[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 118 (Thursday, July 17, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INCLUDE FIREFIGHTERS IN THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT

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                         HON. JOHN P. SARBANES

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 17, 2008

  Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation 
that would correct a longstanding disparity between professional 
firefighters who are employed by States, counties, or municipalities 
and Federal firefighters.
  In 1985, Congress amended the Fair Labor Standards Act so that 
firefighters around the country could engage in a practice called 
``trade time.'' Trade time allows two firefighters, solely at their 
option and with the approval of their supervisor, to switch shifts 
without affecting the pay rate of either firefighter. The Congress made 
this change because firefighters work uncommon schedules involving 24 
hour shifts and 72 hour work weeks, followed by a period of time away 
from the firehouse. Trade time enables firefighters to meet personal 
obligations such as attending a child's birthday or assisting a sick 
family member without exhausting their annual leave. It also ensures 
that firehouses across the county can maintain staffing requirements 
and keep our communities safe.
  Federal firefighters are not covered under the Fair Labor Standards 
Act and therefore have been ineligible for trade time. The legislation 
I am introducing today amends Federal employee labor law to fix this 
problem.
  Federal firefighters work side-by-side with their non-federal 
colleagues, so this is fundamentally an issue of equity. It will also 
help Federal agencies recruit and retain firefighters. Just like other 
firefighters, Federal firefighters risk their lives on a daily basis. 
They also accept the irregular hours that their jobs require. This 
legislation merely gives them some modest flexibility to balance that 
irregularity and meet their family obligations.
  I hope my colleagues will support this simple but overdue 
legislation.

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