International Association of Fire Fighters District 16
IAFF16.org
Current Initiatives
Legislation- HR-2852– Federal Firefighter Cancer Detection and Prevention Act of 2023 (Cancer testing and detection for Federal Firefighters). To require the Secretary of Defense to provide to firefighters of the Department of Defense medical testing and related services to detect and prevent certain cancers. Introduced by Reps Slotkin (D, MI 7th) and Bacon (R, NE 2nd). Cosponsors 6. House Armed Servies Committee.
Legislation- HR 1235– To amend Title 5, United States Code, to provide for pay equality and the more accurate computation of retirement benefits for certain firefighters employed by the Federal Government and for other purposes. This legislation reduces the total number of hours of work to no more than 60 per week with no loss in pay. Introduced by Connolly (D, VA-11th). Cosponsors 53.
S-2665 Federal Firefighter Cancer Detection and Prevention Act of 2023. This is the Senate version of HR 2852 in the House. This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide firefighters with medical testing and related services to detect, document, and prevent certain cancers. DOD firefighters may opt out of such testing or services. Introduced by Senator Carper (D Delaware). 1 cosponsor.
Uniform Allowance Increase-Office of Personnel Management. The proposal is $1600 annually, $2400 for new hire initial.
Rewrite of the GS-0081 Classification (firefighter) Standard.
James B. Johnson– 16th District Coordinated Initiatives
• Preserved the “right to bargain” for Locals– maintained bargaining rights in 5 USC. Bush Administration-Battled against National Security Personnel System (NSPS).
Trump Administration-Lobbied against the application of Trump Executive Orders
• Founding United Defense Workers Coalition (UDWC) member, which batted and defeated NSPS.
• Successfully lobbied DoD for an “initial uniform allowance” for new DoD firefighters.
• Successfully lobbied OPM & DoD for an increase to the “annual uniform allowance.” Authorized allowance changing from $400.00 to $800.00
• Successfully lobbied the Kennedy Amendment to the DoD Authorization Bill. Directs funds expended by federal fire at mutual aid events back to the federal fire.
• Founding member of the Federal Workers Alliance (FWA), a coalition of twenty federal sector labor unions.
• Lobbied and coordinated the battle against six separate attempts to repeal the DoD firefighting contract prohibition (10 USC 2465).
• Developed training structures and programs to provide training to Federal Locals.
• Successfully lobbied the IAFF to provide federal sector “specific” training at IAFF events.
• Recommended approved for approximately $900K in direct IAFF service assistance to Federal Locals. Guardian and Emergency Dispute Funds for staffing precedence cases and
protecting Union Officers.
• Testified before Congress on the Federal Fire Fighter Fairness Act (Presumptive Illness).
• Organized and chartered over ten new Federal Locals.
• Lobbied for and presented data to the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Federal Labor Relations Authority, resulting in the granting of “National Consultation Rights” with DoD.
• Successfully lobbied for amendments to the Stafford Act allowing federal employees to participate as National Urban Search and Rescue Teams members. (2019)
• Presented and argued cases before the Federal Service Impasse Panel.
• Presented and argued cases before the Federal Labor Relations Authority.
• Pushed hard to get our District member on the IAFF Legislative Staff.
• Successfully lobbied for and achieved passage of Federal Fire Fighter Trade Time Legislations (2022).
• Successfully lobbied for and achieved passage of DoD fire department minimum safe staffing (2022).
• Successfully lobbied the Department of Labor to create a separate group within the Office of Workers Compensation (OWCP) to deal with federal firefighter claims.
• Lobbied for and achieved legislation to stop the use of PFAS-laden foam and PFAS PPE by DoD
Other Successful Initiatives
• Base Responders Essential Needs and Dining Act. (BRENDA, Base Responders Essential Needs and Dining Access) [Waltz] H.R. 6395—FY21 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL.
• First Responders Access to Meals and Essentials Act (FRAME, First Responder Access to Mobile Exchanges) [Waltz] H.R. 6395—FY21 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL Pg. 94. Allows access to exchanges and food during emergencies and natural disasters.
• Restrictions on Use of PFAS Foam for Training [Peters]
• DOD Fire Fighter PFAS Blood Testing Act [Shaheen]
• USFA Training Materials – PFAS Foam Use & Best Practices [Peters]
• Federal Firefighters Trade of Time Act [Sarbanes]
• Federal Firefighters Fairness Act (Presumptive Illness) [Carbajal/Carper]
• Fair RETIRE Act* (Disability) [Connolly / Tester]
• Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Alternative Work Schedule (NDAA Section) [Scanlon]
• Safe Minimum Fire Fighter Staffing on DOD Apparatus (NDAA Section) [Scanlon]
• Modification of Seattle-Tacoma Locality Pay Zone to include Indian Island Federal Fire Fighters (Federal Salary Council/Regulation) [Kilmer]
• Federal Employee Bereavement Leave*
• Federal Employee Parental Leave *
• Fire Fighter Cancer Registry Act* [Collins]
• Repeal of 2-year Probationary Period for DOD Federal Employees including Fire Fighters*
• * Indicates Coalition Initiative-Federal Workers Alliance and/or Postal Coalition