The Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association held its Annual Legislative Conference February 11-13, 2013 at the Hilton Downtown Nashville.  All reports indicate that the legislative efforts that week were a big success.  The Legislative Conference was attended by about 60 fire fighters representing 15 Locals covering almost every region of the state.  Attendees were briefed on legislation the TPFFA is supporting and also legislation that fire fighters oppose.  They were addressed by House Local Government Committee Chairman Representative Matthew Hill and International Association of Fire Fighters District Vice President Danny Todd.  Our fighters attended two IAFF Training Seminars taught by IAFF District Field Service Representatives Thomas Malone and Pete Reagan. The subject of the first seminar was about the affects of the Affordable Health Care Act on fire fighters and the second on how to respond to "Service/Performance Level Threats."

On Tuesday evening February 12^th we held our 1st Annual Legislative Fish Fry which everyone seemed to agree was a huge success.  It was attended by approximately 200 people with the crowd consisting of fire fighters, Legislators, and Speaker of the House Beth Harwell.  The legislators that attended represented a great mix from both political parties.  We estimate we had about 100 staff members and legislative liaisons also in attendance.  The evening was an opportunity for Tennessee Fire Fighters to get together with their legislators in a social setting for an evening of food and fun.  Everyone agreed that this will be an annual event.

Lobby Day on Capitol Hill was on Wednesday February 13^th and was also a great success.  From reports received afterwards the most of the meetings with the legislators were successful.  Numbers were not available at the time this article was posted but, we do know the TPFFA picked up several co-sponsors for TPFFA legislation and also acquired several commitments to help stop passage of some very damaging legislation that continues to be introduced by extremists in the Tennessee legislature.  Representatives from the TPPFA Locals once again worked very hard on behalf of their members and the result from their work becomes more apparent each year after the conclusion of these annual legislative conferences.  The TPFFA will continue to be on the front lines at the state legislature fighting each day to insure that fire fighters, emergency medical personnel, and their families are treated fairly and are protected while performing their duties in what most of the time are very dangerous situations.