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Senators Receive Report on Status of Emergency
Services
Legislators Detail Agenda for Helping Pennsylvania’s First
Responders
HARRISBURG -- Recognizing
the major issues facing Pennsylvania’s firefighters and ambulance services, the
Senate is poised to consider recommendations made by a bi-partisan commission
established last year to study emergency services across the Commonwealth.
Senator Don White
(R-Indiana), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and Emergency
Preparedness, was joined by Senator Mike Waugh (R-York) for a news conference
today to formally accept the report and to discuss the Senate agenda for
addressing the Commission’s recommendations.
The 25 member Commission,
chaired by Dr. William F. Jenaway, CFPS, CFO, was established under the
provisions of Senate Resolution 60 of 2003, a measure introduced by Senator
Waugh. Senator Waugh served on the SR 60 Commission.
“The Commission had a
daunting task in attempting to compile a report that comprehensively detailed
the issues facing emergency services providers across the Commonwealth,” Senator
White said. “Recognizing that, the Commission wisely focused on specific
concerns such as recruitment and delivery of services, issues that seemed to be
most common among fire departments and ambulance corps across the state.
Through that focus, the Commission developed a set of recommendations that will
serve us well as the first step toward providing needed assistance to
Pennsylvania’s emergency service providers.”
As part of Tuesday’s press
conference, Senator White officially recognized the members of the Senate
Resolution 60 Commission and commended the group for its efforts. After the
formal recognition ceremony, Senator Waugh detailed the Senate outline for
acting on the Commission’s recommendations.
“We are looking at three main
focus areas: existing systems; existing funding programs; and future
innovations,” said Senator Waugh, a former volunteer firefighter who serves as
Chairman of the Senate Fire and Emergency Service Caucus. “The SR 60 Commission
provided us with guidelines by which we can look at those areas of interest and
develop legislation that provides the maximum benefits to Pennsylvania’s
firefighters and emergency medical service providers.”
Video & Audio Clips:
 
Sen. Don White
Sen. Mike Waugh
Chart
Sen. Don White and Sen. Mike
Waugh speak at a Feb.
15 news conference in the Capitol Media Center regarding
major issues facing
Pennsylvania’s firefighters and ambulance services, including recommendations made by a bi-partisan commission established
last year to study emergency services across the Commonwealth.
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