NEEDA - National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association

FROM: NATIONAL EMEGENCY EQUIPMENT DEALERS ASSOCIATION (NEEDA)
March 30, 2009

The Honorable Kendrick Meek
The Honorable Wally Herger
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative Meek and Representative Herger:

The members of the National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA) strongly support your legislation, H.R. 275, which would repeal the costly law that requires federal, state, and many local governments to withhold three percent from nearly all of their contract payments, Medicare payments, and farm payments.

Implementing this law will be extraordinarily costly for businesses and governments. The law imposes an unfunded and burdensome mandate on
the county, town, city, and state emergency response agencies NEEDA members serve.

This law conflicts directly with the implementation of various grants Congress has approved for helping fire and emergency response departments at the local level.

The law will have the effect of taking billions of dollars out of the economy at a time when the President and many Members of Congress are pursuing ways to drive more money into the marketplace.

The law will hit small businesses very hard because it damages the service small firms, such as emergency equipment dealers, perform for town, county, city, and state fire departments and emergency medical services. The law takes vital emergency response dollars from towns, counties, cities and states and diverts the money to the Internal Revenue Service where it will neither help the economy nor make any taxpayers safer.

The Department of Defense says the law, if enforced far exceeds estimated revenue gains. Even as Congress is appropriating funds for Defense, this law diverts three percent of every contract from Defense over to the US Treasury. Neither small nor large businesses will benefit, nor will the taxpayer. Nor will the nation be safer as the result of this law.

The three percent being extracted by the law will be taken despite the fact that it may exceed the profit margin and other terms of the purchase. In the case of emergency equipment, there is often very little profit margin and certainly not enough to endure the burden of a 3% confiscation by the Federal government on every sale.

While this 3% law is not scheduled to go into effect until 2012, businesses and governmental entities are spending funds now trying to prepare for implementation because of the regulatory changes and business plans that have to be made before 2012. For example, the IRS is holding hearings on this law in April, 2009 and other agencies are taking time, funds and staff to study the implementation of the law and its impact on their agency. Businesses are trying to project how they can stay open with 3% of their sales being taken away by the Federal government.

The uncertainty concerning the future of this law provides a black cloud over the US economy and particularly over the small and medium sized emergency equipment companies in NEEDA.

We support your work and leadership in seeking the repeal of the 3% law and the passage of H.R. 275.

Kenton Pattie
Executive Director
National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA)
PO Box 220
Annandale VA 22003
703 850- 8552
KentonP1@aol.com
www.needa.com

GM CHAIRMAN WAGONER FORCED OUT TO APPLAUSE FROM OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND US SENATE
Originally Posted: March 30, 2009 11:51 AM
Last Updated: March 30, 2009 11:51 AM

General Motors Corp.'s board of directors said goodbye to Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner 56 as the company has billions of dollars in losses and needs government loans to stay alive.

Wagoner started at General Motors in 1977 and was chairman and CEO since 2003. He lasted at the company for 32 years.

He was replaced as CEO by Fritz Henderson, vice chairman and chief operating officer.

Associated Press says board member Kent Kresa, a former chairman and CEO of Northrop Grumman Corp., was named interim chairman. Expect more news at the annual meeting in August when new directors will be selected.

Kresa: "The board has recognized for some time that the company's restructuring will likely cause a significant change in the stockholders of the company and create the need for new directors with additional skills and experience."

GM shares are down 89 percent from their 52-week high of $24.24 on April 30, 2008.

The Obama administration is serious about forcing GM to change more quickly.

Jeremy Anwyl, chief executive of the automotive Web site Edmunds.com: "But this way you're able to point to Rick Wagoner and say he's gone, and that creates an environment where the loans become politically palatable."

While CEO, Wagoner cut GM work force from 177,000 to 92,000, closed factories, ended the Oldsmobile brand, globalized GM's engineering, manufacturing and design to save billions, and led a resurgence in car quality.

In 2007, the company reached a landmark agreement with the United Auto Workers that shifted massive retiree health care costs to a union-run trust and ushered in a $14-per-hour wage for new hires, about half that of a current laborer.

Critics said GM didn't redice the company's health care and pension costs and relied too much on pickup trucks and SUVs.

GM has piled up $82 billion in losses in four years.

While ousting Wagoner, the Obama administration did not change leadership at Chrysler LLC, which also is getting government loans. Chrysler Chairman and CEO Robert Nardelli have been in charge there since August 2007.

Wagoner was criticized by Congress for flying to Washington in a corporate jet and offering vague, rambling answers at a public hearing.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said the change at GM could be good.

PIERCE DEALER MASTER TECHNICIAN PROGRM OFFERS RECOGNITION IN SIX PRODUCT AREAS
Originally Posted: March 28, 2009 6:40 PM
Last Updated: March 28, 2009 6:40 PM

Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh Corporation (Appleton, WI) company, has a new Pierce Master Technician Program, an aftermarket “Service Brigade” initiative. The Pierce Master Technician Program is a certification program for dealer service technicians to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise on servicing Pierce apparatus and to become Pierce Master Technician.

Wilson Jones, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency: “Our primary objective in introducing the Service Brigade and Pierce Master Service Technician program is to enhance the ownership experience for our customers by providing them with the best and most-well trained service techs in the fire industry. Pierce and our dealer network continue to invest significant resources to support the lifetime value of Pierce fire apparatus.”

The program consists of maintenance classes in:
· Chassis Electrical Systems,
· Command Zone™ II Advanced Electronics,
· Aerial Apparatus Systems,
· Husky Foam and Compressed Air Foam System,
· TAK-4® Independent Suspension and Side Roll Protection and
· Frontal Airbag Protection Systems.

To achieve Pierce Master Technician status, a service technician must, upon completing each class, take and pass an exam pertaining to that particular subject. A final cumulative exam will be administered once students have successfully completed all classes.

Tom Walley, Pierce Manufacturing vice president of aftermarket and customer support: “Today’s fire and emergency apparatus are highly-sophisticated vehicles. Proper maintenance and service is essential to ensure that Pierce vehicles continue to serve firefighters and help protect the communities they serve. This program enables service technicians to obtain relevant training for exclusive technologies that may not be covered by traditional ASE/EVT programs.”

Technicians who achieve Master Level will be recognized at Pierce’s Annual Service Meeting. To maintain their Master Technician status, technicians must continue to: complete new classes on an ongoing basis; attend mandatory new product classes; and complete an online refresher course every third year.

Pierce’s North American dealer network is 200 mobile and regional service centers staffed with 600 dedicated service professionals to provide support to Pierce customers.

FDIC CLASSES OFFERED ON HIGH-RISE FIREFIGHTING TACTICS
Originally Posted: March 25, 2009 11:33 AM
Last Updated: March 25, 2009 11:33 AM

BY Peter Prochilo, Fire Engineering Online Editor

Now you can practice high-rise firefighting tactics and command procedures from the safety of your fire station computer: Fire Engineering's latest simulation features the ability to pressurize a stairwell and train on positive-pressure ventilation techniques in a high-rise fire building. Created by CommandSim in conjunction with Battalion Chief Frank Montagna of FDNY and Deputy Chief Steve Kerber of the College Park (MD) Fire Department, this new, free Web simulation can provide you and your department with countless hours of crucial training that incorporates the latest fire behavior studies and technology. Try this simulation or one of our many others on the Fire Engineering Simulations page.

Some FDIC 2009 HOT classes are full.

MORE INFO? www.fdic.com

LAKELAND INDUSTRIES GETS FIRE COAT ORDER FROM BRASILIA FIREFIGHTERS
Originally Posted: March 24, 2009 12:22 PM
Last Updated: March 24, 2009 12:22 PM

Ronkonkoma, NY-based Lakeland Industries, Inc., a protective apparel specialist, has received an order for customized protective fire coats from Brasilia Firefighters, a fire department located in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. The order comes via Lakeland's new Brazilian subsidiary, Qualytextil,

This award is worth approximately $750,000, according to Lakeland, which also notes that in the three months it has been concentrating on expanding business in Latin America through its new subsidiary, the company has received five major contracts, either from a government agency or a multinational company.

Brazil represents a lucrative new and growing market for Lakeland. According to a statement, as Brazil's economy continues its growth, "it is anticipated that the demand for protective fire coats alone will increase to a proportionate rate with the United States, resulting in a total requirement of 730,000 fire coats in Brazil valued at over US$1 billion. At this rate, Lakeland has over the past three months supplied less than 1% of the total anticipated demand for fire coats in Brazil."

Lakeland's Brazilian operations consist of manufacturing capabilities, an in-house sales force of 40 employees and approximately 19 outside sales representatives covering the country, according to the company, which also maintains manufacturing facilities in India, Mexico and China.

TOUGALOO COLLEGE: DOING BIZ WITH DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY; CHAIR IS REP. THOMPSON WHO HEADS THE US HOUSE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE
Originally Posted: March 24, 2009 12:16 PM
Last Updated: March 24, 2009 12:16 PM

Saturday, March 28, 2009 Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, will host a Summit at Tougaloo College in Mississippi entitled Continuing America’s Promise: Doing Business with the Department of Homeland Security.

Attendees will learn to navigate the Department of Homeland Security procurement process, meet prime contractors for potential subcontracting opportunities at the Department, and hear how to best position their company for business opportunities. The agenda is detailed below along with a link to the registration form.

