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• President Obama Proposes Billions for New Jobs Initiative to Hire Fire Fighters, Preferences to Jurisdictions for Hiring Veterans
  

  February 3, 2012 -- President Barack Obama, with IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger sitting close by, outlined an aggressive plan to provide more than $1 billion to hire and keep fire fighters on the frontlines, while giving preferences to jurisdictions for hiring veterans after returning from their tours of duty abroad.

  
  
  
• FY 2011 SAFER Grant Application Period Begins January 30
  

  January 26, 2012 – The FY 2011 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant application period will open on Monday, January 30, 2012 and run until Friday, February 24, 2012 at 5:00 P.M. EST. Congress has approved $742.5 million in SAFER funding to rehire and retain fire fighters, in addition to hiring additional personnel. The SAFER program has already put more than 5,000 fire fighters back to work, giving a much-needed boost to public safety in countless struggling communities.

  
  
  
• Watch the Opening Session at the IAFF Human Relations Conference
  

  January 26, 2012 – IAFF members from across the United States and Canada attending the 2012 Ernest A. "Buddy" Mass Human Relations Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, January 22-24, heard from IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger and U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis at the Opening Session on January 23. The 20th conference was designed to build solidarity among brother and sister fire fighters as they explored the differences that divide and unite them in the firehouse.

  
  
  
• IAFF Members Affected By Alabama Tornado
  

  January 24, 2012 –IAFF 14th District Vice President Danny Todd and Professional Fire Fighters Association of Alabama (PFFAA) President Steve Pegues are reaching out to members in the aftermath of an Alabama tornado. No serious member injuries have been reported, but six fire fighter homes, including that of Birmingham Local 117 President Don Baker, were damaged. Five of those members are now displaced from their homes.

  
  
  
• Call for Nominations for Local Leadership Awards
  

  January 10, 2012 -- The IAFF would not be where it is today without strong leadership -- at all levels. Often, leaders are out front where we can see them, but sometimes they don’t get noticed -- mainly because they’re too busy getting things done. That's why the IAFF has established the Local Leadership Award to recognize and honor active and active-retired local officers (current and past) who have dedicated more than 15 years to their local. The Local Leadership Award was created by Convention resolution to champion the standard of leadership set by Dennis J. Murray, one of the longest-serving local presidents in IAFF history and the first recipient of the award at the 2008 IAFF Convention.

  
  
  
• Canadian Legislative Conference to Be Held April 22-25 in Ottawa
  

  January 9, 2011 -- After a rare October appearance on the IAFF calendar last year, the IAFF Canadian Legislative Conference returns to its usual April timeframe in 2012. The 19th Canadian Legislative Conference will take place April 22-25 at the Delta Ottawa Hotel and Suites and will feature an orientation session for new delegates, guest speakers, issues focus session, IAFF Parliamentary Reception and wrap-up session. Lobby Day will be Tuesday, April 24.

  
  
  
• Congress Increases Funding for USAR Teams
  

  December 21, 2011 – In a significant development, Congress has increased funding for the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Response System for Fiscal Year 2012. The system will receive $41.25 million, an increase of $6 million, making it one the very few programs to receive a funding boost for Fiscal Year 2012.

  
  
  
• Get Ready to Apply for a 2011 SAFER Grant
  

  December 20, 2011 -- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin accepting applications soon for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. Congress has authorized $742 million in SAFER funding to rehire and retain fire fighters, in addition to hiring additional personnel. The SAFER program has already put more than 5,000 fire fighters back to work, giving a much-needed boost to public safety in countless struggling communities.

  
  
  
• IAFF Scores Huge Congressional Victory
  

  December 17, 2011 – In one of its final actions in 2011, Congress has passed an Omnibus Appropriations Bill that makes more than $742 million in Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants available to struggling communities and extends the “SAFER waivers” for Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012. The waivers ensure that fire departments can use SAFER grants to rehire and retain fire fighters, in addition to hiring additional personnel.

  
  
  
• AT&T Union Discounts Offer Savings and Solidarity
  

  December 9, 2011 -- IAFF affiliates are eligible to receive discounts from AT&T Wireless for members, union offices and union staff. Through negotiated discounts with the AFL-CIO, savings are also available for AT&T local and long distance, Internet, video and web conferencing and other communications technology services that can help IAFF affiliates cut costs and make members' dues go farther.