West Hudson Valley News

Ryan, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, announces support for legislation  to assist the families of fallen firefighters, screen for occupation-related cancers, and protect firefighter’s Social Security and pensions 

Ryan, also announces nomination of Rifton and Tivoli Fire Departments for Community Project Funding

ARLINGTON, NY –  Joined by representatives from fire departments across the Hudson Valley, Congressman Pat Ryan announced his “Fighting for our Firefighters” plan. Ryan also announced his office has nominated the Rifton and Tivoli Fire Departments for Community Project Funding requests to the House Appropriations Committee.

“In Congress my job is to deliver for everyone who puts on a uniform and protects this country, whether it be overseas or at home in our communities. Firefighters make unbelievable sacrifices for the safety of our families – now we need to be there for them,” said Representative Pat Ryan. “This package of legislation will ensure that our firefighters and their families get the benefits they deserve, while at the same time increasing federal funding for fire departments across the Hudson Valley. I’ll keep fighting every day to get all of our frontline heroes the necessary support.”

“Years back, members of Local F-7 protected Congressman Ryan and his fellow cadets as they attended West Point – now, Congressman Ryan has our back, protecting us from unfair work schedules, workplace cancers and pay disparity,” said Conor Miller, President of West Point Professional Firefighters IAFF Local F-7. “His support for HR.1235 and HR.2852 shows his commitment to my brothers and sisters in Local F-7 and to federal firefighters serving across the country. We’re happy to be here today to thank him for his continued support of firefighters on the local, state and federal level.”

“When we made the trip down to Washington D.C., Congressman Ryan didn’t mess around – he asked us directly what federal legislation would be most helpful to the firefighters’ of the Hudson Valley,” said Joe Tarquinio, President of Arlington Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 2393.“We outlined our priorities, and today, he is making good on that promise, sponsoring a series of bills that will increase benefits for the families of fallen firefighters and ensure retired firefighters receive their full Social Security benefits, while also advocating for increased SAFER and AFG grants. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Representative Ryan as these bills move toward final passage in Congress.”

Congressman Pat Ryan, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, sponsors the following legislation:

• Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, a bill that recognizes the job-related roots of cancer for first responders by providing death benefits for occupational cancer under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program. While medical conditions like heart attacks, strokes, and COVID-19 are presumed to be line of duty deaths for the purposes of the PSOB program, occupational cancer is not.
• Federal Firefighter Cancer Detection & Prevention Act, a bill to prevent and detect certain cancers by directing the Department of Defense to include cancer testing as a component of the civil service firefighter’s annual medical exam. 
• Federal Firefighters Pay Equity Act, a bill that fixes a loophole where federal fire fighters receive only partial retirement credit for their work, effectively denying them the pension credit they have earned. 
• Social Security Fairness Act, a bill that would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and ensure retired firefighters can receive their full Social Security.

Earlier this year, Ryan joined his colleagues in signing a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security urging them to provide at least $405 million for the Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) program and $405 million for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program for Fiscal Year 2024. 

Original source can be found here.