Robert L. Bragg III, VPFF President: “Abigail Was One of, if Not the Leading, Champion for Fire Fighters During Her Time in the United States Congress”
Spanberger: “I’m Proud to Earn VPFF’s Endorsement to Serve as the Next Governor of Virginia and to Support the Emergency Personnel Who Day in and Day out Put the Commonwealth Ahead of Themselves”
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Professional Fire Fighters (VPFF) — which represents more than 10,000 fire fighters, paramedics, and other emergency response workers across Virginia — today endorsed Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger to serve as the next Governor of Virginia.
In endorsing Spanberger, VPFF praised her leadership in passing the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act, a seminal victory for fire fighters that took decades to accomplish, and her long record of ensuring Virginia’s fire fighters have the resources they need to keep the Commonwealth’s communities safe.
“We are pleased to endorse Abigail Spanberger given her service as a federal law enforcement officer and record of support for fire fighters and their families,” said Robert L. Bragg III, President, VPFF. “Simply put, Abigail was one of, if not the leading, champion for fire fighters during her time in the United States Congress. We value candidates who are willing to work with their colleagues to ensure our fire fighters and their families receive the benefits and protections they have valiantly earned and this endorsement comes as a result of Abigail’s commitment to ensuring our fire fighters have the tools and resources necessary to protect and serve the citizens of the Commonwealth.”
“At an early age, I was inspired by public service and taught that there is no greater calling than to serve your country and your community. I’m thankful for the service of Virginia’s emergency responders to our Commonwealth and VPFF’s work to advocate for them and keep them safe as they do their jobs,” said Spanberger. “Every worker across Virginia deserves to know that their health and safety will be protected.”
Spanberger continued, “I’m proud to earn VPFF’s endorsement to serve as the next Governor of Virginia and to support the emergency personnel who day in and day out put the Commonwealth and the lives of our fellow Virginians ahead of themselves. As Governor, I will continue working to make sure they receive the benefits and resources they deserve.”
BACKGROUND
In the U.S. House of Representatives, Spanberger worked tirelessly to deliver her Social Security Fairness Act to the president’s desk. Spanberger’s law has helped secure the earned benefits owed to thousands of fire fighters across Virginia.
Spanberger first introduced the Social Security Fairness Act in January 2021. The bipartisan legislation earned the support of more than 300 Members of Congress — both Democrats and Republicans — before the end of the 117th Congress. At the start of the 118th Congress in January 2023, Spanberger reintroduced the legislation alongside U.S. Representative Garret Graves (R-LA-06).
For nearly four years, Spanberger rallied her colleagues on both sides of the aisle and congressional leadership to support her effort to solve this basic issue of fairness for Virginia’s retired first responders and other public servants. The Congresswoman heard from thousands of Virginians, including fire fighters, who were denied their hard-earned benefits. Using their stories, she advocated on behalf of this commonsense fix and the thousands of impacted Virginians.
Spanberger never stopped working to get this legislation across the finish line. In September 2024, Spanberger and Graves filed a discharge petition for their Social Security Fairness Act — which had more than 325 bipartisan cosponsors. Less than two weeks later, the petition secured the required 218 signatures needed to force a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives. A bipartisan majority of the U.S. House then voted to pass the Social Security Fairness Act.
Following U.S. House passage of the Social Security Fairness Act, Spanberger urged U.S. Senate leadership to swiftly vote to pass the legislation before the end of the 118th Congress. Spanberger stood in the pouring rain alongside fire fighters, police officers, and federal employees during a rally at the U.S. Capitol to urge U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to bring the legislation up for a vote before the end of the 118th Congress.
10 days later, a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate voted to pass the legislation in December 2024. President Biden signed Spanberger’s Social Security Fairness Act into law on January 5, 2025.
###