NVFC sets legislative priorities for 1997-98
At its annual Fall Meeting in Charleston, West Virginia, in September, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) adopted the following legislative priorities:
Revision of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 to allow paid firefighters to volunteer their time and expertise in their communities.
Support the Volunteer Firefighter and Rescue Squad Worker Protection Act (H.R. 94 and S. 656) that would preserve the spirit of volunteerism in our communities and assist volunteer firefighters and rescue squad workers to provide vital life-saving and property-protection services in their communities.
Continue to work for funding for the Rural Community Fire Protection (RCFP) program, which assists rural communities with populations of 10,000 or fewer to establish new fire departments and upgrade the fire suppression capabilities of existing departments. The organization will seek a $5 million appropriation for RCFP in Fiscal Year 1999.
Work to secure tax-exempt financing for volunteer EMS organizations. Legislation that would allow volunteer companies and other volunteer emergency services, including ambulance companies, to use tax-exempt financing for ambulances and other emergency response vehicles in addition to fire trucks was to be introduced by Sam Gejdenson (CT) at press time.
Continue opposition to the Wireless Privacy Enhancement Act of 1997 (H.R. 2369). (See news item in this section.)
For information on how to get involved in these initiatives, contact the NVFC at (1-888) ASK-NVFC, or visit its homepage at http://www.nvfc.org.