Continuing America’s Promise:
Doing Business with the Department of Homeland Security

Chairman Bennie G. Thompson – Host

Saturday, March 28, 2009
8:00am – 6:00pm

Tougaloo College Kroger Gymnasium
Owens Health & Wellness Center
500 West County Line Road
Tougaloo, Mississippi

AGENDA:

8:00 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Call to Order and Introductions
Greetings from Tougaloo College – President Beverly Hogan
Opening Keynote speaker – Chairman Bennie G. Thompson

9:30 a.m. Summit Overview

10:00 a.m. The Nuts & Bolts of Contracting with DHS
Kevin Boshears – DHS Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

10:45 a.m. Investing in Innovation: DHS Science and Technology Contracting
Roger McGinnis – Director of Innovation, DHS Science and Technology Directorate

11:30 a.m. Getting to Know GSA Schedule and Homeland Security Contracts Mildred Quinley, GSA Atlanta Regional Office

12:00 p.m. Luncheon - Keynote Speaker — Emmit McHenry, President and CEO, Archura LLC

1:30 p.m. Meet the Primes - Subcontracting Opportunities at DHS
General Dynamics
Boeing
L-3
Accenture

2:30 p.m. From the Trenches: Stories from Successful Business Owners
Kerimax Communications
AJA Management & Technical Services, Inc.
Garrett Enterprises
The net.America Corporation

3:30 p.m. Break

3:45 p.m. Educational Partnerships: The Pathway to the Future
DHS Centers of Excellence
Dr. Carol Abel Lewis, Texas Southern University, Co-Lead Institution, DHS National Transportation Security Center of Excellence
Dr. Abdul Turay, Tougaloo College, Co-Lead Institution, DHS National Transportation Security Center of Excellence
Dr. Robert W. Whalin, Jackson State University, Co-Lead Institution, DHS Center of Excellence for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management

4:30 p.m. Closing Remarks

MORE INFO? Dena Graziano or Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978

TAKE FIREFIGHTER SURVEY!
Originally Posted: March 24, 2009 10:24 AM
Last Updated: March 24, 2009 10:24 AM

The March 31, 2009 deadline to take the online firefighter survey sponsored by Fireman's Fund Insurance Company is fast approaching. Take it now at www.ipsosresearch.com/firehouse and be eligible to win one of 10 collectible, leather fire helmets!

Here's how you can help:
1. If you have taken the survey, thank you. Please forward this email to other firefighters -- especially in other departments -- and encourage them to do the same.

2. If you have not yet taken it, please do and also forward this to other fire service organizations and firefighters you know.

Together, we are capturing information that will provide the public with an understanding of all that you do and how the economy is affecting the way you are able to serve your community. The data will also help guide and support our grant programs.

As always, thank you for all your assistance and especially for all you do to make our communities safer.

MORE INFO? www.firemansfund.com/heritage or twitter username: FFundHeritage

NAPOLITANO SAYS FIREFIGHTERS ARE FIRST LINE AND FEMA HAS THEIR BACK
Originally Posted: March 23, 2009 5:18 PM
Last Updated: March 23, 2009 5:18 PM

Secretary Napolitano addressed the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), saying that among her top priorities is expanding partnerships with groups such as firefighters who are on the front lines responding to disasters and emergencies of all kinds.

The secretary noted that DHS must rely on its partnerships with state, local, and tribal organizations to help meet its mission. Emergencies and disasters often require that local fire departments respond first, and it is for that reason that they need the resources and capacity to respond effectively, the secretary said. She pledged to the group that firefighters would have a “seat at the table” when funding and policy decisions are made at FEMA on grants for fire departments. She said that she was also looking forward to working closely with the next leader of the U.S. Fire Administration, who will report to FEMA's administrator.

The secretary also called upon the fire fighters to help explain to the American public the role of FEMA during disasters and emergencies. “You are the first responders, and FEMA is there to back up you up and not be a substitute for emergency workers and firefighters,” she said, explaining that there is a “fundamental reassessment in the public eye of FEMA’s role” that needs to take place.

TEN FIRE DEPARTMENTS WITH GOOD PAY FOR FIREFIGHTERS
Originally Posted: March 23, 2009 12:45 PM
Last Updated: March 23, 2009 12:45 PM

Paid firefighters across the nation battle with budget cuts, lack of overtime allocation, and department closures. In a profession that seeks to protect every citizen (including the lawmakers who slash funding) from death and destruction, firefighters must also stop to consider their own well-being.

FireLink members has published (below) a top ten guide to the highest paying cities for firefighters.

#1: Oakland, CA

#2: Los Angeles, CA

#3: San Jose, CA

#4: Miami, FL

#5: Newark-Union, NJ-PA

#6: Seattle, WA

#7: Vallejo, CA

#8: Tacoma, WA

#9: Nassau-Suffolk, NY

#10: Denver-Aurora, CO

DHS SYSTEMS LENDS TENTS TO 09 MARDI GRAS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Originally Posted: March 23, 2009 12:41 PM
Last Updated: March 23, 2009 12:41 PM

For a second consecutive year, DHS Systems lent support to New Orleans’ Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness during the city’s weeklong Mardi Gras celebration.

Hoping to relieve overwhelmed emergency rooms and EMT’s, city officials first purchased Deployable Rapidly Assembly Shelters (DRASH) last year as medical surge facilities. Offering nearly 3,000 square feet, the facilities helped responders answer 1,164 calls for service by the end of the week.

Expecting even larger crowds, officials decided to expand their clinic to support this year’s Mardi Gras activities. Using additional DRASH shelters and showers, officials were able to deploy a 9-bed medical care area and 10-bed, 23-hour observation holding area just blocks away from main parade routes.

A command and control center provided police, fire, EMS and other federal and state agencies a place to coordinate public safety throughout the event as well.

Faced with a million tourists, the largest turnout post-Hurricane Katrina in 2005, officials claim that DRASH allowed the city to properly handle such an influx of visitors while still recovering from the storm’s devastation.

“We’re still rebuilding our health infrastructure and on a daily basis an average wait time for EMS responders in the emergency room is 60 minutes,” explains Matthew Kallmyer, Deputy Director of the Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness. “By having these surge facilities, it greatly reduces the wait time for EMS providers so they can get back on the street and answer 911 calls instead of waiting at the hospital for their patients to receive an empty bed.”

Since first partnering with DHS in 2008, the city of New Orleans has worked with DRASH representatives during Hurricane Gustav relief efforts, the National Weather Service Hurricane Conference and other events held in the city. The longstanding relationship helped make response efforts during Mardi Gras a success.

“It’s been a great partnership between the city and DHS Systems. The company knows our needs and works to accommodate them,” says Kallmyer. “There were a lot of people involved with the planning of this, and all of them were impressed with the help we received.”

From incident command posts to emergency operations centers to decontamination systems, many of the Reeves brand shelter systems utilize the DRASH system. Ranging in size from 109 to 1,120 square feet, DRASH shelters are user-friendly and durable, and easily interconnect so serve organizations' unique needs.

US CRIME STATS 09: AVAILABLE FROM CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY . . . NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS LOWEST CRIME RATE
Originally Posted: March 23, 2009 11:04 AM
Last Updated: March 23, 2009 11:04 AM

Crime State Rankings 2009, the newest edition of the annual volume compares
states in more than 500 crime-related categories. It is published by Congressional Quarterly, Washinton, DC.

New Hampshire received the lowest crime rate ranking again this year, followed by Vermont and Maine. The state reported only 15 murders out of a population of 1.3 million—the lowest rate in the country. New Hampshire was also below the national average for rape, and had the second lowest rate for aggravated assault with only 78 cases per 100,000 citizens in 2007. Ranked least favorably among the states was Nevada, followed by Louisiana and South Carolina. Nevada’s murder rate was nearly seven times higher than New Hampshire’s, and the Silver State reported a rape rate of 43 cases per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 30. Nevada also tops the list for robbery rate, with an average 270 reported cases per 100,000 citizens versus the national average of 148, and New Hampshire’s rate of 33.

The new edition of Crime State Rankings features a significantly expanded introduction by criminologist Rachel Boba (Florida Atlantic University) that explains the formula used to compile the rankings and offers new insight into the methodology used by the editors. Dr. Boba also offers statistical analysis of the rankings, a comparative analysis of the states, and additional information and caveats regarding the analyzed data.

A significant amount of the data featured in Crime State Rankings 2009 comes from the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, which provides national standards for the uniform classification of crimes and arrests. The methodology used to produce the statistics presented in this book is fairly straightforward and involves a multistep process.

First, the reported crime rates across the six categories—murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft—are compared to the national reported crime rates and then indexed to create a summary score and ranking across six areas of reported violent and property crime. The rest of the analyses are simple calculations of frequency, percent, rate, and percent change of reported crime and other criminal justice information. In each analysis, the states are presented in alphabetical as well as rank order by their values of the variable under examination from highest to lowest.

Crime State Rankings serves as a resource for state and local government, law enforcement officials, and community members. Every governor, mayor, and concerned citizen needs access to straightforward, organized criminal justice information in order to address public safety issues in their A Division of SAGE
own states and communities. This book provides answers to hundreds of questions researchers might ask about crime and criminal justice across America.

CQ Press’s annual rankings of crime in states, cities, and metropolitan areas are considered controversial by some in the law enforcement community. The FBI, police, and many criminologists caution against ranking according to crime rates. They correctly point out that crime levels are affected by many different factors, such as population density, composition of the population (particularly the concentration of youth), climate, economic conditions, strength of local law enforcement agencies, citizen’s attitudes toward crime, cultural factors, education levels, crime reporting practices of citizens, and family cohesiveness. Accordingly, crime rankings often are deemed “simplistic” or “incomplete.”

