After successfully forcing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to exempt volunteer fire departments in South Jersey and across the country from a provision contained with Obamacare, U.S. Representative Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) applauded passage of bipartisan legislation to codify that exemption in law. In a unanimous vote, the "Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act" (H.R. 33) was approved last evening.
"Since its passage five years ago, Obamacare has continued to bring significant anxiety and uncertainty to families, small businesses and local governments. Two years ago I was told by South Jersey volunteer fire departments that they were fearful of having to dissolve or convert to paid departments in order to shift the costs to their municipal government due to a provision within the law. I challenged that provision and am pleased that my colleagues have again gone on record in overwhelming bipartisan opposition," said LoBiondo. "The men and women of our fire departments do an exceptional job day in and day out. If we all agree that this Obamacare provision would be detrimental to those municipalities that rely on these heroes to provide critical life-saving services, then we should ensure the law reflects that consensus."
According to the 2012 National Fire Department Census by the U.S. Fire Administration, nearly 90 percent of fire companies in New Jersey are either completely or mostly volunteers. Nationally, almost 92 percent of fire companies use at least some volunteers and over 86 percent depend on all or mostly volunteers.
LoBiondo was made aware of the issue by local municipal officials working with South Jersey fire chiefs to ensure compliance with Obamacare. In December 2013, LoBiondo joined Representative Lou Barletta (PA-11) in pressuring the IRS to exempt volunteer fire departments. Barletta introduced the bill passed by the House tonight with LoBiondo as an original cosponsor.
The legislation now moves onto the Senate for consideration.