1.Congress finds the following:
(1)Fire fighters
provide an immeasurable service to the Nation, putting their lives, health, and
safety on the line every day to protect communities and citizens from everyday
emergencies and large-scale disasters.
(2)According to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 78 percent of fire fighters age twenty-five
to forty-four have pursued a higher education.
(3)As modern fire
fighter responsibilities have become increasingly complex and more dependent on
advanced technology, achieving a highly educated fire service will enable fire
fighters to carry out a safe and effective response.
(4)According to the
International City/County Management Association, the national average entrance
salary for full-time fire fighters is $34,688, while the average maximum salary
is $47,386.
(5)The rising cost of
college education, combined with the relatively low wages earned by fire
fighters, makes it difficult for many full-time fire fighters to afford student
loan debt.
2.Section 465(a) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ee(a)) is amended—
(1)in paragraph
(2)—
(A)in subparagraph
(H), by striking or
after the semicolon;
(B)in subparagraph
(I), by striking the period and inserting ; or
; and
(C)by inserting
before the matter following subparagraph (I) the following:
(J)as a full-time employee in fire protection
activities, as described in section 3(y) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of
1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(y)), but including a full-time employee in fire protection
activities of a Federal department or agency (as well as an employee of a
State, municipality, county, or fire
district).
;
and
(2)in paragraph
(3)(A)(i), by striking or (I)
and inserting (I), or
(J)
.