ST. PAUL, MN] – Today, Governor Walz signed Chapter 49, HF 2746 into law, a bill co-authored by Representative John Huot (DFL-Rosemount) which helps to ensure that Minnesota firefighters continue to have access to much-needed resources to protect their physical and mental health. Governor Walz signed the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program into law in July 2021, dedicating $4 million per year so that Minnesota firefighters have access to the education, prevention, and care to handle a cardiac, emotional trauma, or cancer diagnosis.
“Our firefighters are a critical component to our Emergency Medical Services response team in Minnesota,” said Rep. Huot. “The Hometown Heroes Assistance Program is about giving back to the selfless heroes who work hard to protect us every day. I was glad to support this bill to provide ongoing health assistance and resources our firefighters need and deserve.”
The Hometown Heroes Assistance Program is the most comprehensive in the nation of its kind, providing firefighters with free access to emotional trauma resources, up to $20,000 from critical illness insurance policies, and ongoing health and wellness training, including evidence-based suicide prevention strategies.
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