However, this criticism is based largely on the fact that there are reasons for the differences in crime rates, not that the rates are incompatible. The rankings tell an interesting and an important story regarding crime in the United States.

Annual rankings not only allow for comparisons among different states and cities, but also enable leaders to track their communities’ crime trends from one year to the next.

City Crime Rankings helps concerned Americans learn how their communities fare in the fight against crime by providing accessible, straightforward data which citizens can use and understand.

Crime State Rankings is one of five annual reference books published by CQ Press that analyze and rank states and cities in various categories. Other books rank the fifty states and the District of Columbia using data on health care, education, city crime, and social and economic conditions.

Kathleen O'Leary Morgan and Scott Morgan have compiled state and city rankings books for almost two decades. Kathleen O’Leary Morgan holds a master’s degree in public administration and has served in a number of media and legislative liaison positions with the U.S. Department of Transportation, where she also served as deputy director of Congressional Affairs. Scott Morgan is an attorney who served as chief counsel to Sen. Robert Dole’s 1988 presidential campaign.

Dr. Rachel Boba is an assistant professor at Florida Atlantic University in the Criminology and Criminal Justice program. At FAU, she teaches methods of research, criminal justice systems, crime prevention, problem solving, and analysis in policing. She also conducts research in the areas of problem solving, problem analysis, crime analysis, regional data sharing, and technology in policing.

From 2000 to 2003, Dr. Boba was Director of the Police Foundation's Crime Mapping Laboratory, where she directed federally funded grants in the areas of crime analysis and crime mapping, problem analysis, and school safety. Prior to her position at the Police Foundation, she worked as a crime analyst at the Tempe, Arizona, Police Department for five years, where she conducted a wide variety of crime analysis and crime mapping work as well as applied research and evaluation. She holds a PhD and an MA in sociology from Arizona State University and a BA in English and sociology from California Lutheran University.

Crime State Rankings 2009: Crime Across America
Edited by Kathleen O’Leary Morgan and Scott Morgan, with an introduction by Rachel Boba. Published: March 2009, 560 pages $68.00

MORE INFO? Ben Krasney, Marketing Communications bkrasney@cqpress.com
202-729-1846

STATES AND CITIES CHARGE USER FEES TO RAISE INCOME
Originally Posted: March 23, 2009 6:10 AM
Last Updated: March 23, 2009 6:10 AM

State and local governments are imposing new user fees. Pontiac, Illinois is considering charging accident victims who have to be extricated from their cars $300.

Colorado, which faces a $600 million budget shortfall and can’t raise taxes without a statewide vote, raised fees for car registrations and rental cars.

Colorado House Speaker, Terrance Carroll (D), says the state has already cut $300 million from the budget, and most people understand that the fees are necessary.

Ware, Massachusetts is planning to impose a $5 fee on every child who enrolls in Little League, youth soccer or other team sports.

Missouri is using federal stimulus money to repair a bridge in the heart
of the state, which got under way on Feb. 17 2009, the same day the stimulus bill was signed into law by President Obama.

California has begun trail work in the San Bernardino National Forest.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) asked lawmakers to raise the income tax 1.5 percent (to 4.5 percent) to help close the state’s $11.5 billion budget deficit. He also called for a $1-per-pack increase in the cigarette tax, higher business taxes and higher car registration and driver’s license fees, as well as a cap on government spending and an overhaul of the state
pension system.

On a 35-0 vote, the Arkansas Senate gave final approval to a 1-percent cut in the state sales tax on groceries (SB 88), after concurring with a House amendment making all 100 of that chamber’s members cosponsors of the bill. Gov. Mike Beebe (D) signed the bill into law.

The budget California finally passed a few weeks ago to close a $42 billion gap through 2010 is already $8 billion in the hole due to rising unemployment and falling consumer spending. State economists in Florida issued a revised budget forecast, projecting a $1.5 billion budget shortfall this fiscal year and a $2.3 billion deficit next year.

WHAT IS THE COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CEDAP)?
Originally Posted: March 21, 2009 6:43 AM
Last Updated: March 21, 2009 6:43 AM

The FY 2008 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP) offers grants to enhance regional response capabilities, mutual aid, and interoperable communications by providing technology and equipment, along with the training required to operate that equipment, to emergency responder agencies in smaller jurisdictions and certain metropolitan areas.

Eligible applicants include law enforcement agencies and other emergency responder agencies who demonstrate that the equipment will be used to improve their capability and capacity to respond to a major critical incident or to work with other first responders. FY 2008 CEDAP awardees cannot also receive technology funding under the Urban Areas Security Initiative grant progra or the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program since Oct. 1, 2005.

Prospective applicants complete their application online at www.rkb.us.

Applications then are electronically forwarded to the US Army Electronic Proving Ground (EPG) at Ft. Huachuca, Ariz., a technical agent and partner for the CEDAP program. There they were reviewed, rated, and ranked.

National subject matter experts with experience in the law enforcement and emergency responder community reviewed and scored applications against established scoring criteria that reflect CEDAP policy guidance.

The final selections are based on such as the overall budget, training costs and the final scores. State Administrative Agencies (SAA) play a vital role during the application process by helping to ensure requested equipment is consistent with the state’s Homeland Security Strategy.

Applicants select items from the CEDAP Equipment Catalog that they had been unable to acquire through other DHS programs. The FY 2008 CEDAP offers equipment in the following categories: extrication devices; thermal imaging, night vision, and video surveillance tools; chemical, biological and radiological detection tools; information technology and risk management tools; and vehicle tracking tools.

Training is provided at the time technologies are delivered and transferred under the program. The training is a prerequisite to receipt of equipment and helps ensure that the systems and devices awarded will be utilized fully and correctly.

In FY 2008, a total of 3,573 CEDAP applications were submitted and 1,045 were accepted for award in 47 recipient states. Of the 1,045 technology awards, 830 (79 percent) were awarded to law enforcement agencies with the remainder awarded to fire departments, emergency medical services, and emergency management and public safety

FEMA awards $17.6 million in equipment and training to smaller emergency response agencies nationwide Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program.

FUSION CENTERS BRING TOGETHER EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO EXCHANGE INFO
Originally Posted: March 21, 2009 6:12 AM
Last Updated: March 21, 2009 6:32 AM

What is a Fusion Center? Recommended by the 9/11 Commission, today the US has 1,000 state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal partners involved in state and major urban area fusion centers across the country. Fusion centers help local emergency responders exchange best practices, new trends, tools, technologies, and processes to help sharing across all government levels.

Fusion centers, begun in 2006, will soon include 70 centers across the country, with the federal government providing personnel, financial, and technical support. Department of Homeland Security provided $327 million in 2004 to 2008 to help start and run fusion centers.

New DHS Secretary Napolitano, speaking in Kansas City:"At the Department of Homeland Security, information and intelligence sharing is a top priority and fusion centers play an important role in helping to make that happen. In the world we live in today, it’s critical for federal, state, local, and tribal entities to know what the others are doing so each can operate effectively and efficiently."

Also speaking were FBI Director Robert Mueller, Russel Porter, director of the Iowa Intelligence Fusion Center and chair of the Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Units and of the Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council, and Ted McNamara, program manager for the Information Sharing Environment.

US REP. PETER KING IS NEW CHAIR OF THE CONGRESSIONAL FIRE SERVICES CAUCUS
Originally Posted: March 20, 2009 7:07 PM
Last Updated: March 20, 2009 7:07 PM

The Congressional Fire Services Caucus has selected Congressman Peter King (NY-3) as Chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus during the 111th Congress. Representative King, who is also the Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, has been a long-time advocate of America's fire and emergency services.

The selection of Congressman King by the leadership of the Fire Caucus was praised by the fire service community.

Executive Director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI): "Congressman King has a solid record in support of our nation's firefighters. Congressman King has continually fought for increased funding for first responder grants, strengthening the role of FEMA and the United States Fire Administration's role in the Department of Homeland Security, and advancing fire safety legislation in Congress. We are honored to have him as the Chairman of the Fire Caucus for the 111th Congress."

Past chairs of the Fire Caucus have included current Vice President of the United States Joseph Biden, Senator John McCain (AZ), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD-5), Congressman Rob Andrews (NJ-1), Congressman Sherwood Boehlert (ret.), and caucus founder Congressman Curt Weldon (ret.).

MORE INFO? bwebb@cfsi.org

LATE REP. TUBBS IS CFSI LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR: APRIL 2, 2009 DINNER
Originally Posted: March 20, 2009 2:09 PM
Last Updated: March 20, 2009 2:09 PM

The late-Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones has been selected as the 2009 Congressional Fire Services Institute's Legislator of the Year. She will be honored for her years of dedicated service to public safety on April 2, 2009, at the 21st Annual CFSI National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner in Washington, DC.

President Barak Obama has been invited and CFSI is awaiting a response from the White House.

The Congresswoman served in the House of Representatives for nearly ten years before her untimely death in August of 2008. Tubbs Jones was a tireless advocate for fire prevention and education, especially on our nation's college campuses. During her career, she pursued legislation to reduce the threat of fire on college campuses and supported the fire service on many other legislative initiatives.

