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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 27, 2017 02:09 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Chris Sainato |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | First Responder Loan Forgiveness Program |
| In the near future, I will introduce legislation that provides loan forgiveness to Pennsylvania's first responders. Our first responders answer emergency calls and save lives, often without giving it a second thought. Unfortunately, finding and keeping first responders is becoming more difficult, especially for our volunteer fire departments. My legislation creates the First Responder Loan Forgiveness Program, which offers qualified applicants up to $16,000 in student loan forgiveness. In order to qualify, applicants must be an active and certified first responder, and must be enrolled in an approved program of education. The number of volunteer fire fighters alone has dropped from approximately 300,000 in the 1970's to an estimated 50,000. Much like the nursing shortage in the 1990's, I believe that student loan forgiveness for Pennsylvania's first responders will serve as a proverbial "tool in the toolbox" to help attract and maintain more individuals to this calling. Please join me in co-sponsoring this very important legislation. |
Introduced as HB1224