The dwindling ranks of first responder volunteers would be boosted if those giving up their time were eligible for student loan forgiveness, according to a Democratic congressman.
New York Representative Dan Goldman has authored a bill allowing volunteer firefighters and EMTs to obtain federal student loan forgiveness after meeting certain criteria. He is calling the bill the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Student Debt (HEROES) Act of 2025.
Newsweek reached out to Goldman via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Volunteer firefighters account for 65 percent of all crews across the United States. Of all the fire departments registered in the U.S., 69.8 percent are wholly volunteer outfits, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Just 9.6 percent were listed as career departments, with the others containing a mix of staff; 15.5 percent were “mostly volunteer,” while 5.1 percent were “mostly career.”
But the number of volunteers has been steadily declining in a worrying national trend.
Goldman hopes his HEROES Act loan forgiveness plan, if passed, will encourage more people to sign up as volunteers and stay with it long-term.
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What To Know
Some 90.7 percent of fire departments in New York are defined as volunteer departments, with just 4.2 percent listed as career departments by the U.S. Fire Administration. The remaining percentage comprises departments that say they are a mix of the two.
But fewer people are signing up as firefighter volunteers. New York State Assemblyman Bill Conrad told the BBC last year that since the late 1990s, “we’ve seen a 32 percent decrease in the amount of volunteering. It’s a state-wide problem, and what’s also shocking is that the amount of calls has gone up 29 percent.”
John D’Alessandro, a volunteer firefighter in Saratoga County and the secretary of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, told Spectrum News 1 that there were around 120,000 volunteers across the state 20 years ago, whereas today that number stands at just 80,000. This is despite the increasing volume of calls, he said.
Goldman’s bill seeks to expand the existing Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which already offers student loan forgiveness to various public service employees, such as career firefighters.
But he believes volunteers who do the work for free across the U.S. should enjoy similar benefits after they’ve provided a decade of service and 120 qualifying payments.
He told Spectrum News 1: “This would both recognize [volunteers’] public service by giving them a benefit that other public service officials get. It would also help recruit and retain volunteer firefighters so that the smaller fire departments that rely on them have enough people to deal with emergencies when they pop up.”
A cost estimate has not yet been revealed.
D’Alessandro, who supports Goldman’s bill, argues it would actually represent value for money in the Empire State by investing in the volunteers who save New York taxpayers “$3.8 billion a year just in salaries and benefits alone.”
The student loan forgiveness plan is already available to millions of people, including veterans and serving members of the military.
What People Are Saying
Congressman Dan Goldman, in a statement: “Volunteer firefighters and EMTs risk their lives every day to keep us safe, yet they’re too often denied the recognition and support granted to other public servants. As the number of volunteer firefighters and EMTs continues to decline, we must prioritize the first responders who keep communities across our city, state, and country safe. Those who put their lives on the line deserve nothing less than the full support and resources afforded to all public servants.”
A spokesperson for the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY), in a statement: “One of the biggest challenges facing volunteer response agencies is the critical need to attract new members. Including volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program would be an effective addition to their recruitment toolbox. It would also assist them in retaining existing volunteers, who often work several jobs in addition to volunteering. We commend Congressman Goldman for recognizing the value of volunteer first responders and for his efforts to support them.”
What Happens Next
The bill is currently in the earliest stages on Capitol Hill and is now set to wind its way through the legislative process as lawmakers debate whether to implement the proposals.
