Congressman Lou Barletta (R-Luzerne) received support from his peers in Congress yesterday when his legislation, H.R. 3979, a bill that will ensure that volunteer firefighters are not included in the Employer Mandate Provision of the Affordable Care Act, passed unanimously in the House of Representatives.

The impressive 410-to-0 vote was a bipartisan victory for Barletta, who represents Pa.’s 11th congressional district.

“This is a tremendous victory for anyone who lives and works in an area that depends on volunteer firefighters for their safety – which means the huge majority of Americans,” Barletta said.  “Firehouses and municipalities across the country need assurance that they wouldn’t have to pay costly fines or shut their doors. This bill provides them with that certainty.”

Under the ACA’s Employer Mandate Provision, companies and organizations that employ upwards of 50 workers are required by law to supply those workers with health care. If health care is not provided, the employer faces a fine.

Firefighters and emergency responders soon became a contested grey area in regards to the EMP. Because most fire halls utilize the labor of volunteers, it was assumed that the EMP would not apply in these cases. But firehouses oftentimes employ 50 or more workers, and some of those workers are indeed compensated for their efforts.

This ambiguity caused many, including Barletta, to worry about the harm that the EMP requirements could have on emergency responders around the country.

“There is no way that fire companies could absorb the enormous cost of providing health care to their volunteers, who presumably have other jobs or receive their health care from another source,” Barletta said.  “It is just another unintended consequence of a very bad law.”

Barletta has not been quiet about his disdain for the ACA, and H.R. 3979 was his way of correcting a flaw in the massive legislation. Moreover, fearing changes in the implementation of the EMP in the future by the Internal Revenue Service, Barletta wanted to ensure that the volunteer status of firefighters and emergency remained intact.

“Public safety is too important to leave in the hands of a federal agency that could change its policy on a whim,” Barletta said.  “Volunteer firefighters are vital members of our communities, particularly in Pennsylvania.”

Barletta added: “I don’t trust the IRS today or in the future, especially when it comes to public safety, and that’s why we are making this the law. Volunteer firefighters are just that – volunteers, and should not be subjected to the Employer Mandate.  It’s just common sense.  I hope my colleagues in the Senate quickly pass this bill so it becomes law in the near future.”

With its across-the-board support in the House, H.R. 3979 should easily pass through the Senate with bipartisan support.

The bill has received support from  the National Volunteer Fire Council, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Congressional Fire Services Institute, the National Association of Counties, the National Association of Towns and Townships, the National Association of EMTs and the National Association of State EMS Officials.