Senator Bynoe Stands Up for First Responders in State Budget Proposal

(Albany, NY) Throughout this year’s budget negotiations, freshman Senator Siela A. Bynoe (SD-6) has advocated strongly for increased resources and greater protections for first responders. At a time when these frontline workers are being asked to do more and more, it is essential that they are backed up with State dollars. Senator Bynoe proudly voted for the inclusion of key priorities in the Senate One House Budget proposal, which outlined the greatest area of need in order to keep emergency services solvent. This included:

Banning Harmful PFAS from Firefighter Gear: The Senate One House proposal included steps to ban PFAS from firefighter gear, and extension of previous Senate action to remove these carcinogenic forever chemicals from our daily lives, particularly for those that risk their lives for others.

Investing in our Firefighters: This budget proposal adds $800,000 total for the New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association (NYSPFFA), which includes a restoration of $750,000, and restores $250,000 total for the Firemen's Association of the State of New York (FASNY). These resources will help firefighters throughout our communities better respond in times of need.

Investing in Emergency Response Equipment: The Senate’s One House also includes an additional $10 million in Volunteer Fire Infrastructure Response Equipment (V-FIRE) for a total of $35 million. These are crucial dollars that go towards making sure firehouses are able to upgrade their infrastructure and meet regulations and provide proper PPE equipment to volunteers.

Keeping EMS Services Viable: The Senate advanced a crucial proposal to keep EMS financially solvent when providing services, ensuring they remain a sustainable resource for our communities.

Senator Bynoe said, “New Yorkers call 911 because they need help, and as Nassau’s representative, I want to make sure they get it. Keeping our emergency services well-funded and resourced is a basic necessity. I was proud to vote for a Senate budget proposal that invests money towards our professional and volunteer firefighters, prioritizes infrastructural investments to keep firehouses and PPE upgraded, and ensures EMS can continue to sustain the services they provide. As budget negotiations progress, I will continue to fight for our first responders and make sure we have the tools we need to keep people safe.”

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