Larson-Led Tax Benefit for Volunteer First Responders Passes Committee in SECURE Act

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Ways and Means Committee marked-up the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up For Retirement Enhancement) Act of 2019 and reported it favorably out of committee. The SECURE Act expands options for Americans to increase their retirement savings and expands the portability options for different retirement plans. Included in the Act was Larson's Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act of 2019 (VRIPA), a bipartisan bill that would exempt from taxation the benefits volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel receive from their communities.

"Retirement security isn't a Republican or Democratic issue, it's an American issue. I am proud that we were able to work bipartisanly to enhance the options available to Americans to achieve a secure retirement. Private retirement options are just one leg of the stool for retirement security, that's why I'm also working to enhance, another leg, Social Security with the Social Security 2100 Act, which would expand benefits and ensure the program will remain solvent for future generations," said Larson.

"Additionally, I am thrilled that the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act of 2019 (VRIPA) was included in the SECURE Act. Our brave volunteer first-responders put their lives on the line to protect and save others in their communities every single time they respond to a call. VRIPA will ensure they aren't forced to pay federal taxes on the small tokens of gratitude their communities bestow in return. This commonsense, bipartisan legislation will ease the burden placed upon our volunteer first responders who already sacrifice so much."

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