A delegation of nine members of the RI Association of Fire Chiefs met with Senators Reed & Whitehouse, as well as Congressmen Magaziner & Amo in their Washington DC offices. The meetings took place on April 10, 2024 during a one day visit to the US Capitol. While in DC, the RIAFC delegation also attended the 12th Annual National Fallen Firefighters Congressional Flag Ceremony, held in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The three flags that were presented had flown over the US Capitol. These flags, along with 223 others, will be presented to family members during the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service on May 5, 2024.

Topics covered in the meetings with the RI Congressional Delegation included topics ranging from protecting AFG and SAFER grant programs to developing federal standards for lithium ion batteries. Also included in the conversations were funding for the National Fire Academy and the US Fire Administration, Federal PSOB programs, reauthorizing First Net and reauthorizing the National Firefighter Cancer Registry.

Chief Robert Bradley, RIAFC president, said the meetings went very well, and that the Senators and Congressmen were very much engaged in both meetings and supportive of the RIAFC efforts. "They very much appreciated that we took the time and effort to meet them on their own turf to discuss these important topics," said Chief Bradley. "We do this every year, and they recognize our advocacy for the RI fire service."