Bill Webb:"Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a champion of our nation's fire service. Her passion and dedication to advancing fire and life safety on America's college campuses was inspiring, elevating the need to protect college students against the threat of fire to a new level. The fire service and our nation lost a good friend and advocate and I can think of no better way to honor her." Bill Webb is Executive Director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute.

Over 2,000 state and national homeland security leaders will attend the National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner, hosted by the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI). The theme of the program is "New Beginnings... New Opportunities." Featuring leaders of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, the annual tribute will draw attention to protecting our nation's first responders through strong leadership at the local, state and national level.

MORE INFO? www.cfsi.org or call 202-371-1277

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY DEVELOPING RADIATION DETECTION WITH $35 MILLION
Originally Posted: March 20, 2009 1:31 PM
Last Updated: March 20, 2009 1:31 PM

By Jacob Goodwin, GSN Editor-in-Chief

The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office at US Department of Homeland Security issued an aannouncement March 16, 2009 seeking proposals to develop an “intelligent radiation sensor system,” which would consist of various detection devices, communications hardware, control hardware, software and algorithms, all intended to provide better detection of threatening radiation sources than a single, stand-alone detection unit.

The Intelligent Radiation Sensor System will be required to cover an area of 100 meters by 100 meters, trigger a false alarm less than once per day, and cost less than $90,000 per system, says the DNDO’s announcement.

The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) says it expects total funding for the effort to be $35 million, of which $2 million has been allocated for expenditure in fiscal year 2009. DNDO says none of the effort will be set-aside exclusively for small businesses, which are nonetheless encouraged to submit proposals and join other teams. National government laboratories, federally funded research and development centers and academic institutions may not apply as prime contractors, but are encouraged to serve as subcontractors on other teams.

DNDO anticipates issuing multiple awards for this multi-phase effort. During Phase I, which will run for six months, awardees will research, develop and design a “Performance Test Unit” of the proposed sensor system; during Phase II, which will run nine months, the awardees will conduct engineering and development of the unit; during Phase III, which will run for nine months, awardees will fabricate, assemble and factory test their systems; and during Phase IV, which will run six months, awardees will perform a “Characterization Readiness Review” of their system.

The combined sensor system will be expected to distinguish between threat sources and non-threat sources more accurately and more rapidly than any single detector within the system. Non-threat sources of radiation, known as naturally occurring radioactive material, include things such as granite, kitty litter, concrete, potassium, thorium and radium, says the BAA.

Deadline for offers: Monday, April 27, 2009 Applicants should make an accont at: https://dndobids.dhs.gov.

MORE INFO: Tracy Miller 202-254-7027

CHIEF GAINES IS NEW DEPUTY ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE US FIRE ADMINISTRATION
Originally Posted: March 20, 2009 1:16 PM
Last Updated: March 20, 2009 1:16 PM

Former Fairfax County Fire Chief Named as Deputy Assistant Administrator for the United States Fire Administration

Acting Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Nancy Ward has appointed former Fairfax County, VA Fire Chief Glenn Gaines as the new Deputy Assistant Administrator for the United States Fire Administration (USFA).

The National Emergency Equipment Dealers is located in Fairfax County, VA and welcomes Chief Gaines' national leadership. Kenton Pattie, NEEDA Executive Director: "He is truly an exceptional leader and has already made contributions on the national level which has earned him the respect of everyone in the fire and emergency services."

A well respected member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and its Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Section, Chief Gaines has spent the past eight years as a principal architect and manager of both the Assistance to Firefighters and SAFER grant programs.

Chief Gaines brings to the position of Deputy United States Fire Administrator a keen understanding of the needs of career, combination, and volunteer fire departments and the issues affecting them during these unique times in our Nation’s history.

Acting FEMA Administrator Ward: “One of the top priorities of FEMA is to ensure the nation’s fire service and residents are served by highly qualified fire leadership committed to the prevention, response, and recovery from fire in all communities. Chief Gaines brings to his new position the breadth and experience at all levels of government, including his service to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, which this nation and FEMA needs to further ensure a fire safe nation.”

Chief Glenn Gaines started as a volunteer firefighter and fire officer and rose through the various ranks until finally serving as Fire Chief of a metropolitan community serving a population of over one million people.

Throughout his career, Gaines has served in key roles in the areas of training, prevention, and operations, as well as overseeing a nationally recognized Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team which has been deployed many times both within the U.S. and internationally to disasters. Chief Gaines holds a degree in Fire Administration and has served as an instructor at USFA’s National Fire Academy since 1991.

IRS HOLDS HEARING APRIL 16 ON SCHEME TO CONFISCATE 3% FROM ALL DEALER SALES TO LOCAL AND STATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES
Originally Posted: March 20, 2009 12:42 PM
Last Updated: March 20, 2009 12:42 PM

The US Internal Revenue Service is holding a hearing Thursday April 16, 2009 10 AM at IRS Building, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC.

Purpose of the hearing is to hear industry and local government views on how to implement Federal that requires 3% of all Federal, state and local expenditures be paid to the IRS rather than to the companies performing services or delivering products.

In the case of the fire and emergency services, the law says that every sale a dealer makes to a local fire department will have 3% deducted from the gross.
The 3% will be sent to the Internal Revenue Service where it will stay for at least one tax year. In other words for every sale a dealer makes, the dealer will only be paid 97% of what is owed with the remainder going to IRS.

In situations where local governments are spending Federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), there are many rules and regulations that apply.
Long-standing Federal regulations impose specific requirements on FEMA grant recipients who use Federal funds to purchase goods and services. The regulations governing these transactions are in Title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 13.36.

It is the viewpoint of the National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association that the 3% withholding law conflicts with the many rules and regulations, government grants, grant recipients, and vendors to grantees. The 3% law, when promulgated will discourage dealers and local buyers and will undermine the intent of getting assistance to fire departments and the emergency services that urgently need support.

NEEDA also believes that when the Federal government withholds funds
owed on any purchase of goods and services that the Prompt Payment Act applies. This act says that after 30 days, interest is owed by the Federal agency
for all unpaid balances. Once the 3% law is imposed, the IRS will owe
hundreds of millions of dollars in interest. Similarly, most state laws allow interest penalties for unpaid balances in which case local governments would owe interest on the 3% being withheld from emergency equipment dealers.
We anticipate that the IRS will attempt to argue that they are exempt from paying interest -- in spite of the fact that they charge taxpayers interest.

Members of Congress have recently stated that our economy needs infusion of funds back into the marketplace. In contrast, the 3% withholding law extracts funds from the marketplace and injures the purchasing power of state and local governments.

We hope that the Obama Administration will see the futility and absurdity of the 3% withholding law. Already, some organizations representing state and local buyers are expressing concern to the Administration.

But, until the law is actually repealed, the IRS will be obligated to issue regulations that control the implementation of the law.

NEEDA will be testifying on behalf of emergency equipment dealers April 16.

If you have comments or suggestions you would like to see in the NEEDA testimony, please write KentonP1@aol.com

MORE INFO? Federal Register, Thursday, March 19, 2009 "Proposed Rules" page 11699, "Withholding Under Internal Revenue Code Section 3402(t): Hearing" or www.regulations.gov.

NINE FIREFIGHTERS HOSPITALIZED AFTER FIRE TRUCKS CRASH
Originally Posted: March 20, 2009 8:26 AM
Last Updated: March 20, 2009 8:26 AM

Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer Robert Moran says two fire trucks responding to an alarm collided in Center City Thursday, March 19, pinning firefighters in one of the vehicles.

Nine firefighters were transported to hospitals, but officials at the scene said none of the injuries were life-threatening. One of the firefighters initially refused treatment, but was then ordered to go to the hospital.

The crash occurred about 11:20 AM. It appeared Squrt 43 was heading south on Eighth Street when it hit Ladder 9 going west on Lombard. Ladder 9 then slammed into a utility pole and came to a rest about a foot from a building on the corner. The smaller squrt truck hit the rear of a parked car.

Residents said they heard loud sirens and then a loud bang.

A number of firefighters were pinned inside the ladder truck and had to be extricated.

Utility crews were at the scene, dealing with wires on the damaged pole.

Five of the injured firefighters were from the ladder crew, and four were from the Squrt unit

FIREFIGHTERS ATTACKED BY DRUNKS IN IRELAND' ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATIONS
Originally Posted: March 18, 2009 12:00 PM
Last Updated: March 18, 2009 12:00 PM

Shawn Pogatchnik, Associated Press, says cars were torched, firefighters attacked and police bombarded in mayhem spawned by dusk-to-dawn drinking on St. Patrick's Day, according to Dublin, Ireland authorities.

Inebriated revelers turned some districts of Dublin and Belfast into nightmares.
Police in the Republic of Ireland said the total would easily exceed 200, typical for recent years.

FRANKEN-COLEMAN CONTINUE TO VIE FOR UNDECIDED MINNESOTA SENATE SEAT
Originally Posted: March 17, 2009 3:59 PM
Last Updated: March 17, 2009 3:59 PM

Coleman has filed legal challenges to the result, claiming that some absentee ballots were illegally thrown out. Coleman has also filed other challenges to ballots in the case, and stated in February that he would be willing to appeal the election results to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Franken told CQPolitics that if the court rules in his favor, he would expect to be seated in the US Senate. If Franken is seated, the Democrats would hold 59 seats, including two Independents who caucus with the party.

