Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Provide Affordable Housing for Volunteer Firefighters and First Responders

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee member, announced today he has joined Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in reintroducing Volunteer First Responder Housing Act, bipartisan legislation to provide affordable housing opportunities for volunteer firefighters and first responders to help recruit and retain more volunteers, particularly in rural and under-served communities.
"Volunteer firefighters and first responders are crucial for keeping local communities safe and secure, especially ones in small or rural areas where it can be difficult to attract a sufficient number of volunteers," said Senator Cramer. "Our legislation would help encourage more people to step up and serve by making them eligible for federal housing assistance programs, which would make it easier for them to relocate and give these heroes one less need to worry about."
According to the National Fire Protection Association's 2018 U.S. Fire Department Profile, 67 percent of firefighters nationwide are volunteers, and fire departments rely on these volunteers to help respond to a wide array of local emergencies. The Volunteer First Responder Housing Act would expand eligibility for qualified volunteer first responders to participate in certain federal housing assistance programs and provide a greater incentive for more volunteers to stay and continue to serve their communities.
Senators Cramer and Baldwin are joined on the legislation by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Jon Tester (D-MT). In the House of Representatives, companion legislation was introduced by Representatives Cindy Axne (D-IA), Mike Bost (R-IL), Frank Lucas (R-OK), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
The bill is supported by the National Volunteer Fire Council, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Housing Assistance Council, National Rural Housing Coalition, National Association of Towns and Townships, and National Association of Counties.
Learn more here.

Source