In a press release Senator Cam Bartolotta  and state Sen. Joe Pittman  proposed a grant program that would assist Volunteer Fire and EMS Companies. The bill would establish a “special one-time grant program” to help these companies survive the financial crisis brought on by the coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic.

“COVID-19 has severely restricted many of the ways that our volunteer first responders traditionally raise money, like boot drives and chicken barbecues,” Bartolotta said.

“The needs of these organizations are even greater now as they respond to the statewide public health emergency this virus has caused,” she said. “This program will ensure the men and women on the front lines in the battle against the coronavirus will continue to have the training, supplies and equipment they need to keep our communities — and themselves — safe.”

Under the bill, one-time grants would be provided to fire and EMS companies matching the ones that were previously approved by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the state fire commissioner for the 2019-20 fiscal year.

The bill would also allow fire and EMS companies that might have not applied for the original grant to do so. Funding for the $30 million grant program would come from federal stimulus money allocated to the state, the senators said.