MORE INFO? www.cqpolitics.com

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS HOLDS 111TH CONGRESS
Originally Posted: March 17, 2009 3:28 PM
Last Updated: March 17, 2009 3:28 PM

BY Lucian Deaton is a government relations manager for IAFC

Though the 111th Congress faces a busy agenda in 2009—including stimulus bills, new bailouts and the need to pass an overdue FY 2009 budget—the IAFC and its Volunteer and Combination Officers’ Section (VCOS) continue to gain traction on issues affecting volunteer fire and EMS personnel.

In 2008, the IAFC successfully lobbied for the passage of legislation to protect some state and local benefits for volunteer firefighters from federal taxation and increased the visibility of legislation to protect the jobs of volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel that formally respond to Stafford Act-defined emergencies.

As this article goes to print, the IAFC is working with Senators Tom Carper (D-DE), Representative Robert Andrews (D-NJ) and others to ensure the reintroduction of the Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Job Protection Act in the 111th Congress. This legislation passed the House in the 110th Congress as part of a larger DHS reauthorization bill. The IAFC is working with its senate supporters to draft legislation that will pass Congress this year.

The IAFC also is alerting members of Congress about the concerns many volunteer fire departments have in the American West about the IRS’s treatment of benefits for volunteer firefighters.

In a growing number of states, the local IRS offices have begun to instruct fire departments to issue IRS W-2 forms to their volunteer firefighters, instead of the IRS 1099 forms that have been traditionally used to report nominal payments and benefits to volunteers.

This requirement is creating confusion, because the IRS W-2 form treats volunteer firefighters as employees under federal, state and local laws, which is in direct contradiction to the definition of volunteer firefighter established by the U.S Department of Labor (DOL).

For many years, local fire departments used the IRS 1099 form to report payments to volunteer firefighters. This form is used to report payments made in the course of a trade or business to another person who is not an employee. This practice accurately reflects the truly volunteer status of a volunteer firefighter.

Both federal statute and DOL policy have clearly protected the unique volunteer status of volunteer firefighters. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the term employee doesn’t include an individual that volunteers to perform services for a public agency, if the individual “receives no compensation or is paid expenses, reasonable benefits, or a nominal fee to perform the services for which the individual volunteered,” and these services are not the same type of services individual is employed to perform for the same public agency.

In addition, the DOL created a bright-line test clarifying that fire departments and other entities could provide their volunteers up to 20% of what the public agency would otherwise pay to hire a full-time firefighter for performing comparable service.

The IAFC is working with our supporters in Congress to ask the IRS to clarify how fire departments should report their compensation of volunteer firefighters and to explain why the IRS definition of volunteer contradicts other federal law and policies.

The localized, patchwork transition to the IRS W-2 form raises confusion in departments, creates new employment liabilities and institutionally alters the historic role volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel play in cost-saving benefits through service to local communities.

As the 111th Congress unfolds, please visit the Volunteer Issues and Federal Taxation pages at www.iafc.org/GR to learn more about these issues and how you can educate your senators and representatives about what is best for your department’s volunteers and communities.

PIERCE GETS ARMY ORDER FOR MORE FIRFIGHTING WATER TENDERS
Originally Posted: March 14, 2009 4:06 PM
Last Updated: March 14, 2009 4:06 PM

Pierce Manufacturing (Appleton, Wisconsin), an Oshkosh Corporation company, will make 21 HEMTT-based Water Tender (HEWATT) apparatus for the US Army.

The purchase is valued at $10.5 million and is in addition to previous orders received for 68 of the vehicles. The first Pierce® HEWATT vehicles will be delivered beginning in June 2010, and will be used by Army, National Guard and Army Reserve firefighting units throughout the U.S.

Wilson Jones, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency: “Pierce is proud to provide our brave soldiers with the essential firefighting vehicles they need to perform under the most challenging conditions. his new order for 21 HEWATTs is a strong vote of confidence in the vehicles, and we’re delighted that the U.S. Army has chosen the Pierce water tender.”

The HEWATT is designed as a multi-purpose water tender to provide structural as well as airfield crash/rescue support alongside the Pierce Tactical Fire Fighting Truck (TFFT), ordered previously by the U.S. Army. The HEWATT water tender can provide supplementary fire suppression capabilities to support the TFFT. The HEWATT can operate under extreme conditions in a broad range of terrains, from paved roads to cross-country.

Based on the Oshkosh® HEMTT military transporter chassis, the HEWATT features an 8 x 8 all-wheel-drive axle configuration that can climb a 60-percent grade at full GVW. The apparatus delivers a maximum speed of 62 mph and has a fording clearance of 36 inches. The firefighting package includes a 2,500-gallon integrated water tank, 500-gpm single-stage pump, 50-gallon foam cell, a 250-gpm front bumper mounted turret/monitor and 200-feet of 1-inch hose.

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, is a North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, minipumpers, elliptical tankers, and homeland security apparatus. In addition, Pierce designs its own foam systems and was the first company to introduce frontal airbags and the Side Roll Protection system to fire apparatus.

Oshkosh Corporation is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, commercial, fire & emergency and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh Corp. manufactures, distributes and services products under the brands of Oshkosh®, JLG®, Pierce®, McNeilus®, Medtec®, Jerr-Dan®, BAI®, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles, Frontline™, SMIT™, Geesink™, Norba™, Kiggen™, CON-E-CO®, London® and IMT®. Oshkosh products are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount.

MORE INFO? www.piercemfg.com

US HOUSE COMMITTEE ASKS: WHAT HAPPENED AS RESULT OF POST KATRINA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REFORM ACT OF 2006
Originally Posted: March 14, 2009 3:33 PM
Last Updated: March 14, 2009 3:33 PM

Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 10am, (311 Cannon House Office Building)

the US House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response will hold a hearing on Post-Katrina Readiness.

Witnesses:

Richard Skinner, Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security (OIG)
William “Bill” Jenkins, Director, Homeland Security & Justice, U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Corey Gruber, Acting Deputy Administrator, National Preparedness Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Mary Troupe, Executive Director, Mississippi Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities
Daniel Kaniewski, Deputy Director, Homeland Security Policy Institute, George Washington University

MORE INFO? Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA)

HB1207 INTRODUCED IN ILLINOIS BY REP. DONALD MOFFIT WOULD HELP FIRE-FIGHTING AND AMBULANCE EQUIPMENT
Originally Posted: March 11, 2009 3:22 PM
Last Updated: March 11, 2009 3:22 PM

Introduced 2/18/2009, by Rep. Donald L. Moffitt, Illinois, has introduced HB 1207 in the Illinois General Assembly to requires the office of the State Fire Marshall to establish and administer a Small Fire-fighting and Ambulance Service Equipment Grant Program (now, there is only a Small Fire-fighting Equipment Grant Program).

Provides that "small fire-fighting and ambulance equipment" includes, among other things, defibrillators and communications equipment, including, but not limited to pagers and radiios.

As used in this Section, "small fire-fighting and ambulance equipment" includes, without limitation, turnout gear, air packs, thermal imaging cameras, jaws of life, defibrillators, communications equipment, including but not
limited to pagers and radios, and other fire-fighting or life saving equipment, as determined by the State Fire Marshal.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal shall adopt any rules necessary for the
implementation and administration of this Section.

PELOSI: SECOND STIMULUS BILL IS BACKSTAGE WAITING FOR APPLAUSE FOR ACT 1
Originally Posted: March 11, 2009 3:05 PM
Last Updated: March 11, 2009 3:05 PM

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) says she is open to introducing a second stimulus bill, but it's too early to determine the size of such a package and the timing on another major economic measure.

“We have to keep the door open to see how it goes,” Pelosi told reporters Tuesday, March 10, 2009 following a House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee hearing on the economy.

But Pelosi said she wants to give the $787 billion stimulus package passed last month time to work before she starts making promises on a second stimulus.

Pelosi also accused the Washington media and cable news establishment of taking an overly critical approach toward the first stimulus — and expecting too much too soon.

OBAMA 09 TAX PLANS MAY INCREASE DEALER PAYMENTS
Originally Posted: March 11, 2009 2:50 PM
Last Updated: March 11, 2009 2:50 PM

If as an emergency equipment dealer your company tax rate was 33% or 35% in tax year 2008, the Obama Administration is asking for those rates to be raised to 36% and 39.6% in 2009.

Under the Obama plan, the higher your income, the less you will be able to claim itemized deductions in 2009.

Small businesses that have more than $200,000 as individuals or $250,000 as joint filers will see their capital gains and dividends taxed at 20 percent instead of 15 percent.

Robert Greenstein, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: “small businesses would win under this [Obama] budget.”

But, some business owners may not expand due to higher taxes. Others will increase business effort to offset higher taxes with higher gross earnings.

Jeffrey D. DeBoer, Chief Executive Officer of the Real Estate Roundtable: Proposed taxes for 09 will “create more downward pressure on real estate values at a time when property values need support.”

Most foreign-based companies are taxed only by their own countries. But
US companies are taxed in the US and abroad . . . thus are taxed twice on foreign profits although US companies may defer income until they bring it back to the US. But Obama tax staff are proposing that the “deferral” practice be ended and that the US tax apply promptly on income whether earned at home or abroad.

US companies trying to expand off shore with their income earned there will be
at a disadvantage vs. foreign companies.

NIST OFFERS NEW RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER DISASTER OF 9-11-01
Originally Posted: March 11, 2009 1:53 PM
Last Updated: March 11, 2009 1:53 PM

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is asking the fire community for comments on "best practice" guidelines for designing building structures to resist major fires.

