As of Nov. 20, 2023

Expanding Health Care Options for First Responders Act

This bill would allow first responders between the ages of 50 and 64 to buy in to Medicare. Workers in public safety often retire early due to the dangerous nature of their jobs. This legislation would ensure that first responders are able to access affordable health insurance that provides the same benefits under the existing Medicare program. AFSCME successfully advocated to include corrections officers as eligible recipients in this bill. Other first responders include police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel.

• This bill will allow retired first responders—including police officers, corrections officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel—to buy into Medicare beginning at age 50
• Workers in public safety often retire earlier than other workers due to the dangerous nature of their jobs
• This legislation would ensure that first responders (50 and older) are able to access affordable health insurance regardless of whether or not their pension plan provides for coverage upon retirement
• Access to comprehensive health care for workers in public safety is critical and this bill would provide the same benefits under the existing Medicare program
• Retirees would be eligible for tax credits, subsidies and tax advantaged contributions from their former employer or pension plan

Click here to learn more about this bill.

CARE for Our First Responders Act

AFSCME Federal Government Affairs is also working on to provide mental health benefits and services to those responding to largescale disasters or emergencies where the president determines that federal assistance is needed. AFSCME successfully worked to include 911 dispatchers as eligible recipients for the services in the bill, including crisis counseling, counseling for the families of first responders, a specialized hotline for first responders, peer-to-peer counseling and on-site mental health grants. This bipartisan legislation is expected to be introduced in mid-November by Reps. Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).

Click here to learn more about this bill.

911 SAVES Act

On Nov. 8, Reps. Norma Torres (D-CA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services Act or 911 SAVES. The bill recognizes the critical role 911 dispatchers play in public safety and would reclassify Public Safety Telecommunicators from an Administrative and Clerical role to a Protective Service Occupation within the Standard Occupational Classification System (SOC). The new classification has the potential to make 911 dispatchers eligible for funding to receive training, access to mental health services for sustained trauma on the job and provides government agencies valuable health information about the sector.

The bill was previously introduced in the 116th and 117th Congresses with bipartisan support. However, it has not become law. AFSCME expects Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to carry the Senate companion bill although it has not been introduced yet. AFSCME believes the current classification of 911 dispatchers does not accurately reflect or respect the central roles, duties and responsibilities of 911 dispatchers and strongly supports 911 SAVES.

Click here to learn more about this bill.