Heinrich Cosponsors Legislation to Expand Health Care Coverage & Benefits for Firefighters with Service-Related Cancers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) cosponsored the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, bipartisan legislation that will expand health care coverage and benefits for first responders who become permanently disabled from service-related cancers and the families of those who pass away from these cancers. The bill is led by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.).

"Our first responders put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities, and too many suffer or lose their lives from cancers caused by dangerous exposures on the job. Their families shouldn't be left to shoulder the burden of health care and support alone," said Heinrich. "I'm proud to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation to ensure these heroes and their loved ones receive the care and benefits they deserve. I'll keep working to make sure we honor their sacrifice with action."

The Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program, which provides benefits to first responders injured in the line of duty and to their families, currently extends protection to first responders suffering from a narrow list of injuries and illnesses.

The Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act will expand PSOB coverage to more first responders and their families. Specifically, the legislation will expand access to expand health care coverage and benefits for the families of firefighters and first responders who pass away from cancer caused by carcinogenic exposure during their service. The bill will also extend disability benefits in cases where these first responders become permanently and totally disabled due to cancer.

In addition to Heinrich, Coons, Klobuchar, and Cramer, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

The legislation is endorsed by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA), Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Narcotics Officers' Associations Coalition (NNOAC), National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), and the Sergeants Benevolent Association of the NYPD.

The full text of the bill is here.

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