NISTIR 7563, Best Practice Guidelines for Structural Fire Resistance of Concrete and Steel Buildings, is part of the NIST response to the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster of Sept. 11, 2001, and was developed in conjunction with the agency's technical building and fire safety investigation of WTC buildings 1 and 2 (the WTC towers) and 7.

Following the attack on the World Trade Center, NEEDA Executive Director Kenton Pattie recommended improving national building standards to include more monitors in public buildings to relay data to fire responders. Monitors would relay at entrances or to nearby adjacent sites vital safety and attack info such as temperatures, passageways compromised, building movement, etc.
These NEEDA recommendations were included in the first NIST report on lessons learned from the World Trade Center disaster. Getting standards adopted and willingly adopted by the development, construction, and ownership of public buildings is a vital next step.

MORE INFO? wtc.nist.gov before Eastern Daylight Time on April 15, 2009;
or cauffman@nist.gov; or ax to (301) 869-6275; or fax to (301) 869-6275; or Stephen Cauffman, NIST, 100 Bureau Dr., Stop 8611, Gaithersburg, Md. 20899-8611

FOR OTHER NEEDA NEWSLETTER ARTICLES ABOUT 9-11-01 AND THE NEED FOR BETTER BUILDING MONITORS, MEASUREMENTS, AND ASSESSMENTS AVAILABLE TO FIRST RESPONDERS, USE THE "search" APPLICATION IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE NEEDA NEWSLETTER.

GOVERNORS RELENT AND NOW WILL TAKE THE STIMULUS MONEY FROM WASHINGTON
Originally Posted: March 10, 2009 8:42 PM
Last Updated: March 10, 2009 8:42 PM

A handful of Republican governors briefly flirted with the idea of turning down their states’ portion of the $787 federal stimulus package.

Ultimately, most conceded and agreed to take the cash.

Republican governors accepting their portion of the federal bailout dollars
included some of the package’s harshest critics, SOUTH CAROLINA Gov. Mark
Sanford and TEXAS Gov. Rick Perry. Other GOP governors, including Butch Otter
of IDAHO, Bobby Jindal of LOUISIANA, Haley Barbour of MISSISSIPPI and
Sarah Palin of ALASKA, have also questioned whether the federal aid
will ultimately do more harm to their state down the road. Otter, for
instance, echoed several governors when he said he wasn’t interested in stimulus money that would expand programs and boost his state’s costs in future years when the federal dollars are gone.

“My concern is there’s going to be commitments attached to it that are a mile
long,” said Perry. “We need the freedom to pick and choose. And we need the
freedom to say ‘No thanks.’”

Governors, however, don’t have that choice, according to U.S. Rep. James
Clyburn of SOUTH CAROLINA, the No. 3 House Democrat, who included language in the final bill that allows state lawmakers to accept the federal money even if their governors object. Clyburn says he added that element precisely because of earlier objections from governors like Sanford, whom
he accuses of making noise about refusing the federal cash in order to
burnish their conservative credentials and position themselves for political campaigns down the road.

“No community or constituent should be denied recovery assistance due to their governor’s political ideology or political aspirations,” Clyburn said.

Meanwhile, several other GOP governors have embraced the stimulus cash.
FLORIDA Gov. Charlie Crist, ALABAMA Gov. Bob Riley, CALIFORNIA Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, CONNECTICUT Gov. M. Jodi Rell and GEORGIA Gov.
Sonny Perdue all included stimulus money into their budgets. “My concern is there’s going to be commitments attached to it that are a mile long.”
“No community or constituent should be denied recovery assistance due
to their governor’s political ideology or political aspirations.”

JASON McNAMARA IS NEW CHIEF OF STAFF AT FEMA
Originally Posted: March 10, 2009 1:57 PM
Last Updated: March 10, 2009 1:57 PM

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has appointed Jason McNamara would serve as the Chief of Staff for FEMA. President Obama last week nominated Craig Fugate as FEMA Administrator.

Napolitano: “These announcements represent a new chapter for FEMA. Both Craig and Jason bring a tremendous amount of emergency management experience to these positions, and they are just the first of a dynamic new team that is being brought in to lead this agency. Together, we can make FEMA a vibrant agency and an effective and efficient partner for state and local first responders.”

Fugate was appointed the Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management in 2001 — a position he has held for eight years. In that time, he has presided over 23 declared state emergencies, 11 of which were presidentially declared disasters. Currently, McNamara serves as an Associate Vice President and Director of Emergency Management/Homeland Security in Dewberry’s Emergency Management, Disaster and Mitigation Services Group, which, among other things, focuses on issues related to emergency management and homeland security preparedness at all levels of government.

SENATOR GILLIBRAND GETS CLINTON SUPPORT IN CAMPAIGN TO KEEP HER RECENT APPOINTMENT TO THE US SENATE; GILLIBRAND SAYS MONEY LOUISIANA DOESN'T WANT SHOULD BE SPENT TO PREVENT LAYOFFS OF POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS
Originally Posted: March 9, 2009 1:12 PM
Last Updated: March 9, 2009 1:12 PM

Former President Bill Clinton will host a March 11 fundraiser for former Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, candidate for US Senate to replace former Senator Hillary Clinton in New York state.

This is the first proof that the Clintons are backing Gillibrand who was selected by New York Governor Patterson despite some opposition from New York lobbying organizations.

Gillibrand: “Both Secretary of State Clinton and President Clinton embody the type of leadership I hope to bring to the state of New York, and President Clinton’s willingness to show his early support for my candidacy could not mean more to me.”

The former Albany-area congresswoman, who has come under fire for her pro-gun views, described herself as a “progressive” and solicited “questions, guidance and suggestions [to] make me a better advocate for you and for the state.”

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer and new Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, along with Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), are asking President Barack Obama to give them the cash rejected by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and other anti-stimulus GOP governors.

The Schumer-Gillibrand release: “New York receives 78 cents from the federal government for every dollar we send to Washington. If other states are willingly refusing federal support in this time of economic crisis, New York should benefit, given our ‘donor state’ status. ... If any governor — Democrat or Republican — leaves stimulus money on the table, then we respectfully request that funds be distributed to New York. This money would help prevent layoffs for police, firefighters and teachers.”

DELEWARE US SENATOR TOM CARPER IS NEW CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE CONGRESSIONAL FIRE SERVICES CAUCUS
Originally Posted: March 9, 2009 12:53 PM
Last Updated: March 9, 2009 12:53 PM

US Senator Tom Carper of Delaware has been named Co-Chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus (CFSI), filling the position formerly held by US Vice President Joe Biden. Elected to the Senate in 2000, Senator Carper serves on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Environment and Public Works, and Finance Committees.

An original member of the Congressional Fire Service Caucus, Senator Carper joined the Caucus in 1989 when he was serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1992, he left Congress and was sworn-in as the Governor of Delaware where he served for eight years.

Throughout his political career, Senator Carper has been actively engaged in fire service issues both in Washington, DC and in Delaware. His understanding of the fire service and of the fire services' legislative priorities is based on his close working relationship with the Delaware fire service - most notably the Delaware Volunteer Fireman's Association - and the national fire organizations.

Steve Austin, former President of the Delaware Volunteer Fireman's Association and Vice Chairman of the CFSI National Advisory Committee: "The Delaware fire service takes great pride in Senator Carper and thanks the Fire Caucus leadership for presenting this opportunity for the Senator to serve as a Fire Caucus co-chairman," said. "He will do an outstanding job working with his co-chairs to educate their colleagues on the needs and challenges of our nation's firefighters."

Similar praises were expressed by Bill Webb, CFSI Executive Director: "The Congressional Fire Services Caucus has a strong tradition of selecting knowledgeable members of Congress to serve in leadership capacities. The selection of Senator Carper will certainly continue this trend."

The Congressional Fire Services Caucus leadership is composed of eight members - four each from the Senate and House. Maintaining the bipartisan spirit of the Caucus, leadership is also split evenly between party lines with four Democrats and four Republicans. The co-chairs include Senator John McCain (AZ), Senator Chris Dodd (CT), Senator Susan Collins (ME), Senator Carper (DE), Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD-5), Congressman Rob Andrews (NJ-1), Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (MO-8) and Congressman Peter King (NY-3).

The Fire Caucus remains the largest caucus in Congress with approximately 300 members. The purpose of becoming a member is to learn more about our nation's fire and emergency services. A list of current members is located on the CFSI website (www.cfsi.org). If your member is not on the list, please have him/her contact CFSI and learn the value in becoming a member.

The best way to show your support for CFSI is by joining the Associates Club.

NEEDA has been represented on CFSI by Executive Director Kenton Pattie, Membership Chair.

GSA OFFERS STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: GSA SUPPLY SCHEDULE FIRE AND EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
Originally Posted: March 7, 2009 5:11 PM
Last Updated: March 7, 2009 5:19 PM

The US General Services Administration held hearings on how it plans to compete with dealer sales by selling direct through GSA Supply Schedule contractors fire and emergency equipment. The hearings were held in late February and early March, 2009.

Under the Cooperative Purchasing Program, state and local government entities may purchase from the US General Services Administration GSA Federal Supply Schedule 70, Information Technology, as well as alarm and signal systems, facility management systems, firefighting and rescue equipment, law enforcement and security equipment, marine craft and related equipment, special purpose clothing, and related services from contracts awarded under GSA Federal Supply Schedule 84, Total Solutions for Law Enforcement, Security, Facility Management Systems, Fire, Rescue, Special Purpose Clothing, Marine Craft, and Emergency/Disaster Response.

