CFSI Action Center
Your presence is powerful. Congress wants to hear YOUR story to help shape policies on Capitol Hill.
Help us connect with every member of Congress to ensure that they are hearing from the fire and emergency services!
Whether you are in Washington, D.C. or at home in your state, your members of Congress are ready to hear from you. Learn the steps to advocacy below!
Write to Your Members of Congress
Meet With Your Members of Congress
Not Sure What Issues to Discuss?
The Congressional Fire Services Caucus
Writing to Your Members of Congress
Tips for Writing to Congress
- Identify yourself: Clearly state your name, address, and where you are from to establish yourself as a constituent.
- Be specific: Explain why this issue is important to you and provide concrete examples or data to support your position.
- MAKE THE ASK: Clearly write what you want them to do (e.g. "Reopen the National Fire Academy" or "Cosponsor S.237" or "Join the Congressional Fire Services Caucus")
- Use a respectful tone: Fire is a bipartisan issue and working with both sides of the aisle is essential to success
- Keep it brief: Try to keep your letter to one page and make sure the letter is structured (introduction, say who you are and what you do, clearly state your issue, briefly explain why they should care, reiterate your ask in closing, thank them for their consideration)
Need a Script for your Email?
Update this script to match the needs of what you want to discuss!
Dear Senator/Representative Lastname,
As a Job Title at Department Name/Organization in Town, State,
I am writing to urge you to reinstate vital fire service programs at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These programs are critical resources for America’s fire and emergency services.
The National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for cancer represents a landmark initiative to understand and address the increased cancer risks faced by firefighters. The NFR plays a crucial role in collecting data, identifying trends, and helping to shape policies that enhance firefighter health and safety. ADD YOUR WORDS HERE.
The Firefighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP) is another essential program that investigates firefighter line-of-duty deaths, providing recommendations that improve training, operational procedures, and safety protocols—directly reducing firefighter fatalities and injuries. ADD YOUR WORDS HERE.
The National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) ensures the effectiveness of personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly respirators, which are vital for firefighters and EMS personnel responding to fires, hazardous material emergencies, and medical calls. ADD YOUR WORDS HERE.
Finally, the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) remains a vital lifeline for first responders and their families, providing essential health benefits for those affected by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and the associated cleanup efforts. ADD YOUR WORDS HERE.
Congress has consistently supported these programs, and it is crucial that they continue receiving the necessary funding and personnel to protect those who risk their lives for public safety.
Sincerely,
Name
Update this script to match the needs of what you want to discuss!
Dear Senator/Representative Lastname,
As a Job Title at Department Name/Organization in Town, State, I am writing to request that the National Fire Academy be re-opened to ensure that America’s fire and emergency services can receive the training they need to protect communities all across the country.
Last week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a notice stating it will be cancelling all in-person classes offered by the National Fire Academy, in Emmitsburg, Maryland to “evaluate agency programs and spending to ensure alignment with Administration priorities.” While we understand the Administration’s desire to review government programs, we are concerned about the public safety impact of closing the campus with little notice and with an indefinite timeline. We request that the review be completed expeditiously so the campus can reopen.
The National Fire Academy’s mission is to provide specialized training courses and advanced management programs for middle- and top-level fire officers, fire service instructors, technical professionals, and representatives from allied professions. Each year, NFA offers training to approximately 100,000 members of the fire and emergency services. These students are drawn from all 50 states and represent the wide breadth of the American fire service, volunteer, paid on call and career fire departments.
The training offered by NFA is specialized training, similar to the leadership training offered by the military war colleges for current and future military officers. Training at the NFA has been a priority of every Administration since NFA was first established by Congress in 1974, and should remain a priority for every Administration moving forward.
NFA addresses gaps in professional training not offered at the local level. Working in partnership with state fire training academies, to address the needs of volunteer and smaller fire departments who cannot travel to Emmitsburg, it also delivers advanced level training in states all around the country by regional deliveries. As an additional consequence of FEMA’s actions, classes at state training academies using NFA instructors have been cancelled.
