Page 16 - InCommand Volume 30

The Big Picture
Ken LaSala
Director of Government Relations International Association of Fire Chiefs
The IAFC continues to urge Congress to pass the HERO Act (H.R. 1646). This legislation would address first responder mental wellness issues in
a comprehensive manner.
The Senate trial of President Trump is over, and Congress needs to get back
to business. There is a short time period for Congress to address substantive legislation as the senators and representative start to focus on the general election in November. Nevertheless, they still have to address the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 appropriations to keep the federal government funded and important legislation to fund improvements to the nation’s roads, rails, and other infrastructure
Appropriations
The good news is that Congress passed the FY 2020 appropriations for all federal program in December in two bills (P.L. 16-93 and P.L. 116-94). These bills included increases for the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA); FIRE and SAFER grant programs; and homeland security grant programs. Unfortunately, after a surge last year to re-capitalize the teams, funding for the Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) system was reduced. Congress also voted to waive the requirement for the SAFER grant programs to retain firefighters, and reinstated funding for the State Fire Training grants.
Here is a summary of the final FY 2020 appropriations:
The appropriations bills also included $2.5 million for the National Firefighter Cancer Registry. They also allocated $5 million for the newly-reenergized SIREN grant program for rural fire-based and third-service EMS. The application period for the SIREN grant program is open until March 30. You can find more information about how to apply at the SAMHSA website: https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant- announcements/fg-20-005.
President Trump released his FY 2021 budget in early February. We will be lobbying to keep federal fire service programs funded.
Tax Bills
The appropriations bills also included good news for both career and volunteer firefighters. P.L. 116-94 included elimination of a potential 40% tax on high-value, “Cadillac” health plans. The new law also included a one-year reauthorization of the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) for Tax Year 2020. Volunteer firefighters will be able to exclude and property tax benefits and up to $600 in other state and local benefits from federal taxation. Please be sure to take advantage of this benefit if it applies to you.
There is a bill to make the VRIPA permanent (H.R. 1241/S. 1210). H.R. 1241 has 40 cosponsors, including Representatives Tim Ryan, David Joyce, and Robert Latta. S. 1210 has 11 cosponsors, but has yet to be sponsored by Senators Portman or Brown. Please contact your representatives and senators to ask them to cosponsor legislation to make the VRIPA permanent.
Congress also is considering a number of fire sprinkler bills. The Restoring Investment in Improvements Act (H.R. 1869/S. 803) would resolve a mistake in last Congress’ tax reform bill. It would clarify that commercial building owners that retrofit their buildings with fire sprinklers should qualify for a 15-year depreciation
16 InCommand APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2020 • www.ohiofirechiefs.org