Appropriations Package Includes Legislation to Support Volunteer Firefighters & First Responders Authored by Collins, Cardin

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), a Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, and Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, announced that several provisions from the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) they introduced earlier this year were included in the final Appropriations agreement.  The agreement was passed by the House today.  Once passed by the Senate, the bill will proceed to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Across our nation, volunteer firefighters play a critical role in helping to ensure the safety of our communities and the well-being of our neighbors.  Maine is largely a rural state, and more than 90 percent of firefighters are volunteers.  Without these public-spirited citizens, many smaller communities would be unable to provide firefighting and other emergency services at all,” said Senator Collins.  “These bipartisan provisions Senator Cardin and I authored would protect cost-effective incentives that support the brave men and women who volunteer to protect their communities.”

“Local communities depend on the public service of volunteer firefighters to stay safe and secure. These modest changes will make it easier for communities across Maryland and nationwide to recruit and retain the bravest men and women who are ready to defend against whatever might come next,” said Senator Cardin. “Protecting our communities from harm is one of the most basic functions of government and I am proud to partner with Senator Collins on this bipartisan effort.” 

In order to bolster recruitment and retention, many fire and EMS agencies now provide benefits, including non-monetary gifts, reductions in property taxes, per-call payments, stipends, or retirement benefits.  The Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act would allow communities to provide volunteer firefighters and EMS workers with up to $600 per year of property tax reductions or other incentives, without those benefits being subject to federal income tax and withholding.  This would ease the administrative burden that local departments sometimes face when they reward their volunteers with minor benefits.

The Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act provisions in the appropriations agreement were included as part of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act.