E-Update Archive

In this issue:

1. Special Member Update: NVFC Launches National Junior Firefighter Program
2. Update on NVFC Legislative Priorities
3. FCC Revises Radio Spectrum Auction Rules to Create Wireless Broadband Communications Network for Public Safety
4. SAFER Grant Application Closes on August 31
5. NVFC Welcomes New Office Manager
6. Support Those Who Support the Voice of the Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services

^ Back to Top
 

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and Spartan Motors launched the National Junior Firefighter Program on July 28 at Firehouse Expo in Baltimore, MD. The Program offers resources and tools for developing and managing a local program, as well as for recruitment efforts. Departments can also register their local program in a searchable, online listing. Young people can use the National Junior Firefighter Program to find a local program, learn what it means to be a junior firefighter, and log their hours of service to receive special recognition and incentives as they reach certain milestones. Learn more at www.nvfc.org/juniors. Read the full article.

^ Back to Top
 

As Congress returns from its August recess, the NVFC would like to give you an overview on the status of some of the most important legislative issues facing the fire and emergency services in the 110th Congress.

Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG)
The AFG program provides funding directly to fire departments to purchase equipment, training, and apparatus. The grants are distributed based on need, and fire service professionals are involved in setting grant criteria as well as reviewing and ranking grant applications.

In FY 2007, AFG was funded at $547 million. The House-passed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations legislation for FY 2008 (H.R. 2638) would provide $570 million. A Senate-passed version of the bill provides $560 million. H.R. 2638 is expected to be considered by a conference committee of representatives appointed by House and Senate leadership to resolve differences between the House- and Senate-passed versions of the bill.

Round one of the FY 2007 AFG award announcements came on July 27 this year. Last year the award announcements didn't begin until October, the latest in the history of the program. The NVFC expressed concerns over the delay and other issues surrounding administration of the program in a letter to DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff. The NVFC is pleased that the award announcements began earlier this year and will continue to work with the administration, members of Congress, and other fire service organizations to ensure that the program continues to run as effectively as possible.

Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (H.R. 943, S. 1466)

The NVFC strongly supports the passage of the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act, which would prevent the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from taxing the nominal compensation awarded to local volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders for service to their communities. It would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude property tax rebates and other benefits provided to volunteer responders from taxable income and employment taxes and wage withholding. The NVFC recently developed a document explaining in detail what the bill does and why it is important, not just for volunteer emergency responders but for communities and taxpayers as well.

House sponsor John Larson (D-CT) has made this bill, H.R. 943, his top priority in the 110th Congress. As of June 27, H.R. 943 had 150 cosponsors, including 15 on the Ways and Means Committee which has jurisdiction over the bill. Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) introduced Senate companion legislation (S. 1466) along with original cosponsor Gordon Smith (R-OR) on May 23.

Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Personnel Job Protection Act (H.R. 1643)
The NVFC strongly supports the passage of the Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Personnel Job Protection Act, which would protect the jobs of volunteer emergency services personnel responding to a Presidentially-declared national disaster for up to 14 days. Currently, volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services personnel are not protected from termination or demotion by their employers should they miss work when asked to respond to a national emergency. This protection is similar to that provided to members of the National Guard.

On March 22, Congressman Rob Andrews (D-NJ) introduced the bill (H.R. 1643) along with original co-sponsors Mike Castle (R-DE), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Randy Kuhl (R-NY). Language exactly the same as H.R. 1643 was inserted into H.R. 1684, which passed the House on May 9. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) is planning to introduce a Senate companion bill soon.

Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act Implementation
On December 15th, 2003, President Bush signed into law the Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act, which was designed to expand the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) program to cover public safety officers who die of heart attacks or strokes in the line of duty. Passage of this legislation had been a top priority for the NVFC during the 108th Congress.

It took the Department of Justice (DoJ), which administers PSOB, almost two years to develop a draft rule for implementing Hometown Heroes and another year after receiving comments on the draft rule from stakeholder organizations like the NVFC to publish a final rule. The final rule went into effect on September 11, 2006 and as of July 13, 2007, seven awards have been made, 47 denials have been issued, and 199 cases are still pending.

In April, the NVFC signed onto a letter to President Bush expressing concern over delays in processing applications and the low number of awards that had been made. In May, the NVFC developed a document designed to assist volunteer emergency response agencies in submitting Hometown Heroes applications. The document expanded on a checklist developed by DoJ to identify mistakes commonly made on Hometown Heroes applications that can lead to delays or a denial of benefits.

