AN INSTITUTE’S INSTITUTE
EDITOR’S OPINION
Maybe the headline here should read, “Weldon on the move.” Congressman Curt Weldon, founder and chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, has announced his intention to form the Congressional Fire Services Institute. The purpose of the nonprofit organization is to conduct research to provide information necessary to congressional members, the public, and the fire service itself.
According to Weldon, all concerned parties will be kept wellinformed of fire and life safety issues and encourage direction for the caucus on the legislative impact necessary for the fire service’s needs. This endeavor is certainly worthy of our consideration and participative support.
The fire service has long been exposed to institutes and foundations that have been nothing more than self-interest groups or organizations that were able to channel monies for the parochial groups or industries seeking only their own ends. These ends were accomplished by screaming one-sided accusations and baseless retorts in newsletters, by performing biased testing and releasing slanted results to the public and to the fire service itself.
If the 280-member caucus is to function for itself, the public, and us, the fire service must speak as one voice. It must have our support— the support of its constituency. I urge you to get more information on this body of lawmakers, on its goals and its ideals, in order to make up your own mind on the degree of your support.
Congratulations to Congressman Weldon for his tireless efforts on behalf of the life and fire safety concepts we hold so dear. We always knew we were on the right track. Now, with the third largest internal lobby in the history of Congress, we have the staffing and legislative talent on our team also.
Let’s not blow it now!
