FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2003
Contact:  Erin K. Kelly
(717) 846-2828
ekelly@pasen.gov
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Senate Adopts Waugh Resolution to Form Select Committee on Fire and Emergency Services

HARRISBURG – Yesterday the PA Senate adopted Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York) and Sen. Sean Logan’s (D-Monroeville) concurrent resolution calling for the establishment of a select committee to develop legislation to improve the delivery of fire and emergency services in the Commonwealth.

The 24-member committee would be charged with developing legislation to establish an institutionalized, "needs-based" grants program for volunteer fire and emergency services and to provide adequate funds in the Volunteer Loan Assistance Program.

In 2000, a "one-time" grants program provided every volunteer fire company that applied with a check for about $9,900 and a check for roughly $6,600 to every volunteer ambulance service provider that applied.

Waugh, co-chair of the Senate Firefighters and Emergency Services Caucus in the Senate, explained that this year’s annual budget contains a line item for a $25 million grant program to once again assist these volunteer service providers and believes the committee being formed through his resolution will assist in successfully carrying out that grant program.

"With the formation of this select committee we will be able to create enabling legislation that is essential for translating that funding from a line item in the budget to dollars and cents to our volunteers," said Waugh.

The committee would also be responsible for developing legislation for a municipal firefighter education and training program, as well as all other issues relating to the long-term problems of the fire and emergency services.

For example, recruitment and retention of volunteers is at an all time low, and volunteers are responding to emergencies with inadequate protective gear and equipment, in some cases with no protective gear.

“These volunteers are serving and protecting their neighbors with limited resources. It is my hope that this select committee will be able to help these service providers tackle the problems they face everyday while doing their jobs, which in the long run will help the residents of the Commonwealth,” said Waugh.