Senator Chuck Schumer is fighting to bring back federal benefits for volunteer firefighters.
Schumer is introducing two bills in the Senate that would help recruit new volunteers and retain existing ones. One would exclude state and local property tax benefits from firefighters' federal income tax, as well as $600 of any other benefit. The other would revamp length of service award programs, which are like pensions for volunteers based on years of service. Similar benefits expired back in 2010.
