IN RECOGNITION OF THE LOCAL 781 CHAPTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 155
(Extensions of Remarks - September 25, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN RECOGNITION OF THE LOCAL 781 CHAPTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS
______
HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER
of missouri
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today to recognize and
celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Local 781 chapter of the
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). For seventy-five
years, Local 781 firefighters in Independence, Missouri, have proudly
served and protected their community.
Supporting one of the oldest municipalities in Jackson County,
Missouri, the contributions of Local 781 are engrained in the complex
history of the Independence Fire Department and steeped in tradition,
dedication and bravery. In 1843, as the prospering village flourished,
so did a growing need to protect what they had established, leading to
the emergence of the Independence Fire Department.
Consisting of volunteer fire fighters, the Independence Fire
Department originally fought fires in the community with buckets as
their only equipment, For 175 years, the Independence Fire Department
has upheld this same tenacious, innovative spirit. It has evolved and
grown to meet the everchanging needs of the community it serves, and
today encompasses ten fire stations, over 150 personnel, an area of
seventy-eight square miles, and an institution that boldly protects and
serves the community.
The men and women employed by the Independence Fire Department have
been proudly and faithfully represented by the Local 781 chapter of the
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) since the formation
of the local chapter in 1944, empowering them to maintain the same
selfless sacrifice in the protection of countless lives.
Moreover, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
represents more than 295,000 full-time professional firefighters and
paramedics who protect eighty-five percent of the nation's population.
This endeavor is assisted by the nearly 3,100 affiliates and their
members in every state across the United States and Canada. The IAFF
not only represents firefighters and paramedics but also includes state
employees, federal workers, and fire and emergency medical personnel
employed at certain industrial facilities.
As leaders, advocates, and champions for its members, the
International Association of Fire Fighters has played a pivotal role in
every advance in fire and emergency services in the 20th century. From
the introduction of shift schedules early in the last century to the
enactment of SAFER in 2003, which helps bolster access to careers in
essential emergency response, ensuring better work conditions for these
responders, and providing established professional standards for fire
service. The IAFF has consistently been there to fight for responders
and improvements to public safety.
Today, the International Association of Fire Fighters continues to
spearhead policy that ensures the well-being of its members and places
emphasis on their ability to safely execute their duties. The growth
and success of this institution is reflective of its member-driven
initiatives and commitment to be an organization for firefighters, by
firefighters.
Madam Speaker, please join me and all of Missouri's Fifth
Congressional District in celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of
Local 781 chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters.
Let us join in recognizing the bravery of its members, both past and
present, who honorably serve the community of Independence, Missouri.
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