[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E469-E470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO STEVE ELKINS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 16, 2018

  Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of my 
colleagues Senator Tom Carper and Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, to 
honor and congratulate Steve Austin, a Delaware Fire Service veteran 
and recipient of the Congressional Fire Services Institute's (CFSI) 
2018 Mason Lankford Fire Leadership Award.
  A selfless citizen, Steve served the people of Newark in one of the 
state's largest volunteer fire companies after joining the fire service 
in 1963. His willingness to help others has been a source of comfort to 
Delawareans experiencing times of overwhelming loss and tragedy. 
Steve's sacrifice and volunteer spirit is a testament to his character.
  Steve's work was essential to the formation of the CSFI in 1989 and 
since then, he has dedicated his life to advancing the health and 
safety of firefighters across the nation for more than three decades. 
His life-long passion is evident in his founding of the Emergency 
Responder Safety Institute and Delaware Chapter of International Arson 
Investigators. Steve has been a powerful advocate at the local, state 
and federal level on issues that affect the ability of first responders 
to safely resolve dangerous situations and continue living a long, 
healthy life.

[[Page E470]]

  Steve is an extraordinary ambassador for all emergency personnel and 
is much deserving of the CFSI's 2018 Fire Leadership Award. I want to 
extend my heartfelt gratitude and sincerest congratulations to Steve 
for receiving the CFSI Leadership Award and for his devotion to the 
people of Delaware. The First State is lucky to have members of the 
community who volunteer their time and sacrifice their lives for the 
greater good. Steve, like many other emergency workers will tell you, 
``I'm just doing my job.''

                          ____________________