Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022

Bill: 117-hr-2499
Sponsor: Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
Introduced: 2021-04-14 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Blood and blood diseases
Cancer
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Disability and paralysis
Disability assistance
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Evidence and witnesses
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
HIV/AIDS
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health personnel
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Musculoskeletal and skin diseases
Neurological disorders
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-14
text: 

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 

2021

 
 This bill provides federal workers' compensation to firefighters who contract certain illnesses as a result of their service.
 
Specifically, the bill provides that (1) heart disease, lung disease, and specified cancers of federal employees employed in fire protection activities for at least 5 years are presumed to be proximately caused by such employment if the employee is diagnosed with the disease within 10 years of employment; and (2) the disability or death of the employee due to such disease is presumed to result from personal injury sustained in the performance of duty. These presumptions also apply to fire protection employees (regardless of the length of employment) who contract any communicable disease at the center of a designated pandemic or any chronic infectious disease that the Department of Labor determines is related to job-related hazards.
 
 An 
employee in fire protection activities
 is a firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, rescue worker, ambulance personnel, or hazardous material worker, who (1) is trained in fire suppression; (2) has the legal authority and responsibility to engage in fire suppression; (3) is engaged in the prevention, control, and extinguishment of fires or response to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk; and (4) performs such activities as a primary responsibility.

action_date: 2022-05-06
text: 

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 

2022

 
This bill makes it easier for federally employed firefighters who contract certain illnesses to qualify for federal workers' compensation.
 
Specifically, the bill provides that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mesothelioma, and specified other cancers of those employed in fire protection activities for at least five years are presumed to be proximately caused by such employment for purposes of a disability or death claim under the federal workers' compensation program. This presumption also applies to federal employees employed in fire protection activities for at least five years who experience a sudden cardiac event or stroke within 24 hours of performing a fire protection activity. 

 
The bill also requires the Department of Labor to conduct a review to determine whether breast cancer should be included under the presumption and to conduct periodic reviews to determine whether other diseases should be included. In addition, a person may petition Labor to include another disease under the presumption.

 
 An 
employee in fire protection activities
 is a firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, rescue worker, ambulance personnel, or hazardous material worker who (1) is trained in fire suppression; (2) has the legal authority and responsibility to engage in fire suppression; (3) is engaged in the prevention, control, and extinguishing of fires or response to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk, including the prevention, control, suppression, or management of wildland fires; and (4) performs such activities as a primary responsibility.

action_date: 2022-05-11
text: 

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 

2022

 
This bill makes it easier for federally employed firefighters who contract certain illnesses to qualify for federal workers' compensation.
 
Specifically, the bill provides that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mesothelioma, and specified other cancers of those employed in fire protection activities for at least five years are presumed to be proximately caused by such employment for purposes of a disability or death claim under the federal workers' compensation program. This presumption also applies to federal employees employed in fire protection activities for at least five years who experience a sudden cardiac event or stroke within 24 hours of performing a fire protection activity. 
 
The bill also requires the Department of Labor to conduct a review to determine whether breast cancer, gynecological cancer, and rhabdomyolysis should be included under the presumption and to conduct periodic reviews to determine whether other diseases should be included. In addition, a person may petition Labor to include another disease under the presumption.
 
 An 
employee in fire protection activities
 is a firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, rescue worker, ambulance personnel, or hazardous material worker who (1) is trained in fire suppression; (2) has the legal authority and responsibility to engage in fire suppression; (3) is engaged in the prevention, control, and extinguishing of fires or response to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk, including the prevention, control, suppression, or management of wildland fires; and (4) performs such activities as a primary responsibility.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-05-12
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2022-05-11
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2022-05-11
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 288 - 131 (Roll no. 149). (text of amendment in the nature of a substiute: CR H4816-4817)
action_date: 2022-05-11
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 288 - 131 (Roll no. 149).
action_date: 2022-05-11
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Keller amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Keller demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2022-05-11
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1097, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on Keller amendment No. 4.
action_date: 2022-05-11
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Joyce (OH) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Greene (GA) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2022-05-11
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1097, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Joyce (OH) amendment No. 3.
action_date: 2022-05-11
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment en bloc, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Greene (GA) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2022-05-11
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1097, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment en bloc No. 1.
action_date: 2022-05-11
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 2499.
action_date: 2022-05-11
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 903, H.R. 2499, H.R. 5129 and H.R. 7691. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 903, H.R. 2499, and H.R. 5129 under a structured rule. H.R. 7691 is considered under a closed rule. Bills considered under the rule are debatable for one hour. The rule provides that H. Res. 1096 is adopted and amends H. Res. 188 by striking May 13, 2022 and inserting June 10, 2022.
action_date: 2022-05-11
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1097. (consideration: CR H4816-4831)
action_date: 2022-05-10
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1097 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 903, H.R. 2499, H.R. 5129 and H.R. 7691. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 903, H.R. 2499, and H.R. 5129 under a structured rule. H.R. 7691 is considered under a closed rule. Bills considered under the rule are debatable for one hour. The rule provides that H. Res. 1096 is adopted and amends H. Res. 188 by striking May 13, 2022 and inserting June 10, 2022.
action_date: 2022-05-06
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 226.
action_date: 2022-05-06
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 117-306.
action_date: 2022-05-06
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 117-306.
action_date: 2022-03-16
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 31 - 18.
action_date: 2022-03-16
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-04-14
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2021-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-04-14
text: Introduced in House