INSERT FD LETTERHEAD
DearSenator[INSERT NAME]:
As one of your local fire chiefs, I urge you to become a cosponsorand active advocate for the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (S. 609). The Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) was an important provision assisting our efforts to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders. Unfortunately, this provision has since expired and created a large obstacle for recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters in our state.
The VRIPA (P.L. 110-142), which passed with a strong bipartisan vote in the House and by unanimous consent in the Senate, expired at the end of 2010. The law allowed a volunteer emergency responder to exclude, from federal income tax,any property tax benefit and up to $360 per year of other benefits from a state or local government. With its expiration, volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders received an inherent tax increase as they were forced to pay taxes on the benefits that they received for volunteering within their communities. The Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (S. 609) would reinstate the tax exclusion through 2018 and increase the limit from $360 to $600 annually.
Every 23 seconds in our nation, firefighters are responding to a call. As 72% of our nation’s firefighters are volunteers, it is imperative that volunteer fire and EMS agencies are able to recruit and retain these dedicated individuals. Recently, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) published a report stating that there are more than 756,400 volunteer firefighters serving in approximately 26,000 fire departments across the United States. In fact, more than 20,000 fire departments are staffed exclusively by volunteers. Since 2010, however, there has been a decline of over 12,000 volunteer firefighters nationwide. Failing to reinstate VRIPA through 2018 could have a dire effect on staffing levels for fire departments and devastating consequences for public safety throughout our state.
This year, the Senate will be considering bills that will reform the tax code and extend existing tax provisions. I hope that you will work with your colleagues to include legislation to reauthorize the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (S. 609).
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
INSERT NAME