Pascrell Backs Federal Firefighters Fairness Act

Legislation would provide more protections to heroes hurt in the line of duty

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), the longtime co-chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, today voted in favor of the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act (H.R. 2499), which would ensure that federal firefighters receive the same access to job-related disability and retirement benefits as state, county, and municipal firefighters. This legislation, sponsored by Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA), would create a statutory presumption that federal firefighters who become disabled by serious diseases, including heart disease, lung disease, certain cancers, and other infectious diseases, are eligible for federal disability benefits.

“Every day our heroic firefighters risk their lives keeping communities across America safe,” said Rep. Pascrell, the main sponsor of the legislation which created the federal Firefighter Cancer Registry. “The link between cancer and firefighting is undeniable. But our nation’s more than ten thousand federal firefighters face a high burden in proving any occupational illness is connected to their job before receiving disability benefits. Our legislation today will guarantee that these brave men and women receive their owed benefits without delay or red tape. Congress must absolutely have firefighters’ backs. Today, we show our commitment to firefighters with hard action.”

As Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, Rep. Pascrell led legislation establishing the National Firefighter Cancer Registry to thoroughly study the many occupational hazards and cancer risks that firefighters face. Rep. Pascrell and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) first announced introduction of the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act in May 2016 during a news conference at Clifton, New Jersey Fire Station 5, where they were joined by dozens of firefighters, including retired Haddon Heights Fire Chief Gene Dannenfelster, who has since lost his battle with cancer.

Last year, Rep. Pascrell’s Protecting America’s First Responders Act to bolster the federal Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program was signed into law. Among other critical reforms, this legislation expanded access to federal PSOB benefits for first responders permanently disabled in the line of duty.