King Named Chairman of Congressional Fire Services Caucus

Continues longstanding support for firefighters, safety, and emergency response

Contact: Carol Danko, 202-225-7896

WASHINGTON – Representative Peter King (R-NY) has been selected to chair the Congressional Fire Services Caucus throughout the 111th Congress. King has a long history of supporting our nation’s firefighters and first responders. He has repeatedly fought for increased funding for first responders, supported fire safety legislation, and advocated for strengthening the role of FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration within the Department of Homeland Security. “On the frontlines of emergency response, our nation’s firefighters and first responders are essential to maintaining public safety,” said King. “I have a long-standing commitment to ensuring that they have the funding and tools they need to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. It is a privilege to continue to support these dedicated responders as Chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.”

The selection of King as Chairman has also received praise and recognition from the fire service community. "Congressman King has a solid record in support of our nation's firefighters," said Bill Webb, Executive Director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI). "We are honored to have him as the Chairman of the Fire Caucus for the 111th Congress."

The bipartisan Congressional Fire Services Caucus was founded in 1987 and is the largest caucus in Congress, with over 320 members. The purpose of the caucus is to bring members of Congress together to support legislation that benefits all first responders as well as local fire departments. The chairmanship rotates every two years between Republican and Democratic members, and chairs are selected by Fire Caucus leadership. Previous chairmen include U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, Senator John McCain (AZ), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD-5), Rep. Rob Andrews (NJ-1), Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (ret.), and caucus founder Rep. Curt Weldon (ret.).Rep. Peter King is the Ranking Member on the House Committee on Homeland Security. He is currently serving his ninth term in Congress.