[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 25, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H4128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          UNPAID LOCAL HEROES

  (Mr. EDWARDS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to point out how, once again, 
the Biden administration is failing America.
  When emergency strikes, who answers the call? Well, I can tell you in 
western North Carolina that it is usually the brave men and women who 
serve in our rural volunteer fire departments. It is these unpaid local 
heroes who save American lives and protect our property.
  Volunteer fire departments are struggling to keep up. Recruitment is 
down, call volume is up, and there is little money to replace old 
equipment. Now, to add insult to injury, OSHA is proposing a rule that 
will effectively obliterate these critical organizations serving the 
majority of America.
  This rule will add complex operating and reporting requirements, as 
well as costly and unrealistic equipment replacement requirements. The 
rule for these volunteer departments doesn't consider that they do not 
have the resources to continue to spend money on bureaucracy. Yet, this 
OSHA rule would be detrimental to American public safety and the 
volunteer fire model that serves us today. I urge the Biden 
administration to reconsider its proposal.

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