Congressman Chuck Edwards of North Carolina helps write legislation to protect WNC firefighters’ retirement plans

Below is a press release from North Carolina U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards.

U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) helped write H.R. 5241 as a solution to protect access to government pension plans for firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics in Western North Carolina and across the country.

Federal law currently prohibits first responders who are employed full-time by nonprofit departments to access state pension plans despite the fact that they provide the same emergency services as first responders employed by municipalities. This issue is the top concern that Congressman Edwards has heard from firefighters and other emergency medical service workers throughout North Carolina’s 11th district.

H.R. 5241 will amend the current tax code to clarify that full-time first responders working for nonprofit departments can join their state retirement system.

Edwards said, “North Carolina’s firefighters and EMS heroes who are employed full-time by non-profit departments put their lives on the line every single day for our communities. It is past time for these brave men and women to be able to access secure retirement benefits through the state pension system.”