The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) is encouraging lawmakers to pass the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
The measure provides direct assistance to state and local governments, protects critical public safety radio spectrum, funds essential grants for keeping firefighters on fire trucks, and provides resources for families of first responders who have died after sustaining COVID-19 occupational exposure.
The IAFC has been joined in the effort by the International Association of Fire Fighters.
“As warriors at the tip of the spear in this fight against COVID-19, firefighters are struggling to get the supplies that they need,” Chief Gary Ludwig, IAFC president and chairman of the Board, said. “Meanwhile, the budget cuts caused by the economic slowdown may lay off approximately 30,000 firefighters. We ask our supporters in Congress to be heroes and pass this critical legislation.”
The bill would, among other assistance initiatives, provide $500 billion in direct assistance to state governments and $375 billion to local governments to help mitigate the fiscal impact of the pandemic; authorizes $1 billion in supplemental funding for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program to help maintain firefighter staffing and the Assistance for Firefighters (AFG) grant program to provide personal protective equipment (PPE), mental health assistance and training for firefighters; and increase the federal share for reimbursement under the Disaster Relief Fund to 100 percent to assist cash-strapped state and local governments.