Tell your story here, explaining how the cancellations have affected you. If you weren’t directly affected but have been to NFA trainings before, explain the value to you, your department, and your town/state. If you haven’t been to NFA, you can still tell the story of the benefit of NFA to the fire service as a whole and your town/state!
Please reinstate classes at the NFA to ensure the fire service can receive the training necessary to continue to perform its mission in protecting communities across our nation.
Sincerely,
Name
Update this script to match the needs of what you want to discuss!
Dear Senator/Representative Lastname,
My name is Name and I am a Job Title at Department Name/Organization in Town, State. Add in a sentence about the work your organization does for your district/community here. I’m writing to ask you to join the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.
The Congressional Fire Services Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral caucus that helps Congress learn about the needs of fire and emergency services. It’s not tied to any specific political stance or ideology; instead, it’s a space for members to discuss fire and EMS issues at the federal level and look for ways to best support local fire departments across the country.
I’ve attached a one-pager with more details about the caucus (if possible, attach the CFSI Caucus One Pager to your email. If not, remove this sentence).
To join the caucus or ask any questions, email [email protected]. Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or 555-555-5555 if you’d like to talk further. I also want to invite you to visit my department to see what we do firsthand.
Thank you for your consideration of my request and we hope you’ll join the Fire Caucus!
Sincerely,
Name
Update this script to match the needs of what you want to discuss!
Dear Senator/Representative Lastname,
My name is Name and I am a Job Title at Department Name/Organization in Town, State. Add in a sentence about the work your organization does for your district/community here. I am writing today to share with you my request on issue. (Note: Here are some example issues/asks: “cosponsoring the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act” or “asking you to join the Fire Caucus” or “asking you to provide more funding for AFG and SAFER”)
In this paragraph here, explain in 2-5 sentences why you are raising your issue and make sure you provide data and a story to explain why it is important to people in their state or district. The impact on their voters will be compelling.
Thank you for considering my request on issue (Note: restate your ask here). I look forward to hearing back from you.
Sincerely,
Name
Steps for Writing to Congress
Meeting With Your Members of Congress
Step 1: Finding Your Members of Congress and Requesting Meetings
Step 2: Preparing Your Talking Points and Gathering Your Meeting Materials
Step 3: Running Your Meeting with Members of Congress and Staff
Finding Your Members of Congress & Requesting Meetings
Meeting Request Tips
- Submit your meeting requests 2-8 weeks before you want to have the meeting.
- If you haven't heard back in 1-4 weeks (depending on when you sent the initial request and when your requested meeting date is), feel free to call the office to follow up.
- If they don't get back to you about a meeting, you can still print off informational materials and bring them by the office when you're in town. Ask to leave the materials at their main office in a folder with a business card!
Preparing Your Talking Points and Gathering Your Meeting Materials
The Fire Service Agenda for the 119th Congress
Please feel free to download or print and use as many of these talking points documents as you want to explain to members of Congress and staff why these issues are important. You can carry any of these papers in addition to any other issues you may want to talk about.
Tip: Don’t forget to leave the documents with the staff after your meeting so they can use them for reference!
Join the Congressional Fire Services Caucus
AFG and SAFER Appropriations
USFA Appropriations
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Grant Program Appropriations
National Firefighter Registry Appropriations
Firefighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program Appropriations
Urban Search & Rescue Appropriations
State and Volunteer Fire Assistance Appropriations
High Rise Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act
Supporting Fire Sprinklers in Tax Reform
Reauthorize FirstNet
Up-to-Date Codes and Standards: The Affordable Investment We Can’t Ignore
Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act
Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Battery Act
Helping Emergency Responders Overcome (HERO) Act
Prepare Your Stories
As you review the one pagers you want to bring to the attention of Congress, think about the stories you have from your personal experience that can provide color to the talking points on the sheet.
For example, if you plan to talk about AFG and SAFER funding, make sure you have a short story prepared about how AFG or SAFER has helped your department or organization. If you haven’t yet won a grant, you can talk about how it has helped neighboring towns and departments and how you hope it will be able to help your department too.
