a young man, he joined the Peace Corps and as he worked in rural communities in the Dominican Republic he learned the value of the United States leading the way for others.

After fulfilling that commitment, Chris enlisted in the Army National Guard and later served in the U.S. Army Reserves.

And after earning a law degree, he ran for and was elected to Congress in 1974, where he served three terms in the House of Representatives on behalf of Connecticut, then was elected to represent his state in the U.S. Senate in 1980.

His record of leadership on issues that have helped American workers not just keep their heads above water, but to get ahead, is long and distinguished. It tells us a lot about the kind of President he will make and why we believe he can win.

Just as important, Chris Dodd's record is probably the best in the history of the U.S. Congress in leading the fight to ensure that the funding, resources and staffing fire fighters need to do their jobs safely and effectively is there.

He wasn't just a co-sponsor of the FIRE Act, he wrote it.

He wasn't just a co-sponsor of the SAFER Act, he wrote it.

Chris has co-sponsored our collective bargaining legislation.

He helped lead the fight to implement all of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Report.

Dodd supports increased funding for Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grants, the Urban Search And Rescue (USAR) program and other block grants to assist first responders.

In fact, one of his first votes as a young congressman was to authorize the original PSOB program in September 1976.

Click Here for Dodd's Record on Fire/Working Family Issues

With the boldest plans to make health insurance, college tuition and energy more affordable, we know that Chris Dodd will continue to fight for the middle class as President.

Chris Dodd has a wealth of experience and record of leadership on national and homeland security matters. His experienced diplomacy is going to be critical in protecting our nation and leading back to the forefront in the world again ...

Chris has served the citizens of this country with distinction his entire career, he is a candidate with experience, a proven track record and a real vision for the future.

He is known as an effective lawmaker and a skillful negotiator who is respected on both sides of the political aisle - who can bring people together to tackle big challenges.

Such qualities have served Chris well as he has been part of every major domestic and foreign policy debate over the last quarter century.

Our great country has been without sound presidential leadership for too long to keep us safe and secure. This time around - experience matters. No candidate has more experience, and no candidate offers leadership on issues important to fire fighters and the quality of life for their families than Chris Dodd.

16th District Update

September 2007

            DoD will add another 90,000 employees to the national security personnel system during the fiscal year that begins October 1, which would bring the total to above 200,000. DoD hasn't announced a breakdown of the positions. DoD most likely will follow its practice of bringing only employees not eligible for union representation into the system, since the labor relations provisions of NSPS remain subject to a lawsuit that could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court within the next two months. Meanwhile, DoD has announced that for those already under NSPS, more than 110,000, January 2008 raises will be split according to local market supplements, pay band adjustments and performance segments as called for under NSPS rules. That effectively will put more of the available money into performance-based pay at the expense of across-the-board type adjustments.

            DoD also has said that even though an appeals court ruled in its favor in that suit recently, it has "no plans to implement the adverse actions, appeals and labor relations portions of NSPS at this time." Mary Lacey, program executive officer for the National Security Personnel System, said the department will not move bargaining unit employees into the system until Congress makes up its mind about pending legislation that could defund or repeal portions of NSPS. She made her remarks at a conference in Morgantown, W.Va. "We're pretty sure Congress is going to take away the authority to make any changes to labor relations," Lacey said, "so why would I rush to implement this . . . only to see that four to five weeks later that authority would go away?"

            DoD has tentatively agreed to support the language submitted by Senator Webb when the Defense Authorization bill reaches the Senate floor.  This language would correct the problem with applying the increase to DoD fire fighters.  Senator Webb is working with the Armed Services Committee to have his language considered expeditiously.

Federal Presumptive 

            We are still waiting to get a cost estimate on the bill from the CBO.  The cost figure will have a big impact on our efforts.  But even if we get a good cost estimate, we still need some additional cosponsors to raise the bill’s profile.  Rep Russ Carnahan of Missouri and Rep Joe Courtney of Connecticut both signed on as co-sponsors of HR 1142 in September bringing the total number of co-sponsors to 110.  If your Representative is not a co-sponsor contact them immediately and seek their support.

            As you may recall, last year we attempted to add an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill which would require DoD to put any money paid by localities to reimburse DoD for firefighting services back into the firefighting accounts in the budget.  Unfortunately, the amendment was not included in the final package.  Senator Kennedy has now raised the issue again, and may offer it as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill.

Jim