Washington, DC - Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, applauded the reintroduction of H. R. 3170/S. 1514, the “Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act.” Senator Marco A. Rubio (R-FL) introduced the Senate bill with Senators Sherrod C. Brown (D-OH), T. Jonathan Ossoff (D-GA), and four other original cosponsors. The House version of the bill was introduced by Representatives John H. Rutherford (R-FL) and Bonnie M. Watson Coleman (D-NJ).

“Our nation’s public safety officers deserve to have access to affordable housing options,” Yoes remarked. “This bill will give the men and women of law enforcement, who work tirelessly every day to protect our communities, more opportunities to find homes they can afford on a public servant’s salary.”

The legislation creates a home loan benefits program, based on the popular and successful U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs program, for first-time homebuyers who are emergency responders or educators.

“It really is a commonsense bill,” Yoes said. “The legislation will establish a program that assists officers who are purchasing their first homes, fostering stronger connections to the communities they serve, by offering a wider range of affordable housing options. The FOP is grateful to these members of Congress for their leadership and support of this bill, and we look forward to helping them get it to the President to be signed into law.”