Tips
- Write out your stories in your notes and try to keep the legth to 2-4 sentences.
- Practice your stories beforehand to make sure it doesn't take you longer than 1 minute to share. It's easy to take up too much time with a story!
- Practice using one of the talking points on the one pager as a lead in to your story. Know how you want to bridge the gap from talking point to personal story.
- If writing to your member of Congress, make sure the written story is short (2-4 sentences) and explains why they should care about the issue.
Running Your Meeting with Members of Congress and Staff
Follow the 15 Minute Meeting Formula
Step 1 (30 seconds): Introduction and Establishment of Credentials
- Your Name
- Your Title (and what you do in basic, easy-to-understand terms)
- Your Department or Organization
- If you are a constituent of the member of Congress
Step 2 (30 seconds): Set the Agenda
In one sentence, state the issues you want to discuss so you can set expectations early about the topics you want to get through in the meeting. For example, you can say:
“I’d like to discuss two items today: fire sprinklers and funding for AFG and SAFER.”
Or:
“I noticed that your boss isn’t a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus and I wanted to talk to you about having them join. I’d also like to briefly talk about the importance of fire sprinklers in our state.”
Step 3 (2-10 minutes): Tell the Story
Divide 10 minutes by the number of issues you want to discuss and that will guide how much time you have to talk about each issue. In general, plan to talk about no more than 3 issues. 1-2 issues is common for a meeting.
Use the talking points from on the one pagers you downloaded to guide your conversation. Add in one quick personal story per topic.
Remember: you are the expert on your own stories! Congress wants to hear what YOU have to say about each topic. Use the talking points from the one pagers that resonate with you and can be supported by your stories.
Step 4 (1 minute): MAKE THE ASK
As you wrap up your story for each topic you want to address, don’t forget to MAKE THE ASK. You have to clearly state what your ask is. For example, if you want a member of Congress to cosponsor a bill, be sure to use a sentence like this:
“That’s why today, I wanted to ask you to please cosponsor this bill: The Bill Title Act (H.R.1234 or S.1234).”
If you are there to share information and not to make an ask, you can say something like this:
“I’m not here today with an ask; I wanted to share information with you about these topics. Please feel free to use me as a resource if you have any questions.”
Step 5 (2 minutes): Take Questions
Don’t forget to leave time for at least one question from the staff.
Relatedly, if staff or a member of Congress are asking questions throughout the meeting, be sure to manage your time effectively to make sure you don’t let the questions prevent you from addressing the topics you want to cover and making the ask.
Tip: DON”T GUESS. If you are asked a question and you don’t know what the answer is, or your know the answer but you don’t know why they’re asking — DON’T GUESS. Thank them for the question and ask for more context. Then tell them you’ll get back to them.
Step 6 (1 minute): Wrap Up
At the end of the meeting, be sure to reiterate your ask(s) and make sure you get contact information from the staff or the member of Congress. Don’t forget to thank them for their time and end on a gracious and positive note!
Step 7 (after the meeting): Follow Up
Later that evening or the next day, write a quick email to the staff or the member of Congress to thank them for their time. In your email:
- Say thank you
- In 1-2 sentences, reiterate the topics you discussed
- In one sentence, reiterate your asks
- Attach any printed materials you brought as PDFs
- Answer any questions you didn’t have time to answer during the meeting or let them know you’re working to get the information
- Provide your contact info in case they have any questions
Want Advice Directly From Government Relations Professionals?
Watch this online advocacy webinar from CFSI and several of our partner organizations. This webinar covers critical topics including:
- How to make a friend before you need a friend
- How to find your members of Congress and how to request a meeting
- What types of information you should know about your members and how to find it
- Meeting with the members of Congress vs. staff
- How to run a meeting on Capitol Hill
- How to use a one-pager
- Meeting tips and strategies
Watch this webinar, which covers critical topics including:
- A Post-Election Analysis
- The Fire Service Policy Agenda in the 119th Congress
- AFG and SAFER
- FirstNet Reauthorization
- Fire Sprinklers
- Codes & Standards
- What Can You Do Today to Take Action?
