releases: http://toomey.senate.gov?p=news&id=1220
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://toomey.senate.gov?p=news&id=1220 | Toomey Working To Exempt Volunteer First Responders From Obamacare [press_release] | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | PA | Patrick Toomey | T000461 | toomey.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON D.C. -- U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Angus King (I-Maine) are spearheading a bipartisan effort to ensure volunteer firefighters and first responders can continue protecting communities that rely on them. The Protect Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act amends the President's health care law to make it clear that these volunteers are not required to be counted as full-time equivalent employees (FTEs), which would trigger the onerous employer mandate. In most cases, volunteer first responders maintain other full-time employment and choose to volunteer. Not surprisingly, emergency response agencies which rely almost entirely on volunteer assistance do not have the resources to provide pay for benefits. Additionally, volunteer first responders do not expect to receive compensation or health coverage as a result of their volunteer public service. "From small cities to rural communities - Pennsylvania has the largest number of volunteer fire departments in the country," said Sen. Toomey. "These departments play a crucial role in protecting Pennsylvanians each and every day. This bipartisan legislation will protect these fire departments from one of the devastating consequences of Obamacare. Pennsylvania is fortunate to have so many dedicated volunteers willing to risk their lives for their fellow citizens and the least we can do is help them keep their doors open." Approximately 750,000 volunteer firefighters serve in 20,000 all-volunteer and 5,000 combination career-volunteer fire departments throughout the United States. Pennsylvania is home to over 2,000 fire departments that rely mostly or entirely on volunteers. State Sen. Lisa Baker and State Rep. Steve Barrar, who serve as the chairmen of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committees in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, offered their full support: "We must ensure that our volunteer firefighters and first responders are able to protect our communities in the most efficient and complete manner possible," said Sen. Baker. "I applaud Sen. Toomey's bipartisan efforts to guarantee that the President's health care law does not impact the individuals who risk their lives every day protecting our health and safety." "Volunteer firefighters and first responders risk their lives every day protecting our communities," said Rep. Barrar. "Exposing these brave men and women to the costly mandates established under Obamacare will only serve to punish volunteer-based responder stations, inhibit their ability to provide the critical services needed to protect life and property, and dissuade future civic involvement." The legislation is supported by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |