Bill Aims to Exempt Volunteer Firefighters

U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) announced that he has signed on as a co-sponsor of a bill to exempt volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians from the employer mandate in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act (H.R. 3685) was introduced in the U.S. House earlier this month with bipartisan support.

“Volunteer fire firefighters and emergency responders serve their communities every day to protect lives and property and keep their neighbors safe,” Walden said. “Their units shouldn’t be forced to choose between buying life-saving equipment and complying with IRS mandates under the new health care law. I’m co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation to protect these volunteer units from Obamacare’s mandate so they can focus on their mission: keeping Oregonians safe.”

Hood River Fire Chief Devon Wells supports Walden’s position.

“I believe it is critically important that emergency service agencies not be required to offer health insurance to their volunteer personnel,” Wells said. “Most of those agencies do not have the financial resources to provide that type of benefit to their volunteers. Also, most volunteers have no expectation of receiving health insurance from their fire agency.”