Baldwin leads bipartisan bill to lower housing costs for volunteer firefighters

MADISON (WKOW) — U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., introduced bipartisan legislation Wednesday to lower housing costs for volunteer firefighters and first responders.

The Volunteer First Responder Housing Act aims to help recruit and retain more volunteer first responders, especially in rural and underserved communities. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 65% of firefighters nationwide are volunteers.

"Our volunteer first responders risk their lives every single day to protect their communities from fires, accidents, natural disasters, and so much more – all out of the goodness of their hearts and commitment to their communities," Baldwin said in a statement. "We need to be doing more to support these folks, grow this workforce, and keep our communities safe."...

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Leo's notes: The proposal highlights an often-overlooked connection between housing and community resilience. Many rural communities depend on volunteer firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders, yet housing shortages can make it difficult to recruit and retain these critical volunteers. Policies that align housing affordability with workforce and public safety needs recognize that housing is more than an economic issue—it is foundational infrastructure that supports the services communities rely on every day.

Ken Notes: I understand focusing on a vertical market to acquire votes - BUT what about teachers and nurses - not to mention service and retail workers. We are advocating for all of these not to mention the Barista that makes your coffee...