John, Pennsylvania’s firefighters represent the very best of our Commonwealth. These brave men and women literally run into burning buildings to keep our families and our communities safe. And when an arsonist attacked the Governor’s Residence, my family and I witnessed their bravery and professionalism firsthand.

Every day, Pennsylvania’s firefighters have our backs. We need to have theirs too.

Since I took office, we’ve awarded over $31 million in total to over 2,000 fire companies across Pennsylvania. That’s a good start, John. But they deserve even more. That’s why in my budget, fire departments would receive an additional $30 million in grants to help them purchase life-saving equipment, recruit and retain firefighters, and meet their unique local needs. In addition, my budget calls for covering annual cancer screenings for firefighters, in recognition of the serious health risks they face on the job.

Throughout my career, I’ve always been proud to stand by our firefighters, John. Even as they respond to an increasing number of calls for help, our Commonwealth’s firefighters have always risen to the challenge. Now, it’s our job to make sure they have the resources they need to continue their work protecting families and communities across Pennsylvania.

Right now, firefighters are stretched too thin — but with your help, we can get this budget across the finish line and deliver much-needed support to brave firefighters all across our Commonwealth. With that said, will you sign your name to my new petition to show your support for Pennsylvania’s firefighters?

Thank you,

Josh Shapiro