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TagsA bipartisan group of legislators announced Thursday that they have formed what they call the New Jersey Legislative Fire Caucus in an effort to keep the Legislature aware of issues facing firefighters and other first responders.
The caucus will be co-chaired by Assemblyman Fred Scalera (D-Essex), a career Nutley firefighter who former the panel, as well as Assemblyman Dave Rible (R-Monmouth), Sen. John Girgenti (D-Passaic), and Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean (R-Union).
Scalera said the caucus would mirror similar efforts in place at the national level, such as the Congressional Fire Caucus, which was formed in 1987.
"New Jersey has a diverse group of firefighters ranging from career firefighters to volunteers, and this caucus will be able to help the Legislature and give lawmakers information to help better understand the needs of firefighters and other first responders," Scalera said. "The caucus will operate as a nonpartisan advisory body, educating legislators about the needs and challenges of New Jersey's firefighters and recommending and endorsing legislation. I look forward to it getting it to work.""New Jersey's brave firefighters put themselves in harm's way in order to protect their communities, and I'm proud to work in the Legislature to provide whatever support we can," said Girgenti, who is chairman of the upper house's Law and Public Safety Committee. "I believe the fire caucus represents an innovative approach to work together in both houses and across party lines to give firefighters across New Jersey the support they deserve."
"Firefighting technology and procedures change rapidly," said Kean, a former volunteer firefighter. "This caucus will advise the Legislature as soon as a change in law needs to be made that would help fire departments and firefighters."
"This caucus will provide a vital line of communication between firefighters and the Legislature that is currently lacking," said Rible, a volunteer firefighter and former first responder. "The exchange of information on issues vital to the firefighting community should prove to be a very educational and enlightening experience for all parties involved."
Nearly 70 members of both parties and both houses have joined the caucus. The caucus will not operate as a voting block and membership doesn't constrain lawmakers from voting certain ways.
"This is a forum for information exchange," Scalera said. "It will allow elected officials to discuss important issues and ways to develop a consensus on ideas and issues, since fire service issues are, after all, nonpartisan."
The first meeting of the caucus is planned for March.
— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
