Legislation would expand benefits to first responders with service-related cancers

Lawmakers in the U.S. Senate have introduced legislation to expand access to federal support for the families of firefighters and other first responders who die or become permanently disabled from service-related cancers.

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner of Virginia joined Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and 26 of their Senate colleagues in introducing the legislation.

Currently, firefighters are only eligible for support under the Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program for physical injuries sustained in the line-of-duty, or for deaths from duty-related heart attacks, strokes, mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and 9/11-related illnesses.

“Firefighters and first responders often encounter carcinogens through their work, but often don’t have comprehensive cancer benefits. That’s not right, so I’m on bipartisan legislation to ensure these folks have better options,” Warner posted on X.

The Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act would expand access to federal support for the families of firefighters and first responders who die from cancer caused by carcinogenic exposure during their service. The bill would also extend disability benefits in cases where the first responders become permanently and totally disabled due to cancer.

“Our first responders put their lives on the line day in and day out to keep our communities safe, and in the face of this work, are often exposed to harmful carcinogens that have led to long-term and devastating diagnoses. It is wholly unacceptable that firefighters who have gotten sick due to the job do not receive the same benefits as all those who die in the line of duty. I’m proud to introduce this legislation to ensure that these heroes receive the benefits they deserve,” Warner said.

The PSOB program provides benefits to the survivors of fire fighters, law enforcement officers and other first responders who are killed as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty. The program also provides disability benefits when first responders become permanently or totally disabled.

The Public Safety Officers’ Educational Assistance (PSOEA) program, a component of the PSOB program, provides higher-education assistance to the children and spouses of public safety officers killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. The PSOB and PSOEA programs are administered by the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).

The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act would ensure that firefighters and other first responders across the country are eligible to receive similar benefits under the federal PSOB program.