Washington, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) voted for the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act to strengthen access to compensation benefits for federal firefighters after contracting cancer or other illnesses from doing their job. The bipartisan legislation will help ensure that these benefits cover the full range of occupational hazards faced by the nation’s 15,000 federal firefighters. Congressman Cuellar was a co-sponsor of the legislation.

“I voted to strengthen illness benefits for our nation’s heroic federal firefighters,” said Congressman Cuellar.  “Every day, these public servants put themselves in harm’s way to save lives and protect communities in Texas and across the country.  When they pay the price for our safety through exposure to heat and toxins, America has a responsibility to provide them with the support they need.  This bipartisan legislation will cut red tape and streamline critical benefits for our brave first responders.”

Firefighters are at high risk of contracting occupational illnesses through routine exposure to smoke, heat and toxic substances.  While many states make it easier for firefighters to access benefits with a presumption that certain illnesses are work-related, the federal workers’ compensation system currently places the burden of proof on sick firefighters and their families.

The Federal Firefighters Fairness Act will remove these unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles for approximately 15,000 federal firefighters.  This legislation will establish an automatic presumption of work-related illness for a range of cancers and other illnesses.  Additionally, it empowers the Secretary of Labor to further expand this list based on scientific evidence.  

The Federal Firefighters Fairness Act has been endorsed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

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