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House Passes Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022 

The House of Representatives passed the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, H.R. 2499, on May 11 by a vote of 288-131. Introduced by Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-CA, and endorsed by NARFE, H.R. 2499 would construct a presumption of occupational illnesses for federal workers engaged in fire protection services who suffer from heart disease, lung disease and specific types of cancer. This presumption applies to workers with at least five years of service who become sick within 10 years of their work. The coverage extends to firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, rescue workers, ambulance personnel and hazardous material workers.  

Currently, 49 states presume certain infectious diseases and illnesses to be job-related for their local and state firefighters. This bill would align federal guidelines with those 49 states in recognition of the dangers associated with fire protection services.  

In a letter to Representatives, NARFE National President Ken Thomas urged the lawmakers to support the legislation, explaining that federal firefighters “respond to threats at military installations, federal research laboratories, veterans’ hospitals and other federal sites across the country, exposing them to high levels of smoke, heat, stress and toxic elements. The current system fails to adequately take these consistent exposures into account, and it’s time for Congress to end this unfair practice.”