|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
CONTACT: Tom
Andrews 717-783-4267 |
Majority Leader Bill
DeWeese |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Democrats deliver funding for volunteer emergency services
Gaming money doubles available funds to $50 million for 2007
HARRISBURG, May 8 -- House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese and Whip Keith McCall said $50 million in grant money would be available to help support volunteer fire and ambulance companies in the state thanks to Democratic legislation that passed the House today.
“In rural parts of the state like the district I serve volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel are literally the difference between life and death for the people,” DeWeese said. “We can never repay the brave men and women who give their time and put their lives on the line to protect the lives and property of their neighbors, but we must do what we can to help keep those engines, trucks and ambulances rolling and our volunteers outfitted with the best protective gear possible – this legislation does just that and that is why the Democratic Caucus stood as one to unanimously approve this grant program.”
“So many companies are struggling to get enough volunteers to maintain services,” McCall said. “It’s hard enough for our companies to recruit volunteers to fight fires and take ambulance calls – now imagine telling volunteers they’ll have to spend most of the time selling hoagies, running bingo games or washing cars to raise money. This state program attempts to remedy that dilemma.”
The legislation, House Bill 906, was sponsored by freshman Democratic lawmaker Bryan Lentz of Delaware County, and establishes the Volunteer Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Act. The measure would create a $25 million annual fund to provide grants of up to $15,000 to every eligible fire company and $10,000 to every eligible ambulance company in the state that applies. The grants can be used to build or repair a company’s primary structure, purchase or repair firefighting or rescue equipment, pay for training, or reduce debt.
Lentz’s proposal uses gaming money for this year to double the available funds to $50 million – providing grants of up to $30,000 for fire companies and $20,000 for ambulance companies. The bill also funds the program for a full five years, preventing annual attempts by some lawmakers to stop the grants.
“Studies have shown that volunteer emergency services save the taxpayers $6 billion per year in taxes and insurance costs,” DeWeese said. “This program is not only the right thing to do for volunteers, but one of the wisest investments the state could ever make.”
###bc/2007/ta
l:\print\releases\FireEMS.122