Senator Klobuchar and Mayor Carter Join Saint Paul Firefighters to Honor Captain Michael Paidar and Advocate for the Passage of the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act

SAINT PAUL - Today, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar was joined by Mayor Melvin Carter, Fire Chief Butch Inks, Assistant Chief Jeramiah Melquist, Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters Association President Scott Vadnais, IAFF Saint Paul Local 21 President Kyle Thornberg, IAFF Minneapolis Local 82 President Mark Lakosky, Julie Paidar, and Saint Paul firefighters at Saint Paul Fire Station 1 to honor Captain Michael Paidar and advocate for the passage of Klobuchar's bipartisanHonoring Our Fallen Heroes Act. Captain Paidar died in 2020 from an aggressive form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia while still serving with the Saint Paul Fire Department.

TheHonoring Our Fallen Heroes Act would expand access to federal support for the families of firefighters and other first responders who pass away or become permanently disabled from service-related cancers. In May, the bill passed unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Currently, firefighters are only eligible for support under the Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program for physical injuries sustained in the line-of-duty, or for deaths from duty-related heart attacks, strokes, mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and 9/11 related illnesses.

"With this bipartisan legislation, we are working to expand the Public Safety Benefits Program to cover service-related cancers- honoring the commitment we make to our firefighters like Captain Paidar and other first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice. We must uphold our promise to care for their families," said Klobuchar.

"The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act sends a clear message: we stand with every firefighter battling service-related cancer and will ensure they receive the honor, care, and support they deserve," said Mayor Carter."I urge Congress to join Senator Klobuchar in taking action-because honoring our heroes means standing with them in service, in struggle, and in legacy."

In 2021, after strong advocacy from the Paidar family, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety awarded line-of-duty benefits to Captain Paidar's widow Julie. This was the first time that a firefighter's family had received benefits for cancer incurred in the line-of-duty through Minnesota's state Public Safety Officer Benefits program. The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Actwould ensure that firefighters and other first responders across the country are eligible to receive similar benefits under the federal PSOB program.

During today's event, the Fire Station conducted onsite pre-cancer screenings for their firefighters, which are critical for early detection and prevention.

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Permalink: https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2025/9/senator-klobuchar-and-mayor-carter-join-saint-paul-firefighters-to-honor-captain-michael-paidar-and-advocate-for-the-passage-of-the-honoring-our-fallen-heroes-act