At age 54, with several years of service in public safety, many as a firefighter/EMT, my life’s work has been rooted in keeping our communities safe, secure and supported. I know what it means to answer the call when families are facing their worst moments.

Sen. Susan Collins’ commercial showcasing the firehouses that received federal funding are grinding my gears. The much-needed funding was coming, no matter who put the requests through. Many firefighters are sitting around their kitchen tables trying to figure out how to pay their bills because of Collins’ negligence in the U.S. Senate.

Federal firehouse funding relies on the state delegation’s collaborative effort. The senators submit parallel requests for municipal projects, while the representatives submit matching House earmarks to ensure budget parity. Meanwhile, operational equipment, turnout gear and staffing funds flow through FEMA programs. 

By contrast, Troy Jackson has tirelessly supported first responders. His high-profile advocacy for emergency services throughout his Maine legislative career makes his seat on the Congressional Fire Services Caucus a given — potentially it could even lead to a chairmanship.

Here’s just a couple examples:

• 2010 (LD 1558): Jackson sponsored accidental death benefits to close MainePERS loopholes for families of firefighters lost to job-related cardiovascular or respiratory events.
• 2021 (LD 213): Jackson championed the expanded firefighter cancer presumption, updating worker protections to cover female firefighters facing gynecologic cancers tied to PFAS and toxic exposure.

That is why I am proudly supporting Troy Jackson for the U.S. Senate and I hope others will also.

Jeffrey Stanley
Arrowsic