Schedule contractors participating in the Cooperative Purchasing Program are identified in GSA eLibrary (formerly Schedules e-Library) with the Cooperative Purchasing icon. This icon is also used to identify those products and services available for Cooperative Purchasing on GSA Advantage!®, GSA's online shopping and ordering system.

GSA is expanding into enable state and local governments to buy anything on GSA supply schedules to local and state fire departments. NEEDA has objected to this new authority.

The dealer stated that this program puts GSA in direct competition with his company. He asked about steps he could take to get the new law repealed.
The law was passed by Congress. So, addressing Congress and President Obama would be the two obvious steps to expressing your views on GSA's penetration of the state and local government as a competitor to all emergency equipment dealers.

For more information, including NEEDA's opposition to the GSA competition with dealers, use the Search Application in the upper right corner of your NEEDA Newsletter screen or contact Kenton Pattie, Executive Director of NEEDA, PO Box 220, Annandale VA 22003, KentonP1@aol.com, 703 850 8552.

NEEDA: OPPOSES GSA'S PLAN TO TAKE OVER THE STATE AND LOCAL MARKET FOR EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
Originally Posted: November 18, 2008 4:52 PM
Last Updated: November 18, 2008 4:52 PM

FROM: Kenton Pattie
Executive Director
National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA)
PO Box 220
Annandale VA 22003
703 850 8552
KentonP1@aol.com

NOVEMBER 18, 2008

TO: US GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (GSA)
REGULATORY SECRETARIAT

RE: GSAR Case 2008-G517
COOPERATIVE PURCHASING ACQUISITION REGULATION (GSAR)
TO IMPLEMENT PUBLIC LAW 110-248, LOCAL PREPAREDNESS ACQUISITION ACT AFFECTING SCHEDULE 84

1. We disagree with GSA Administrator Jim Williams who states that there is
an “urgent and compelling reason . . . to promulgate this interim rule without prior opportunity for public comment.” We know of no urgent or compelling reason why such an extraordinary expansion of GSA powers and authorities should occur without a public hearing.

In fact the GSA case information published in the Federal Register clearly identified areas where GSA has neither information nor a means to know what effects this new expansion of GSA powers and authorities will have.

SECRETARY NAPOLITANO TO FOCUS FIRST ON STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Originally Posted: March 7, 2009 4:37 PM
Last Updated: March 7, 2009 4:37 PM

Secretary Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security told the House Homeland Security Committee her first job is building stronger relationships with state and local governments; second is relying more on cutting-edge technologies to improve the department’s capabilities; and third is ensuring that the department carries out its mission more effectively by unifying it. “It is important that we develop an identity for DHS that is centered on the department’s mission and that we build a ‘one-DHS’ culture among the different components of the department,” she said in her written statement.

Now that the US General Services Administration has talked Congress into OK-ing GSA contractors selling at Federal prices to state and local governments, emergency equipment dealers will be cut out of sales opportunities by the new Federal scheme.

NEEDA is opposed to the new GSA marketing ploy and has recommended that the law allowing it be repealed. Most dealers are unaware that the new GSA-DHS relationship will cut dealers out of opportunities to sell to state and local governments. Napolitano did not address this issue.

For more information, use the Search application in the upper right of the NEEDA Newsletter screen to see what NEEDA has done to oppose GSA and Federal government direct efforts to take away markets from dealers. NEEDA Newsletter recently published its comments to a Federal Register notice about the GSA takeover of the state and local fire and emergency equipment market.

US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LAUNCHES SERIES OF MEETINGS ON US JOB CRISIS: RECOVERY FROM MAJOR DISASTERS
Originally Posted: March 7, 2009 2:25 PM
Last Updated: March 7, 2009 2:28 PM

The National Chamber Foundation (NCF) hosts a series of events to examine our nation’s current job crisis, assess the Obama administrations’ efforts to stem the losses, and evaluate what steps need to be taken to get America back to work.

The National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association is a member of the US Chamber and Executive Director Kenton Pattie has served for many years on the Chamber's Procurement Committee.

Piecing Together the American Dream: How to Solve the Employment Puzzle
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Which training programs give the best returns to workers and tax payers? How will we effectively synthesis higher education, training programs and economic development? This first look into the nation’s unemployment woes will explore some of the existing state and federal mechanisms for leading the workforce back to full employment including programs matching existing skill sets with employers needs, providing unemployment insurance, and training workers for new jobs.

MORE INFO? Ben Askin (202) 463-5500 or ncfevents@uschamber.com

COUNTY HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICES ARE BEING MERGED INTO OTHER AGENCIES TO STREAMLINE LOCAL RESPONSE SYSTEMS
Originally Posted: March 6, 2009 3:00 PM
Last Updated: March 6, 2009 3:00 PM

Montgomery County, Maryland, and Johnson County, Kansas are among many which are closing their homeland security office and combining the functions with other local government divisions.

Originally, these offices were formed to enable local governments to get Federal homeland security grants.

The consolidations are resulting in few job losses but are designed to make local governments more efficient in responding to any threat by combining forces with other government agencies which have manpower and resources to help in response.

CHAMBER'S EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS LEADERS AND NEEDA DIRECTOR WELCOME CRAIG FUGATE AS NOMINATED HEAD OF FEMA
Originally Posted: March 6, 2009 2:42 PM
Last Updated: March 6, 2009 2:42 PM

Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC): "We welcome an experienced and capable leader like Craig Fugate to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) team," said Ann Beauchesne, Vice President of National Security and Emergency Preparedness at the U.S. Chamber. "Nominated by President Obama, his leadership as Florida's chief emergency manager during the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons make him an excellent choice to serve as the nation's principle emergency adviser.

Kenton Pattie, Executive Vice President of the National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA) attends meetings of and supports the Chamber's emergency preparedness work.

The U.S. Chamber's National Security Task Force comprises more than 130 businesses, associations, and chambers representing the 18 critical infrastructure sectors. NEEDA represents the fire and emergency sector. BCLC is a 501(c)3 affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and manages the U.S. Chamber's Disaster Assistance and Recovery program. BCLC is a resource and voice for businesses and their social and philanthropic interests.

Beauchesne: "America's businesses have taken significant steps to ensure the security, preparedness, and resiliency of their own facilities and systems. The US Chamber looks forward to working with Mr. Fugate."

Stephen Jordan, senior vice president and executive director of BCLC, praised Fugate's nomination: "We are pleased that someone with Mr. Fugate's experience and ability has been tapped to lead this important agency. We are committed to working with FEMA to improve how our nation and our local communities respond to and recover from disasters."

Jordan: "Businesses are key players in helping communities become disaster-ready and resilient, and they are valuable partners to any relief and economic recovery effort. I have no doubt that Mr. Fugate understands the importance of mobilizing the business community in response to disasters. We are ready to work with FEMA - continuing our strong working relationship from years past - to make sure our nation's disaster relief and recovery processes are the best in the world."

WILDLAND FIRE SKILLS COURSES FOR STRUCTURAL FIREFIGHTERS
Originally Posted: March 4, 2009 5:24 PM
Last Updated: March 4, 2009 5:24 PM

The United States Fire Administration (Emmitsburg, MD)
offers wildland fire skills Gap courses for structural firefighters.

The USFA's National Preparedness Network (PREPnet) has produced a Webcast that explains the requirements, availability, and distribution of these newly packaged Gap course materials. The Webcast, Crosswalk: Bridging the Skills Gap, is available for viewing anytime on the USFA Web site.

The Gap courses are based on the Wildland Training for Structural Firefighters Skills Crosswalk. The Crosswalk effort, lead by USFA in partnership with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs, identified parallel technical competencies between structural firefighters and officers (NFPA Standard 1001 and 1021) or equivalent with those of four NWCG positions: Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2), Firefighter Type 1 (FFT1), Engine Boss Single Resource (ENGB), and Strike Team Leader Engine (STEN). The Crosswalk also identified wildland skills and knowledge that qualified and experienced firefighters would not already have acquired through their structural firefighting training, such as specific wildland fire tactical concepts and wildland fire behavior. Learning modules were identified with the NWCG training courses to address these gaps.

The Gap courses take advantage of the existing skill sets of structural firefighters and minimize redundancy and classroom time for those seeking to develop their wildland fire skills. Each Gap course is composed entirely of NWCG training material pulled into specific courses.

The new Gap courses are:

G-130, Wildland Training (FFT2) for Structural Firefighters
G-131, Wildland Training (FFT1) for Structural Firefighters
G-231, Wildland Training (ENGB) for Structural Firefighters
G-330, Wildland Training (STEN) for Structural Firefighters

These new courses accomplish one of the goals stated in the National Association of State Foresters' 2003 report to Congress titled The Changing Role and Needs of Local, Rural, and Volunteer Fire Departments in the Wildland Urban Interface.

PRESIDENT OBAMA PICKS FLORIDA'S CRAIG FUGATE TO HEAD FEMA: SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO HOLD CONFIRMATION HEARINGS
Originally Posted: March 4, 2009 5:07 PM
Last Updated: March 4, 2009 5:13 PM

President Obama nominates the Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management: Craig Fugate to be FEMA Administrator.

