Editing Curt Weldon (section)

=== Domestic issues ===
Weldon founded the Congressional Fire Services Caucus in 1987<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cfsi.org/govt_affairs/caucus.asp |title=CFSI Government Affairs |access-date=May 7, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214043814/http://www.cfsi.org/govt_affairs/caucus.asp |archive-date=December 14, 2012 }}</ref> and has consistently fought for increased funding for firefighters. He was the author of a bill that implemented a federal grant program for local fire departments<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.firefighting.com/articles/namFullView.asp?namID=941 |title=Curt Weldon profile |access-date=May 7, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020831130523/http://www.firefighting.com/articles/namFullView.asp?namID=941 |archive-date=August 31, 2002 }}</ref> that evolved into the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/grants/afgp/index.shtm |title=USFA Grants |access-date=May 7, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903003328/http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/grants/afgp/index.shtm |archive-date=September 3, 2011 }}</ref> He has fought for mandatory safety sprinklers in college dormitories and training of fire departments to deal with terrorism incidents involving chemical and biological weapons. At times, his alleged [[pork barrel spending]] was challenged by fiscal conservatives such as [[Arizona]] Congressman [[Jeff Flake]]; Weldon once told Flake, "Doggone it, I'm not gonna let somebody stand up here in total and complete ignorance and spout off a bunch of gobbledygook. Don't stand up on the floor and make stupid allegations because you want a headline about cutting waste. This is not waste."<ref>CBS ''60 Minutes'', [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rep-flake-on-cutting-congressional-pork/ ''Rep. Flake On Cutting Congressional Pork'']. Consulted on June 27, 2007.</ref>

Weldon co-chaired the House Oceans Caucus. In 1995, his "Oceans Agenda" legislation passed Congress, increasing funding for oceanographic research projects. Weldon was the sole House Republican on the [[Migratory Bird Conservation Commission]], which approves funding for U.S. wildlife refuges and wetlands preservation. Weldon is a member of Global Legislators for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE), where he serves as Honorary Chairman of the Oceans Protection Task Force. Weldon also serves as the honorary United States Vice President on the Advisory Committee on the Protection of the Sea (ACOPS). In his district, Weldon secured funding for the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge in Tinicum and obtained funding for the preservation of the Paoli Battlefield, the site of a Revolutionary War battle that was slated for development.

Weldon also co-authored the Family Medical Leave Act, pushed for the extension of unemployment benefits, has consistently supported raising the minimum wage, opposed the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]], and voted for across-the-board tax cuts. He also played a key leadership role in welfare reform in the mid-1990s.