On July 11, NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg spoke at a press conference in the Russell Senate Office Building and called for DoJ to begin making awards and for Congress to investigate the process by which DoJ has been making determinations. The NVFC will continue to work to rectify this situation for the families of fallen public safety officers.

Rural Fire Assistance (RFA) and Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Programs
The RFA and VFA programs provide funding to volunteer fire departments that protect fewer than 10,000 people, assisting them in purchasing equipment and providing training to make them better prepared to suppress wildland fires. With RFA, departments are required to provide 10 percent in matching funds and must enter into an agreement with the Department of Interior to protect federal land. VFA grants require a 50 percent match, but there is no requirement to protect federal land.

In FY 2006, RFA was funded at $10 million and VFA at $13.8 million. In FY 2007, Congress did not explicitly fund either program. This allowed the administration to eliminate RFA funding and flat fund VFA at $13.8 million. The NVFC has been working with House and Senate Appropriators as well as other fire service groups to have funding for RFA and VFA restored to at least FY 2006 levels.

The House-passed Department of Interior Appropriations Act for FY 2008 (H.R. 2643) provides $20 million for VFA but no funding for RFA. Corresponding Senate legislation (S. 1696) would provide $13.8 million for VFA and $8 million for RFA. S. 1696 has not yet passed the Senate, and the NVFC will continue working to increase RFA funding to its FY 2006 level of $10 million. The NVFC will continue to advocate on behalf of RFA and VFA.

Other NVFC Legislative Activities
The NVFC's Legislative Report, containing all of the NVFC's legislative priorities and monitored items, is always available at www.nvfc.org. The most recent report  includes status reports on all of the priorities and monitored items.

^ Back to Top
 

On July 31, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revised plans to auction portions of the 700 MHz band of radio spectrum in order to create a nationwide interoperable broadband network for use by public safety. For more than a decade first responders have had a clear need for additional radio spectrum in order to communicate more effectively. In 2006, Congress passed legislation making 24 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band available to first responders. The rest was scheduled to be auctioned to private entities no later than January 28, 2008.

The revised FCC rule would combine 10 MHz currently scheduled to be auctioned with the 24 MHz already designated for public safety. The private entity that purchases the 10 MHz would enter into a partnership with public safety organizations to develop a shared nationwide interoperable network for commercial and public safety users. Public safety users would have priority access to the network during major emergencies.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) submitted comments to the FCC on two occasions over the past year supporting the creation of a nationwide interoperable broadband communications network that will provide thousands of rural volunteer fire departments access to broadband communications for the first time. The network will allow for interoperable communication between public safety agencies with different types of communications equipment.

^ Back to Top
 

The FY 2007 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant application period, which opened on Monday, July 30, officially closes at 5:00pm ET on August 31. SAFER Program Guidance has been posted at www.firegrantsupport.com, along with an online applicant tutorial, Frequently Asked Questions and other materials to help applicants prepare grant applications.

"I encourage all volunteer fire departments to submit a SAFER Grant application," said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. "Volunteer and combination departments can apply for grants to assist with their retention and recruitment efforts or to hire career firefighters."

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) administers SAFER Grants, which provide funding to fire departments to hire firefighters. State and local organizations, along with volunteer and combination fire departments can also apply for funding to implement retention and recruitment programs. For FY 2007, Congress appropriated $115 million for SAFER.

DHS is asking applicants with questions about the SAFER Grant program to contact the help desk at 1-866-274-0960 or at firegrants@dhs.gov.

^ Back to Top
 

Amanda Ludholtz has joined the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) staff as Office Manager for the NVFC and Executive Assistant to Heather Schafer. She will also be handling meeting planning and corporate memberships.

"We are very pleased to have Amanda join our staff," said Schafer, Executive Director for the NVFC. "She comes to us with terrific office management experience, and I am confident she will bring a lot to this position at the NVFC."

Ludholtz is a graduate of the University of Maryland, where she received her BA in Psychology. She comes to the NVFC from software company Analytical Graphics, Inc., where she served for three years as the office manager of their Maryland sales and training office.

^ Back to Top
 

The NVFC relies on the assistance of its corporate and association partners to be able to provide a voice for the volunteer fire and emergency services in Washington. We encourage you to look at a list of our Corporate Members and support them with your business.

^ Back to Top