(F) Representing membership comprised of 
structural, wildfire, and aircraft firefighters and 
supervisors. 
(2) MOISTURE BARRIER MATERIALS.—The term 
‘‘moisture barrier material’’ means the component of 
turnout gear that principally prevents the transfer of 
hazardous liquids, including hot liquids, fireground 
chemicals, and infectious fluids, and contributes to 
the overall thermal insulation of the firefighter with-
out imposing undue burdens or otherwise compro-
mising the performance of turnout gear. 
(3) PFAS.—The term ‘‘PFAS’’ means per- and 
polyfluoroalkyl substances that contain at least one 
fully fluorinated carbon atom or any other substance 
the Secretary determines appropriate. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
(5) TURNOUT GEAR.—The term ‘‘turnout gear’’ 
means protective clothing worn as a main source of 
protection for firefighters and emergency medical 
services personnel during firefighting and post-fire 
operations to minimize exposure to hazards that 
cause serious injuries and illnesses that may result 
from contact with thermal, physical, chemical, bio-
logical, or other workplace hazards. Turnout gear— 
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(A) includes protective clothing designed to 
protect firefighters performing structural fire-
fighting, proximity firefighting, wildland fire-
fighting, and urban interface firefighting; and 
(B) may also include other personal protec-
tive 
equipment 
referred 
to 
in 
section 
33(c)(3)(I)(i) of the Federal Fire Prevention 
and 
Control 
Act 
of 
1974 
(15 
U.S.C. 
2229(c)(3)(I)(i)). 
(b) RESEARCH PROGRAMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, acting through the Di-
rector of the National Institute for Occupational 
Safety and Health, in consultation with the heads of 
other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall establish 
a program to award grants to eligible entities to 
support research, development, and testing of next- 
generation turnout gear and associated materials. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(A) PFAS-FREE
COMPONENTS.—Grants 
awarded under this subsection shall support the 
research, development, and testing of materials 
to design and produce PFAS-free turnout gear. 
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(B) PARTNERSHIP.—The Secretary shall 
require that applications for grants under this 
subsection include a description of how the eli-
gible entity will partner with organizations in, 
and relevant to, the firefighting industry, in-
cluding organizations that directly represent 
members who serve in nonmanagerial fire-
fighting roles, and how such partnership will 
help move the results of research, development, 
and testing described in subparagraph (A) into 
practice, including guidance and training for 
first responders and others who regularly use 
turnout gear. 
(3) 
CONSIDERATIONS.—In 
making 
awards 
under this subsection, the Secretary may consider 
the extent to which the activities proposed support 
the research, development, and testing described in 
subparagraph (A) that is likely to prevent occupa-
tional illness and injury for firefighters, including in-
novations that provide the following: 
(A) Enhanced protection against primary 
and secondary exposure to particulates and by-
products of combustion. 
(B) Reduced maintenance that includes 
contamination resistance and greater ease of 
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cleaning or visible warning indicators to alert 
firefighters to hazardous exposures or the need 
for decontamination. 
(C) Consideration of body composition in 
development of prototypes and other products. 
(4) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There 
are 
authorized 
to 
be 
appropriated 
$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 
fiscal year 2029 to carry out this subsection. 
(c) TRAINING PROGRAMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the Secretary, beginning in fiscal 
year 2027, shall award grants to, or enter into con-
tracts or cooperative agreements with, eligible enti-
ties, as determined by the Secretary, to develop and 
disseminate guidance and training for firefighters 
and other first responders on best practices for re-
ducing potentially harmful exposures by safely wear-
ing, decontaminating, and caring for turnout gear 
developed in accordance with section (b). 
(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2027 through fiscal year 
2031 to carry out this subsection. 
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(d) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to Congress a report describing the progress made in 
achieving the goals under subsections (b) and (c). 
Æ 
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