President Obama: "From his experience as a first responder to his strong leadership as Florida’s Emergency Manager, Craig has what it takes to help us improve our preparedness, response and recovery efforts and I can think of no one better to lead FEMA. I’m confident that Craig is the right person for the job and will ensure that the failures of the past are never repeated."

Fugate will be in New Orleans with Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano March 5, 2009.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano: "FEMA must have experienced leadership to succeed in its challenging mission. Craig Fugate is no stranger to emergency management or to FEMA. He is one of the most respected emergency managers in the nation, and the work he’s accomplished in Florida serves as a model for other states to follow. He will be a tremendous asset to FEMA and its employees, and I look forward to working with him."

As the Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Fugate oversees an agency with 138 full time staff. The Division coordinates disaster response, recovery, preparedness and mitigation efforts with each of the state's 67 counties and local governments. In September 2003, the Florida Emergency Management Program became the first state emergency management program in the nation to receive full accreditation from the Emergency Management Accreditation Program.

From volunteer firefighter, Paramedic, to Lieutenant with Alachua County Fire Rescue, his 15 year career in local government included serving 10 years as the Emergency Manager for Alachua County, FL.

In May of 1997, he was appointed Chief of the Bureau of Preparedness and Response with the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Over the next four years, the State of Florida faced numerous disasters while continuing to build a nationally recognized emergency management program.

In October of 2001, Fugate was appointed by Governor Bush as Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. With the events of September 11, 2001, the Division was tasked with the role of managing the Federal Homeland Security funding and developing Florida’s Domestic Security Strategy with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Florida’s program is a model for other states.

In 2004, Florida was impacted by 4 major land falling hurricanes (Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne) setting a record in both numbers of storms as well as damages for the State of Florida.

In 2005, Florida was impacted by 4 hurricanes with Hurricane Dennis and Wilma striking as major hurricanes (Category 3 or greater). 2005 also saw Florida’s largest mutual aid response to another state due to impacts of Hurricane Katrina along the Mississippi Coast, over 7000 responders from state and local agencies provided assistance to the State of Mississippi and local communities, additional resources were sent to the State of Louisiana.

In December 2006, Governor Crist reappointed Fugate as Director, the role he has today.

Director Fugate has served as the State Coordinating Officer in 23 Declared State Emergencies, 11 of which were Presidential Declared Disasters totaling over 4.5 billion in federal assistance.

CALIFORNIA SMALL BUSINESSES TO BE HELPED WITH PROMPT PAY OR INTEREST PENALTIES BY TARDY STATE PAYMENTS
Originally Posted: March 4, 2009 4:48 PM
Last Updated: March 4, 2009 4:48 PM

Based on reports by Cyndia Zwahlen, LA TIMES

California businesses paid late will be owed an annual penalty interest of 5.325%. CA has 30 days after it receives an invoice to process it and send it to the controller's office for payment before it owes a penalty. The controller's office has 15 additional days to cut a check before it incurs the penalty. The new 30-day delay will come on top of that 45-day period.

California State Controller John Chiang said he would exclude small firms from his plan to delay by 30 days an estimated $3.3 billion in payments from the state's general fund this month, including personal income tax refunds and corporation tax refunds.

Small-business vendors, those with 100 or fewer employees and annual revenue of $12 million or less under state rules, had been on the list of not-to-be-paids, along with other state vendors, nonprofits and local governments. Chiang's office estimated the small-business tab to be about $172 million, or one-third the estimated $515 million owed to business vendors this month.

The CA controller said small firms would be able to get their money through "special funds" the Finance Department has proposed borrowing.

Officials hope to avoid triggering the state law that awards small businesses penalty interest of 91.25% a year if their "properly submitted, undisputed invoices or claims" aren't paid on time. California officials have decided not to stiff the smallest businesses even though the state is unable to pay many of its bills.

Small-business job losses could double to 2 million by January 2010 as firms with as many as 49 workers continue an employment decline that started a year ago, a national economic forecaster says.

Joel Prakken, chairman of Macroeconomic Advisers, authors of ADP National Employment Report with Automatic Data Processing Inc. of Roseland, N.J.: "We're not done yet; you could easily see another 1 million small-business jobs lost."

In January 09, small-business employment hit the 12th straight monthly decline, dropping 175,000 jobs, or 0.4%, from December to 49.9 million.

Since February 2008, when the total small-business job count was 50.9 million, small firms have cut 1 million, or about 2%, of their jobs.

Prakken: An additional 12 months of decline is probably in the cards before a turnaround, even with the passage of a stimulus package. Employment typically lags behind the performance of the nation's gross domestic product.

The longest recent decline in small-business jobs lasted 10 months, from August 2001 to May 2002, when 381,000 jobs, or 0.8% of August's 46.7 million jobs, were lost.

The jobs report is based on a sample of the approximately 400,000 payrolls representing nearly 24 million U.S. employees that ADP processes for its clients.

Employment at medium-size businesses, those with 50 to 499 employees, dropped by 255,000, or 0.6%, to 44 million in January, according to the report. Businesses with 500 or more workers cut 92,000 jobs, or 0.5% of total workers that month. They now employ 18.8 million, according to the report.

MORE INFO? www.adpemploymentreport.com or www.dof.ca.gov,or www.sco.ca.gov

PRESIDENT DIRECTS PROCUREMENT RULE CHANGES: PETER ORSZAG AT OMB IS IN CHARGE
Originally Posted: March 4, 2009 4:21 PM
Last Updated: March 4, 2009 4:21 PM

President Barack Obama's presidential memo directs Peter Orszag, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, to work with Cabinet and agency officials to draft new contracting rules by the end of September. Those new rules, White House aides say, will make it more difficult for contractors to bilk taxpayers and make some half-trillion dollars in federal contracts each year more accessible to independent contractors.

"We will stop outsourcing services that should be performed by the government and open up the contracting process to small businesses," he said. "We will end unnecessary no-bid and cost-plus contracts that run up a bill that is paid by the American people. And we will strengthen oversight to maximize transparency and accountability."

Obama joined Republican Sen. John McCain, his presidential campaign rival, and other congressional figures to announce an executive memorandum that commits his administration to a new set of marching orders for awarding contracts.

Obama: "The days of giving government contractors a blank check are over" and said changes could save up to $40 billion a year.

One area in particular that is targeted is no-bid contracts, which the administration is seeking to change so that there will be more competition for government-paid work.

"Even if these were the best of times, budget reform would be overdue in Washington," Obama said.

STATEMENT BY NEEDA TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OPPOSING THE 3% WITHHOLDING OF GROSS INCOME EARNED BY DEALER SALES TO LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS
Originally Posted: March 4, 2009 4:00 PM
Last Updated: March 4, 2009 4:00 PM

Considering the Application to Grants

With respect to Federal grant recipients, the 3% withholding rule will complicate grant management for state and local governments that purchase products and services from the private sector as authorized by Federal grant awards.

Granting agencies and grant recipients already have extensive requirements and strictures which are mandated by Federal law and by regulation. The addition of the complications accompanying the 3% withholding rule introduce new legal and administrative complications to the grant management process on the part of all parties.

For example, a city or county fire department which receives a Fire Act grant from Homeland Security specifically to enable the purchase of an emergency response vehicle would be diverting Federal grant money from the authorized acquisition use into the 3% withholding process. The company which is awarded the bid to fill the Fire Act grant recipient's purchase would not receive the entire amount designated by and authorized by the grant until an uncertain future date at which time the local government's grant eligibility may have expired.

The Service should consider exempting applying the 3% withholding law to Federal grant recipients who are following the strictures of the grant eligibility and award process. Or, the Service should develop a reasonable way in which the 3% withholding rule does not impede or imperil or undermine the goals and terms of Federal grant management. Agencies such as Homeland Security, Defense, Human Services and others will all have specific complicated concerns with the 3% withholding rule as it intersects with the laws and regulations that already apply to their granting authorities and practices.

NEW HOMELAND SECRETARY TESTIFIES AT HOUSE HEARING
Originally Posted: March 4, 2009 5:49 AM
Last Updated: March 4, 2009 5:49 AM

In her first appearance before the House Homeland Security Committee, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano presented the agenda for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for Fiscal Year 2009. Although many of the questions and much of testimony focused on boarder security, the situation in Mexico, and port and airport security, topics central to the fire services were discussed.

Many of the committee members expressed their desire to have the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) remain within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).. When asked by Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) for the administration's stance on the issue, the Secretary said she was not aware of the official position. She went on to say that if the agency was "doing its job, working with state and locals and preparing and responding and there is good leadership and management, where it fits in the federal organizational chart is less of an acute issue."

On the issue of grant programs, Congressman Bill Pascrell (NJ-8) prefaced his questions to the Secretary by expressing his disapproval of how the former administration would submit a budget that zeroed out or cut grant programs. Pascrell mentioned specifically the Assistance to Firefighters (FIRE) Grant Program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program. He asked Napolitano directly if she could commit that this Administration would not cut or eliminate these successful programs. The Secretary responded, "No one is more supportive of those grants than I am and I can commit to you that we are operating under that assumption." She also highlighted the need to look at what the grants are doing to fund sustainability.

Interoperability and the DTV transition were also briefly discussed. Congressman James Himes (CT-4) asked if the Secretary could comment on the subject, specifically as it related to first responder communications. Napolitano declined to discuss specifics but added that she would keep the Committee up to date. Congresswoman Jane Harman (CA-36) pointed out that the DTV transition will provide valuable analog spectrum that our country's first responders will be able to use.