On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment to H.R. 1684, the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, that would provide important employment protection for volunteer emergency services personnel. Specifically, the amendment would grant job security to volunteer firefighters and EMTs responding to a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency for up to 14 days per calendar year. This amendment is based on the Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Personnel Job Protection Act (H.R. 1643), which was introduced by Reps. Robert Andrews (D-N.J.), Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), Michael Castle (R-Del.), Peter King (R-N.Y.) and others.

“This is a very positive first step for this important legislation and for America’s volunteer firefighters," said Chief Jim Harmes, president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. "We thank the cosponsors and supporters of this legislation for their efforts. These firefighters and EMS personnel should not have to worry about their jobs back home, when responding with their departments to national events like Hurricane Katrina.”

Currently, volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services personnel aren't protected against termination or demotion by their employers should they miss work when called on to respond to a presidentially declared emergency. Most volunteers hope to resume their work upon returning home without facing consequences from their employers. The protections passed today do not apply to self-dispatched emergency responders. Passage of the job protection language would strengthen mutual aid agreements, grant protection to volunteers and remove the threat of termination or demotion surrounding the issue of response.