IAFC Supports HERO Act Passed by US House of Representatives

Based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Richard Shannon Draper draws upon his nearly 20 years of experience in fire safety to provide critical education in his role as a fire service instructor with Bucks County Community College. In addition to his education work, Richard Shannon Draper belongs to the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).

In the fall of 2020, the IAFC came out in support of the HERO Act, a new piece of legislation passed by the US House of Representatives that will provide vital support to firefighters and EMS professionals. The bill outlines mental health initiatives that will not only provide support to these first responders, but also ensure adequate training for mental health care workers about the specific challenges these professionals face, both while actively working and after retirement. California Democrat Ami Bera sponsored the legislation, and 89 other representatives served as co-sponsors.

In his comments, IAFC president and board chairman Chief Richard Carrizzo extended his gratitude to the US House of Representatives for passing the legislation. He also called upon the US Senate to take up the measure and pass it so it can be signed by the US President and enacted into law.