Text of Senate Amendment 4358

Text of Senate Amendment 4358

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 42 (Thursday, March 5, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 42 (Thursday, March 5, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S897] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 4358. Ms. BALDWIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 6644, a bill to increase the supply of housing in America, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: SEC. ___. VOLUNTEER FIRST RESPONDER HOUSING. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Bona fide volunteer; eligible employer; qualified services.--The terms ``bona fide volunteer'', ``eligible employer'', and ``qualified services'' have the meanings given those terms in section 457(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the meaning given the term ``Indian tribe'' in section 501(b) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471(b)). (3) Qualified volunteer first responder.--The term ``qualified volunteer first responder'' means any individual who-- (A) is a bona fide volunteer performing qualified services for an eligible employer; (B) continuously served as a volunteer for the eligible employer during the 2-year period preceding the date on which the individual submits a verification letter under subsection (b)(2) or (c)(2); (C) during each of the 2 years described in subparagraph (B)-- (i) met the minimum requirements for active membership established by the eligible employer; or (ii) if the eligible employer did not establish minimum requirements, volunteered for not less than 200 hours; and (D) is certified as a firefighter or other first responder in the State, political subdivision of a State, or jurisdiction of an Indian Tribe in which the individual is serving as volunteer. (b) Department of Agriculture Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program.-- (1) In general.--A qualified volunteer first responder who submits to the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this subsection as the ``Secretary'') a verification letter in accordance with paragraph (2) shall be eligible for a deduction in annual income under section 3555.152(c) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation), in the amount of $18,000. (2) Verification letter.--To be eligible for a deduction under paragraph (1), a qualified volunteer first responder shall submit to the Secretary a verification letter from the head of the eligible employer for which the qualified volunteer first responder volunteers, which shall-- (A) include the date on which the qualified volunteer first responder joined the eligible employer as a volunteer; (B) attest to the Secretary that the qualified volunteer first responder meets the requirements under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection (a)(3); and (C) include a copy of the certification described in subsection (a)(3)(D). (c) Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program and Similar Programs.-- (1) Eligibility.--A qualified volunteer first responder who submits to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (referred to in this subsection as the ``Secretary'') a verification letter in accordance with paragraph (2) shall qualify as a firefighter or emergency medical technician for purposes of any single family property disposition program carried out by the Secretary by regulation under section 204(g) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1710(g)) that offers discounted home prices to firefighters or emergency medical technicians. (2) Verification letter.--To qualify to purchase a home under a single family property disposition program referred to in paragraph (1), a qualified first responder shall submit to the Secretary a verification letter from the head of the eligible employer for which the qualified volunteer first responder volunteers, which shall-- (A) include the date on which the qualified volunteer first responder joined the eligible employer as a volunteer; (B) attest to the Secretary that the qualified volunteer first responder meets the requirements under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection (a)(3); (C) include a copy of the certification described in subsection (a)(3)(D); and (D) include a certification from the qualified volunteer first responder of the responder's good faith intention to continue serving as a volunteer for the eligible employer for not less than 1 year following the date of closing. ______