[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 107 (Thursday, July 16, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


RE-INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO GRANT FEDERAL FIREFIGHTERS ``TRADE TIME''

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                         HON. JOHN P. SARBANES

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 16, 2009

  Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to re-introduce legislation 
from the 110th Congress 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 country 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. I am introducing 
this bill to amend Federal employee labor law to fix this problem.
  Federal firefighters work side-by-side with their non-federal 
colleagues, so this is an issue of equity. Correcting this inequity 
will 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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