APCO Hails Senate Passage of the Enhancing First Response Act

Passage Marks Historic Progress in Campaign to Give Public Safety Telecommunicators the Recognition They Deserve

Alexandria, VA -APCO applauds today's historic passage of the Enhancing First Response Act (S.725) by the U.S. Senate. This legislation directs the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reclassify public safety telecommunicators as "protective service" occupations in the federal government's catalog of occupations, the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC), correcting their current miscategorization as "administrative/clerical" workers and recognizing the lifesaving nature of their work. This is the first time that reclassification legislation has passed a chamber of Congress.

"America's public safety telecommunicators are our 'first' first responders," said Mel Maier, CEO and executive director of APCO. "They answer our calls for help and engage in skilled real-time decision-making that save lives. The Enhancing First Response Act recognizes that these 9-1-1 professionals play an essential role in protecting our communities. We are grateful to Senators Klobuchar and Blackburn for their leadership and commitment to public safety. We thank the Senate for passing this important legislation and urge the House to act so that public safety telecommunicators get the recognition they deserve."

Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the bipartisan Enhancing First Response Act (S.725) in the Senate. The legislation was co-sponsored by Senators Martin Heinrich (D-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Edward Markey (D-MA), Ted Budd (R-NC), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), John Thune (R- SD), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).

Earlier this year, Representatives Norma Torres (D-CA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) reintroduced the Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services Act (911 SAVES Act, H.R. 637) in the U.S. House, which mirrors the reclassification language in the Enhancing First Response Act. APCO will continue working with Congress to advance reclassification legislation, including aligning House and Senate efforts to promote passage of this important measure.