On July 22 and 23, families of fallen firefighters will visit Washington, DC to advocate for the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act (H.R. 1719/S. 930), as reported by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).
The proposed legislation seeks to grant eligibility for the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program to the families of public safety officers who die or become disabled from cancer due to job-related exposures.
According to the act, eligibility requires that the public safety officer was exposed to heat, radiation, or carcinogens linked to cancer during duty and had served at least five years before the diagnosis, which must occur within 15 years of active service.
S. 930 was reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 5 and is now awaiting passage by the full Senate, according to the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
As of now, the House has not taken action on H.R. 1719. Families visiting Washington aim to garner support and push for the legislation’s advancement in both the Senate and the House.
The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act highlights the risks faced by public safety officers and the long-term impacts of their service.
By including cancer-related disabilities and deaths in the PSOB program, the act seeks to provide essential support to the families affected by these occupational hazards.
This visit to Washington, DC, represents a continued effort by the families and supporters of fallen firefighters to ensure their sacrifices are recognized and compensated.
The families’ advocacy is part of a broader push to address the health and safety concerns of public safety officers nationwide.
