This April, I am proud to join Volunteer Fire Companies across New York State in promoting the RecruitNY program and weekend. RecruitNY was designed to encourage and support fire services and increase the number of new volunteers and service members for local fire companies across the state.

New recruitment is critical for volunteer fire companies and is the life blood of service and protection of our local communities. The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) provides information, education and training for the volunteer fire and emergency medical services throughout New York State. While volunteer fire companies experienced a number of years of declined volunteer enrollment, FASNY’s annual RecruitNY weekend has helped add more than 20,000 new recruits to the ranks of fire departments across the state.

Since taking office, I have had the opportunity to meet with many volunteer fire service members, chiefs and leaders from companies across the 144th Assembly District. I have had the honor of attending a number of installation dinners and met the families and friends of the very people that keep our community safe.

Protecting the individuals that protect us is critically important to me, and for that reason I am sponsoring a number of legislative initiatives that increase incentives for current and new volunteers and offer greater protection and benefits for the brave men and women that have been putting their lives on the line and served our community for years.

While Volunteer firefighters directly impact our community and protect our families, neighbors and friends, putting themselves in harm’s way place them at much greater risk for critical illness especially various cancers. Unfortunately, many of these illnesses are not currently covered under New York’s Volunteer Firefighter Benefit Law. This must be rectified. I am working with my colleagues in the state legislature to pass presumptive cancer coverage legislation, Assembly bill (A.711) to expand the coverage for our volunteer firefighters.

I am also proud to support the Volunteer Firefighter and Ambulance Worker Protection and Incentive Act of 2017, which offers a number of incentives for volunteer including a $500 tax credit, exemptions for motor vehicle registration fees, and initiatives that extend tuition free course benefits.

Our volunteer fire services offer our community an immeasurable benefit and I am proud to stand up in Albany to support our community volunteers. I would like to encourage individuals that want to become a volunteer firefighter to visit www.recruitny.org/ and www.fasny.com/ for more information on how to serve and protect our community.