The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has spotlighted a new bill to strengthen penalties against those who attack first responders was introduced this week in the US Senate.
Senators Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) unveiled the bipartisan Graham Hoffman Act. The bill would make it a federal crime to assault firefighters, emergency medical workers, police officers and other first responders.
The bill is named in honor of Kansas City, MO Local 42 firefighter-paramedic Graham Hoffman, who was killed on the job in April of this year.
IAFF General President Edward Kelly said: “The loss of Graham Hoffman was horrific. Firefighters and emergency medical workers put their lives on the line to help others and they deserve to return home safely after their shifts.
“The Graham Hoffman Act will ensure that anyone who attacks a first responder is held fully accountable. I want to thank Senators Schmitt and Hassan for their leadership on this vital issue.”
While responding to what seemed to be a routine medical call, Hoffman and his partner took their patient in the ambulance to head to the hospital.
But during their trip, the patient turned violent, stabbing Hoffman and attacking his partner. Hoffman later died at the hospital from his injuries.
In a statement announcing the introduction of the bill, Schmitt commented: “This legislation, in honor of Graham, ensures that anyone who assaults or kills a first responder faces the full force of federal law.”
Hassan echoed Schmitt’s remarks, stressing the need to protect firefighters and others.
She said: “First responders put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe, and they deserve our protection when they answer the call to help others.”
Violence against firefighters and emergency medical workers has been recognized as an occupational hazard for the fire service since the 1970s, but the threat has dramatically increased in recent years across North America.
A study from Drexel University found that 77% of U.S. fire fighters surveyed had been verbally assaulted on the job, and 46% had been physically assaulted – just within the past year. The findings are based on surveys from 10,000 fire fighters across 90 departments.
Records from Washington, DC, show 19 assaults against fire fighters and emergency medical workers in the district in just the first 6 months of 2025.
The IAFF also noted how in Idaho, two firefighters – Battalion Chiefs Frank Harwood and John Morrison Jr. – were fatally injured after a gunman set off a brush fire to lure first responders to the scene. A third fire fighter, Engineer Dave Tysdal, was also critically wounded during the attack.
Additionally, in Canada, firefighters have been sounding the alarm about increased violence against them for years. In Winnipeg, first responders have become so accustomed to violent outbursts, they’re now viewed as “normal.”
According to the IAFF, the uptick in violent attacks against first responders demonstrates the clear need to strengthen deterrents and ensure the safety of firefighters and other first responders on the job.
Kelly concluded: “Firefighting is already a dangerous job. But the increase in violent attacks against IAFF members is making our jobs even more challenging.
“This legislation will send a clear message that violence against first responders will not be tolerated.”
The IAFF has discussed the impact of the Graham Hoffman Act, a bipartisan that would make it a federal crime to assault firefighters, emergency medical workers, police officers and other first responders.
The Graham Hoffman Act has been named in honor of Kansas City, MO Local 42 firefighter-paramedic Graham Hoffman, who was killed on the job in April of this year.
