Proposed bill would help Covid-19 first responders

East Rockaway Fire Department Chief Ronald Roeill

Courtesy ERFD

State Sen. Todd Kaminsky

Courtesy State Sen. Todd Kaminsky

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A push has been made for legislation that would help health care workers and volunteer first responders who served on the front lines during the Covid-19 pandemic repay their student loan debt.

If passed into law, the bill would establish a grant program and disburse awards up to $100,000 for eligible front-line workers to repay student loans and other educational expenses.  The proposed legislation was sponsored by State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat from Long Beach, in the Senate and Assemblyman Fred Thiele, an Independent from Sag Harbor, in the Assembly.

East Rockaway Fire Chief Ronald Roeill said he was grateful for the proposed legislation, which was sponsored by State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat from Long Beach, in the Senate and Assemblyman Fred Thiele, an Independent from Sag Harbor, in the Assembly.

“This bill will be a great way to thank the brave men and women who volunteer their time and risk their lives day in and day out to protect our village as members of the East Rockaway Fire Department,” Roeill said, according to a news release. “We applaud Senator Kaminsky for sponsoring this legislation, which is an apropos way to thank the heroic first responders who have served our community with distinction before and during this pandemic — and who will continue to do so for generations to come.”

Under the bill, physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and volunteer firefighters who served in response to the Covid-19 pandemic would be eligible for the student loan grant program, which would be administered by the state’s Department of Health, in collaboration with the State Education Department and the state’s Higher Education Services Corporation.

“The least we can do for our doctors, nurses, EMTs and volunteer firefighters who risked their lives on the front lines during this pandemic is to help defray the costs of their education,” Kaminsky said. “My bill will provide grants for our health care heroes and volunteer first responders to help them repay their student loans.”