[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 158 (Wednesday, November 10, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2343]]
             CLARIFYING OVERTIME EXEMPTION FOR FIREFIGHTERS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. CURT WELDON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 4, 1999

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of this legislation. I commend the gentleman from Maryland for 
introducing this bill, and as a former firefighter, appreciate his 
initiatives to help the firefighters of our nation.
  This bill would clarify the overtime exemption for full time 
firefighters and EMS personnel. This would apply to all firefighters, 
paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMS), rescue workers, 
ambulance personnel, and hazardous materials workers who are employed 
by a municipality, county, fire district, or state fire department. As 
the founder of the Congressional Fire and Emergency Services Caucus, 
and one who has continually kept informed on these issues, I realize 
the importance of this bill. By giving these men and women the 
opportunity to be treated fairly in the workplace, we are recognizing 
that firefighters and EMS personnel are employees that deserve overtime 
for their valiant efforts. These individuals are professionally trained 
in fire suppression, and work to keep our communities safe.
  Every day across America the story is the same: public officers--be 
they firefighters, emergency services personnel, or law enforcement 
officials--leave their families to join the thin red and blue line that 
protects us from harm. They put their lives on the line as a shield 
between death and the precious gift of life. Mr. Speaker, I know the 
dedication of our men and women in the fire community, and know the 
risks they take each day they do their job.
  As we all know, recent Court rulings have stated the EMS personnel do 
not qualify for the overtime exemption in the Fair Labor Standards Act 
because the bulk of their time is spent doing non-fire protection 
activities. This is absurd. During working hours, these men and women 
sit on alert for the calls that come in, and spend their time working 
on their fire stations. This legislation is long overdue, and I believe 
that we are taking the right steps by granting our firefighters this 
overtime status.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Maryland for 
introducing this important piece of legislation, and I look forward to 
working with him again on other fire related issues.

                          ____________________