Thread by @IAFFLeg

Before heading into the New Year, a #tbt post looking back on the last year of advocacy & hard work even in the midst of the #Pandemic to some of the major 2021 Legislative wins- a thread (1/14)

At the start of 2021 @POTUS signed EO to create a #COVID19 response coordinator to manage pandemic, including production, supply & distribution of PPE, vaccines & test – FFs need PPE, vaccination & testing priority (2/14)

Another @POTUS EO was signed to review & take action on regulations of chemicals under Toxic Substances Control Act – FFs are at higher risk of exposure to harmful chemicals due to the nature of their work, improved standards help protect FFs (3/14)

As a result of #IAFF lobbying, the @FCC issued a stay order to preserve the 4.9GHz from privatization, keeping it for use for public safety (4/14)

Advocacy from the #IAFF pushed for @CMS to reimburse ambulance suppliers (including Fire Depts.) who treat payments without transport during this #pandemic (5/14)

Heavy lobbying from #IAFF got a number of wins in the #AmericanRescuePlan (ARP) – fed FFs who previously had #COVID19 workers’ compensation claims denied, will be reviewed under new requirements (6/14)

Also in ARP, 300 million for FF grants, 195.3 billion for state & local funding to prevent & reverse layoffs - Treasury Dept. created guidance for state & local fund use to restore staffing to pre-pandemic levels, payroll, replacing lost revenue & premium pay (7/14)

ARP also allocated 80 million for mental & behavioral support for FFs, paid FMLA leave for federal FFs & #COVID19 worker’s comp presumption for fed FFs & 50 billion for disaster relief fund (8/14)

Virtual Legislative Conference held educating & advocating for key FF priorities like collective bargaining, federal FF presumptive benefits & early Medicare buy in to FFs who must retire early due to the nature of their work (9/14)

#IAFF lobbied OSHA to release emergency temporary standards for #COVID to protect emergency responders (10/14)

#IAFF lobbied the Dept. of Education to reform Public Student Loan Forgiveness program, helping FFs with student loans. New changes allow enrolled, denied, or those never entered in program to have retroactive payments counted & new broad definition of payment applied (11/14)

PSOB improvements signed into law – new improvements make it easier for disabled to get benefits, all children of FFs killed get benefits, benefits are extended to cadets & extends the #COVID19 presumption for 2 more years (12/14)

Huge Bi-partisan infrastructure bill signed into law that includes money to fund vital hazmat training for fire fighters (13/14)

Nation Defense Authorization Act includes paid leave for federal fire fighters & trade time benefits for federal fire fighters #firefightersfirst (14/14)

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