Senator Christopher Dodd and International Fire Fighters Union President Harold Schaitberger Join Dina Titus in Support of First Responders

Fire Fighters Set for Rally on Tuesday, October 3

September 29, 2006

In the face of new and more sophisticated threats as well as politically-charged budget priorities, first responders tasked with protecting residents and visitors have seen their jobs grow increasingly complex and difficult. Senator Christopher Dodd and Harold Schaitberger, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), will join State Senator Dina Titus in addressing first responders regarding public safety and homeland security issues facing Nevada and our entire nation. Professional fire fighters and members of other first response agencies and labor organizations will attend the special rally Tuesday, October 3 at 11 a.m. The event will be held at Clark County Firefighters IAFF Local 1908, 6200 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas.

"First responders carry so much responsibility - not just for the physical safety of the people of Nevada, but also for the economic health of our state as one of the world's foremost tourist destinations," said Titus. "Our emergency personnel need to be more and more sophisticated in their approach to threats to our infrastructure and neighborhoods as well as high profile sites like Hoover Dam, Lake Tahoe, Nellis Air Force Base and the many resorts throughout Nevada. We must ensure that our first responders have the resources to meet the needs of our changing world."

"Fire departments across Nevada aren't being provided the funding necessary to keep up with the rapid expansion in the state, which means many departments are short on fire fighters and equipment, and that's a dangerous situation," said IAFF President Schaitberger.

"First responders have some of the toughest jobs in America - 9/11 was a very public example of the danger and sacrifices they make every day in communities across this country," said Dodd. "We need to match their hard work and sacrifice with the resources required to get their jobs done. In the US Senate, I authored the FIRE and SAFER Acts, which ensure that fire departments across the country receive the funding necessary to hire additional firefighters and adequately train and equip them."

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