WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Task Force, along with Congressmen Bill Pascrell (NJ-09), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), and Mike Bost (IL-12) introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Firefighter Cancer Registry and increase to $5.5 million the authorization funding level through 2028.
“Our firefighters put their lives on the line to protect our communities daily, and we owe them our full support,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “Our bipartisan Firefighter Cancer Registry Act will require the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to compile data on the relationship between fume-exposure and cancer risks so we can better develop prevention measures. I thank Congressman Pascrell and our Senate counterparts for their partnership on this important bill to support our hero firefighters.”
“Every day, thousands of firefighters suit up and put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe,” said Congressman Pascrell. “These brave men and women encounter countless dangers on the job, including exposure to deadly carcinogens. Cancer is now the leading cause of death among firefighters and the federal government must have their backs. With our creation of a firefighter cancer registry, we have made important advances in keeping our heroes healthy. This legislation ensures we will continue to invest in research and cures. Healthy firefighters create safe communities.”
“As a co-chair and longtime member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus and as one of the cosponsors of the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act back in 2018, I join in calling for the reauthorization of that crucial legislation in the 118th Congress,” said Congressman Hoyer. “Our firefighters put their lives in danger to ensure the safety of their neighbors and communities. Congress ought to do everything it can to understand the risks that firefighters face as they fulfill their essential mission. That includes monitoring and studying long-term threats to firefighters' health, including cancer and other service-related conditions. The Firefighter Cancer Registry represents the largest effort ever undertaken to understand and reduce risk of cancer among U.S. firefighters and ensures that we have the data necessary to understand these hidden dangers and to develop new strategies to protect our firefighters. I urge all my colleagues to reauthorize this critical program and provide the CDC with the resources it needs to maintain this vital registry."
"Cancer is a leading cause of death for firefighters across our nation, and this legislation will help monitor, research, and treat this disease," said Congressman Bost. "As the Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus and a former firefighter, I know firsthand the dedication our first responders show to the communities they serve. I'm proud to join my colleagues in taking care of my first responder brothers and sisters by supporting this bill.”
"Firefighters face an increased risk of cancer due to the hazardous nature of their jobs, which exposes them to toxic chemicals. CFSI thanks Reps. Pascrell, Bost, Hoyer, and Fitzpatrick for introducing this bill to reauthorize the National Firefighter Registry (NFR), which is compiling vital scientific data to help researchers understand the risk of cancer to firefighters and develop prevention and treatment measures," said Bill Webb. Executive Director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute. "We look forward to working with our Fire Caucus co-chairs to reauthorize the NFR as soon as possible."
Created by Congress in 2018, the Firefighter Cancer Registry is maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor and study the relationship between career-long exposure to dangerous fumes and toxins and the incidence of cancer in firefighters so to develop better protective gear and prevention techniques.
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