November 8, 2005
ROMNEY APPROVES DEATH BENEFIT FOR MCNAMARA FAMILY
Legislation makes sure volunteer firefighters are now covered in the event of tragedy
LANCASTER - Governor Mitt Romney today signed legislation that provides a $650,000 annuity to the family of fallen firefighter Martin H. McNamara V and requires cities and towns to provide death benefits to the families of volunteer or part-time public safety officers who lose their lives in the line of duty.
“Each day in the Commonwealth, thousands of part-time or volunteer public safety personnel stand at the ready, willing to risk their own health and safety to save a life,” said Romney. “They are heroes, and we want to recognize their commitment by offering support to their families should the unthinkable occur.”
Martin McNamara died while fighting an apartment fire in Lancaster in 2003. His status as a call firefighter prevented his wife, Claire, and their three children from receiving survivors’ benefits.
Earlier this year, with the support of the local legislative delegation, Romney proposed a $650,000 transfer to the state pension fund to pay for the cost of an annuity for the McNamara family. At the same time, Romney proposed making death benefits available to the families of volunteer and part-time first responders who die on the job.
“This bill recognizes my husband’s heroic effort, and I am honored that it will be named after him,” said Claire McNamara. “I am thankful to Governor Romney for stepping up and for his commitment to my husband, our three beautiful children and to the fire services. It makes me very proud that Marty’s unsung bravery will not be forgotten.”
About half of the Commonwealth’s 20,000 firefighters operate on a call or part-time basis. Since 1980, seven such firefighters have died in the line of duty.
“Today’s event marks a new day for the volunteer firefighters and their families in Massachusetts,” said Senator Robert A. Antonioni. “I want to commend Governor Romney, Senate President Travaglini and Speaker DiMasi for their leadership in collectively making a strong statement about how much we as lawmakers value those volunteers who put their lives on the line every single day.”
In addition to providing benefits for the McNamara family, the new law offers three ways for cities and towns to offer death benefits to volunteer or part-time public safety officers who die while in the performance of their duty. Municipalities may enter into agreements to pool resources to fund the cost of benefits.
“I am very proud to see that both houses of the Legislature and the Executive Branch have stood up to take care of the McNamara family and to protect the families of our state’s volunteer public safety officers,” said Representative James B. Eldridge. “With the signing of the McNamara bill, this tragedy will be prevented from happening again.”
Communities may choose one of three options to provide benefits to survivors: they may purchase an annuity; pay for an insurance policy that provides a one-time benefit of $500,000; or purchase an insurance policy that would cover the cost an annuity to benefit the family of the deceased.
“I am thrilled to see this legislation being signed into law,” said Senator Stephen M. Brewer. “It is high time that we provide to the McNamara family and volunteer firefighters the same benefits as the professional firefighters.”
“Marty’s memory will live on in this legislation, and in the lives of his children and his brother and sister firefighters from around our great state, I am heartened that in some small way we can provide for our call and volunteer firefighters in the future through this legislation,” said Representative Harold P. Naughton in a statement released by his office. Naughton is currently serving with the United States Army in the Persian Gulf.
“I remember vividly the night that I responded to the tragic Lancaster fire that claimed the life of Marty McNamara,” said State Fire Marshall Stephen D. Coan. “While there can never be a silver lining when a life of a firefighter is lost in the line of duty, it is comforting to the families of call and volunteer firefighters across the state to know that from this day forward, if a similar tragedy occurs, the community will protect the firefighter’s family.”
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