South Queens, NY – Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-South Queens) spoke at a rally in Albany with well over 300 members of the FDNY and leaders of the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA) in Albany to encourage fellow legislators to support and pass her bill, A.5055. The bill aims to correct a portion of Tier III for members of the New York City Fire Department Pension Fund for those who previously served as an EMT with the FDNY in order to receive Fire Department Pension service credit for their service and have it apply to their pension. Currently, the law does not allow this, something which Pheffer Amato has been actively working to change.

“I introduced this bill to stand up for our City’s bravest, the men and women who respond to fire and emergencies to ensure they get parity and the respect they deserve. Our first responders deserve equity and fairness for their pension! The time is now to do the right thing and get this done,” said Pheffer Amato to a cheering crowd of first responders.

“This bill is common sense - our time is worthy of being counted and respected towards a full pension. We’re glad to have the Assemblywoman as a partner, a true champion for this bill and actively working to get this over the finish line. We are looking for equity, for fairness, like all first responders deserve- nothing more! Let’s get it done,” said Robert Eustace, Vice President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association.

After her comments, several members of the FDNY and the executive board of the UFA heavily praised Pheffer Amato for being a continued champion of first responders. The bill by Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato is A.5055 and is sponsored in the New York State Senate by Senator Andrew Gounardes with the same-as number S.4794.