Atlantic County Times

Washington, DC - This week, Congressman Van Drew unveiled the Public Safety Free Speech Act, aimed at safeguarding the First Amendment rights of public safety officers. The proposed legislation seeks to ensure that individuals in the public safety sector, including firefighters, emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, and police officers, can freely express their concerns without fear of retribution.

"During the COVID-19 pandemic we saw so many first responders, healthcare workers, and law enforcement lose their jobs over opinions on vaccine and mask mandates while they were off duty," Congressman Van Drew stated, highlighting the necessity of protecting the rights of these essential workers. He further emphasized, "Even beyond pandemic policies, there have been too many examples of first responders being reprimanded for off duty comments on topics such as staffing, wages, or administrative requirements."

The bill proposes safeguards against wrongful termination or adverse employment actions for public safety officers who speak out about job-related issues such as staffing, wages, and safety protections. It aims to prevent situations where individuals face repercussions for expressing their opinions while off-duty, especially in critical matters concerning their profession.

If passed, the legislation would enable covered employees to pursue legal recourse against employers who violate the provisions outlined in the Public Safety Free Speech Act. The bill's introduction comes in response to instances where first responders faced repercussions for advocating for workplace policies during the pandemic, underscoring the need to protect their livelihoods and rights to free speech.

The Public Safety Free Speech Act has garnered support from prominent organizations within the public safety sector, including the International Association of Firefighters, the National Association of Police Organizations, the New Jersey Retired Police and Fireman's Association, the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Association, and the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey.

For further details on the bill and its provisions, interested parties can access the full text by clicking here.