WASHINGTON — Today, the House passed H.R. 33, the Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act, introduced by Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), which would ensure that emergency-service volunteers are not counted as full-time employees under Obamacare's employer mandate. Upon passage, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) issued the following statement.

"Thousands of communities rely on volunteer firefighters, and Obamacare's employer mandate could turn their lives upside down. This bill makes it clear these volunteer firefighters are exempt; it gives them the certainty they deserve. And it’s one more step by the House to protect as many people as possible from the burdens of Obamacare."

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