News

Legislative Priorities Update: AFG/SAFER Reauthorization Bill Introduced in House

Published Date: 06.28.2011

D Block Legislation Passes Out of Senate Committee; Volunteer Tax Bills Introduced

Here is the latest news on four of the National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) Legislative Priorities.

AFG/SAFER Reauthorization Introduced in House

On June 22, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), the Ranking Member of the House Science and Technology Committee, introduced the FIRE Grants Reauthorization Act of 2011 (H.R. 2269) along with a bi-partisan group of 14 original co-sponsors. The legislation, which would reauthorize the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program through FY 2016, is nearly identical to H.R. 3791 from the 111th Congress, which passed the House by a vote of 395-31 in November 2009. The NVFC supports H.R. 2269.

Last month, Senate legislation supported by the NVFC to reauthorize AFG and SAFER (S. 550) was passed out of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

D-Block Legislation Approved by Senate Committee

On June 9, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation voted to favorably report S. 911, the Strengthening Public-safety and Enhancing Communications Through Reform, Utilization, and Modernization (SPECTRUM) Act, which would allocate 10 MHz of radio spectrum in the 700 MHz band (commonly referred to as the “D-Block”) to public safety for the purpose of building a nationwide broadband communications network. The NVFC supports S. 911, which was introduced by Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and co-sponsored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), the Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.

Having passed out of Committee, S. 911 now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

SERVE Act Introduced in Senate

On May 10, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) introduced S. 932, the Supporting Emergency Responders Volunteer Efforts (SERVE) Act of 2011, which would create a $1,000 income tax credit for bona fide volunteer members of volunteer firefighting and emergency medical service organizations. Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) is expected to introduce companion legislation when the House of Representatives returns from recess after July 4. 

VRIPRA Introduced in House

On June 24, Representatives John Larson (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tom Latham (R-IA), and Dave Reichert (R-WA) introduced the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Reauthorization Act of 2012 (H.R. 2353), which would reinstate a tax exemption on certain recruitment and retention benefits that volunteer emergency responders receive for tax years 2012-2015. Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced similar legislation (S. 933) in the Senate on May 10.

Click here to learn more about all of the NVFC’s Legislative Priorities.

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