Walz Promotes SAVES Act to Ease Burden of Fuel Costs on Rural Firefighters
"U.S. House"08/14/2008
Walz Promotes SAVES Act to Ease Burden of Fuel Costs on Rural Firefighters
(St. Peter, MN) – Joined by fire chiefs from St. Peter, Henderson and Waseca, Congressman Walz today announced his support for HR 6461, the Supporting America's Volunteer Emergency Services Act of 2008, or SAVES Act which reimburses volunteer fire companies like St. Peter for part of their fuel costs.
Congressman Walz joined St. Peter Fire Chief Windy Block, Waseca Fire Chief Gary Conrath, New Ulm Fire Chief Paul Macho, and retired Henderson Fire Chief Tom Phillips Wednesday to discuss the effects of the rising cost of fuel on local volunteer fire companies.
"In rural areas like Nicollet, Brown and Waseca Counties, emergency response is very fuel-intensive and expensive," said Walz. "I applaud the courageous work of our rural fire departments and heroic service of our volunteer first responders. We cannot continue to expect local firefighters to absorb the costs of increasing gas and diesel. Our first responders are better off spending their time on training and emergency preparedness than on additional fundraising to cover skyrocketing the cost of fuel. That's why I support the SAVES Act which helps volunteer fire companies pay for the fuel to run their trucks."
"The additional funding from this bill will help offset the rising costs of petroleum which is something we have no control over," said St. Peter Fire Chief Windy Block. "Fuel is something we can't cut corners on- we must respond to emergencies despite the drastic increases in price."
"Beyond the SAVES Act to help volunteer fire companies pay for their fuel costs today, we need real comprehensive energy reform to make our country energy independent," said Walz. "That's why I joined the House Bipartisan Energy Working Group this summer and helped write an energy bill that address our short-, middle- and long-term energy needs by opening up the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, expanding off shore drilling, and plowing a trillion dollars of drilling royalties into renewable fuels research and conservation efforts over the next ten years. This kind of all-encompassing energy plan is long overdue."
There are 19,915 all-volunteer fire companies nationwide, servicing 22.6% of the U.S. population. While urban fire departments are funded by property taxes and other local government revenue, most volunteer fire companies rely heavily on fundraising efforts to finance basic operating needs including fuel costs, which have skyrocketed during the last year. Between June 2003 and June 2008, the Energy Information Administration reported the price of regular grade gas and diesel rose 171% and 229% respectively.
The SAVES Act would reimburse volunteer fire departments for 75% of the difference between what they pay for fuel today and the average price of fuel during 2007.
Fact sheets on HR 6709, the National Conservation, Environment, and Energy Independence Act and HR 6461, the Supporting America's Volunteer Emergency Services Act of 2008.