Congressman Dan Goldman Introduces Legislation to Extend Student Loan Forgiveness to Volunteer Firefighters and First Responders

   

 

Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) introduced the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Student Debt (HEROES) Act of 2025, which would expand eligibility for loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program to include volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMTs.  

   

“Volunteer firefighters and EMTs risk their lives every day to keep us safe, yet they’re too often denied the recognition and support granted to other public servants,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “As the number of volunteer firefighters and EMTs continues to decline, we must prioritize the first responders who keep communities across our city, state, and country safe. Those who put their lives on the line deserve nothing less than the full support and resources afforded to all public servants.”

  

The Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) said, “One of the biggest challenges facing volunteer response agencies is the critical need to attract new members. Including volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program would be an effective addition to their recruitment toolbox. It would also assist them in retaining existing volunteers, who often work several jobs in addition to volunteering. We commend Congressman Goldman for recognizing the value of volunteer first responders and for his efforts to support them.”  

  

Volunteer firefighters are estimated to save localities across the country nearly 47 billion dollars annually. The HEROES Act would not only provide crucial support to our dedicated first responders but also help address staffing shortages by incentivizing more individuals to volunteer their time.  

  

Established to bolster recruitment and retention efforts in the public sector, the PSLF Program forgives borrowers’ student loans after they work for ten years in a qualifying public service and make 120 qualifying payments. Despite working in qualifying public services, however, volunteer EMTs and firefighters are currently excluded from the program. Nationwide, volunteer firefighters make up 65% of the firefighting force, with 19,000 fire stations relying on them exclusively.  

  

In addition to expanding coverage to volunteer firefighters and EMTs, the HEROES Act would require the Department of Education, which oversees the PSLF program, to outline minimum volunteer time requirements for eligibility and develop regulations for tracking and verifying volunteer time.  

  

Congressman Dan Goldman is committed to supporting first responders who dedicate their lives to the betterment of their communities.   

  

This past February, Congressman Goldman introduced the ‘9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act’ which would provide permanent and mandatory funding for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) and update an outdated funding formula to prevent a future funding shortfall, ensuring survivors and first responders don’t lose access to care.  

  

In February, Congressman Goldman introduced the ‘Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act,’ which would ensure the families of law enforcement officers who are killed as a result of their work on behalf of their communities are not unjustly denied benefits due to arbitrary retirement status restrictions. The legislation would amend the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program to ensure the families of fallen officers receive the benefits they deserve.