Congressional Fire Services Institute

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Federal Firefighters Fairness Act

Status: Past Legislation

Summary:
The legislation would create a rebuttable presumption that federal firefighters who become disabled by heart disease, lung disease, and certain cancers contracted such illnesses on the job.

Background:

Due to the nature of their jobs – including exposure to toxic chemicals, stress, and other extreme conditions in the line of duty – firefighters in the United States are at risk for a number of diseases, such as heart disease, lung disease, and various cancers.
Forty-nine states have already recognized that these illnesses are occupational hazards of firefighting and have enacted laws providing presumptive disability benefits to firefighters employed by state and local governments who contract such illnesses.
It is important that all of our nation’s firefighters have the assurance that they can receive the benefits they need and deserve when their health is on the line.

Status:
The legislation became law in the 117th Congress (P.L.117-263).

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Established in 1989 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy institute, CFSI is designed to educate members of Congress about the needs and challenges of our nation’s fire and emergency services so that the federal government provides the types of training and funding needed by our first responders.

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