In late June, North Carolina Governor Mike Easley signed legislation that would provide the state's line-of-duty death benefit to a firefighter when he or she dies as a direct and proximate result of a myocardial infarction suffered while on duty or within 24 hours after participating in a training exercise or responding to an emergency situation.

In the bill, the term 'killed in the line of duty' applies to any law-enforcement officer, firefighter or rescue squad worker who is killed or dies as a result of bodily injuries sustained or of extreme exercise or extreme activity experienced in the course and scope of his official duties while in the discharge of his official duty or duties.

Legislation was also signed to increase the state line-of-duty death benefit from $25,000 to $50,000 for law enforcement officers, firefighters, rescues squad workers and members of the civil air patrol.

The NVFC is currently working to pass similar legislation at the national level. The Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefit Act (H.R. 919 / S. 459) passed the U.S. Senate on May 16 and is currently stalled in the House Judiciary Committee.

The NVFC urges fire service members to contact your representative immediately and ask them to support H.R. 919, the Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefit Act. If you don't know their telephone number or address visit: www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/officials or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Due to the delay in getting mail to members of Congress, telephone and fax are the preferred ways to communicate with your elected officials in Washington.