Representatives Torres & Fitzpatrick Reintroduce Bipartisan 9-1-1 SAVES Act to Reclassify 9-1-1 Dispatchers as First Responders
Washington, D.C. — Representatives Norma J. Torres (CA-35) – the first former 9-1-1 dispatcher to serve in Congress – and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) – a former FBI Special Agent and federal prosecutor – announced the reintroduction of the bipartisan 9-1-1 Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services (SAVES) Act. 9-1-1 dispatchers are currently not classified as first responders, though other professions like school crossing guards are. At zero cost to American taxpayers, the 9-1-1 SAVES Act reclassifies 9-1-1 dispatchers as first responders and recognizes America's over 100,000 9-1-1 professionals for their work to save lives. The bipartisan bill has the support of fire, police, 9-1-1, and public safety organizations across the United States.
“When Americans are experiencing the worst, most life-threatening moments of their lives, 9-1-1 dispatchers answer the call – they are true first responders,” said Congresswoman Torres. “My 9-1-1 SAVES Act provides a simple fix to reclassify 9-1-1 professionals as first responders and honor these brave men and women for their work. As a former 9-1-1 dispatcher for over 17 years, I know this small change would mean a great deal to dispatchers and urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us in finally giving 9-1-1 professionals the recognition they earn every day."
"Public Safety telecommunicators play a critical role in emergency response as the initial first responder in any crisis situation," said Congressman Fitzpatrick. "The thousands of operators and dispatchers work tirelessly everyday to coordinate public safety, police, fire, and ambulance units and to keep our communities safe. I am grateful to join Congresswoman Torres on this bipartisan bill to ensure that they are properly classified as responding officers."
“911 operators are among our most essential first responders. They do far more than answer 911 calls to set emergency response in motion or passively receive information. They provide assistance, guidance, and life-saving advice to 911 callers, and they actively plan, coordinate, and direct the response activities of emergency personnel,” said Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Unfortunately, though the job of 911 operators has evolved in the digital age, their job classification is stuck in the analog age. I applaud this bipartisan effort by Reps. Torres and Fitzpatrick to update the classification of these public safety telecommunicators, and I look forward to continuing working together on this issue—and utilizing all the tools we have available at the FCC—to get our nation’s 911 operators the respect and recognition they deserve.”
“The federal classification of 9-1-1 professionals has been wrong for decades, characterizing their work as ‘clerical’ rather than ‘protective,’ which is an obvious error and injustice to anyone who understands emergency response. APCO appreciates Congresswoman Torres, Congressman Fitzpatrick, and our many other supporters for their dedication to correcting the classification. This is a common-sense change that would recognize the protective, lifesaving nature of 9-1-1 professionals’ work, and APCO looks forward to the day that the classification is fixed,” said Becky Neugent, 9-1-1 Director for Autauga 9-1-1 (Prattsville, AL) and President of APCO International.
“We applaud Rep. Torres for her persistence on this issue, which is of great importance to 9-1-1 professionals nationwide. We ask all members of Congress to cosponsor and support this measure and to work for greater respect and support of the unsung heroes of public safety, America’s 9-1-1- professionals,” said Brian Fontes, NENA CEO.
“The federal government currently classifies 911 professionals as a “clerical” function. This classification is grossly inaccurate and demoralizes both the workforce specifically and the industry more broadly. 911 professionals are managing incredibly stressful situations, giving lifesaving instructions, using a vast amount of technology, and managing complex public safety units in the field. The University of Chicago Health Lab and all of our partners through the multidisciplinary Transform911 coalition applaud the reintroduction of the 911 SAVES Act in its efforts to reclassify and recognize 911 professionals as our nation’s first first responders,” said S. Rebecca Neusteter, Executive Director, University of Chicago Health Lab and Principal Investigator, Transform911.
The bipartisan 9-1-1 SAVES Act is co-sponsored by over 40 Members of Congress, including Colin Allred (TX-32), Ami Bera (CA-06), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Sean Casten (IL-06), Lou Correa (CA-46), Angie Craig (MN-02), Sharice Davids (KA-03), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Bill Foster (IL-11), H. Morgan Griffith (VA-09), John James (MI-10), Robin L. Kelly (IL-02), Dereck Kilmer (WA-06), Ro Khanna (CA-17), David Kustoff (TN-08), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Lucy McBath (GA-07), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Grace F. Napolitano (CA-31), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-00), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), John Rutherford (FL-05), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Adam Smith (WA-09), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), William Timmons (SC-04), Glenn Thompson (PA-15), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), David Trone (MD-06), Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), Susan Wild (PA-07), Nikema Natassha Williams (GA-05), and Robert J Wittman (VA-01).
The bill is endorsed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials- International (APCO), Chino Police Department, National Emergency Number Association (NENA), International Association of Fire Fighters, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Crime Prevention Council, Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), Massachusetts Communications Supervisors Association, Tennessee Emergency Number Association, International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, National Association of State 911 Administrators, and University of Chicago Health Lab: Transform911.
The full text of the 9-1-1 SAVES Act can be found here.
The bill’s summary is available here.
Click here to watch the reintroduction of the 9-1-1 SAVES Act.