Lance: "We Must Protect Our Volunteer Fire Companies From ObamaCare"

Visit to Holland Volunteer Fire Department Will Promote Legislative Solution

FLEMINGTON, N.J. --- Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) will visit the Holland Volunteer Fire Department on Thursday, January 23 at 11am to rally support for exempting volunteer fire departments from ObamaCare’s employer mandate.    Lance is a cosponsor of H.R. 3685, the "Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act,” which would exempt volunteer fire, medical and rescue personnel from the law’s onerous employer mandate provision.

“There is great uncertainty in volunteer fire departments across the country, and right here in New Jersey, about the negative consequences of ObamaCare’s employer mandate,” said Lance, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. “Volunteers are volunteers. Counting volunteer firefighters as paid employees under ObamaCare threatens public safety.  A permanent legislative solution in needed to ensure that these brave men and women are protected from ObamaCare’s employer mandate and can continue to serve their communities.”

Under current law ObamaCare’s employer mandate will force volunteer fire, ambulance squads and emergency medical technicians nationwide to provide health insurance to their volunteers or block them from working 30 hours a week — the law's threshold for labeling workers as "full time.”  According to the National Association of Counties (NACO), 69 percent of U.S. firefighters are volunteers.  If municipalities and counties were required to provide health care coverage to volunteers, it would have forced some communities to close fire departments, the association said.

Although the Obama Administration recently announced it will soon grant a waiver exempting volunteer emergency departments, the 7th District Congressman believes a permanent legislative fix is necessary.

Assemblyman Erik Peterson (LD-23) will join to discuss state level concerns.

WHO:  Congressman Leonard Lance, Assemblyman Erik Peterson and members of the Holland Volunteer Fire Company

WHAT: Exempt volunteer fire departments from ObamaCare’s employer mandate

WHERE: Holland Township Volunteer Fire Co.

      971 Milford-Warren Glen Rd.

     Milford NJ 08848

WHEN:  Thursday, January 23, 11am