Fischer Introduces Bill Addressing Firefighter Equipment Safety

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Curtis (R-UT), and Peter Welch (D-VT) have introduced the Protecting Firefighters and Advancing State-of-the-Art (PFAS) Alternatives Act to authorize grant funding for new protective gear for firefighters free of forever chemicals.

"Our firefighters put everything on the line to keep us safe, and it's our job to make sure they are taken care of," Fischer said. "This bill gives us the resources for producing next-generation protective gear, free of PFAS chemicals, to protect the health and safety of firefighters in Nebraska and across the nation."

"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 toxic exposures on the job - including from harmful PFAS chemicals in their protective gear. Our firefighters shouldn't have to worry that the gear designed to protect them is putting their health at risk," Heinrich said. "That's why I'm leading legislation to invest in the next-generation PFAS-free firefighting gear. Because we need to do more to protect the people who protect all of us."

"Utah's firefighters shouldn't have to worry that the gear designed to keep them safe could expose them to harmful chemicals," Curtis said. "This bipartisan legislation invests in the research needed to improve turnout gear, helping ensure firefighters have the proper protective equipment they deserve."

"From Vermont to Idaho and everywhere in between, firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe. Their line of work is already hazardous enough without having to deal with toxic chemical exposure from the very gear meant to protect them," Welch said. "I'm proud to work across the aisle on this legislation to support investments into developing new, PFAS-free turnout gear that protects firefighters across the country."

The PFAS Alternatives Act would authorize $25 million annually for fiscal years 2027-2031 for grants to develop new protective gear. The research will be conducted in a partnership between firefighters and scientists to achieve goals such as:

• PFAS chemical free gear
• Improved resistance to carcinogens and chemicals from fires and other emergencies situations
• Better accounting for varied individual firefighter's body times and composition

Background

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called "forever chemicals," are a hazardous group of compounds used in the production of modern firefighting protective gear and are linked to an increased cancer risk among firefighters. Research has associated PFAS exposure with serious health effects, including cancer, kidney disease, and reproductive harm.

Additionally, the textiles used in protective gear can absorb carcinogens encountered during fires and other emergency responses, and these contaminants are not completely eliminated through standard laundering processes.

Although materials science has advanced, protective gear continues to be a source of carcinogenic exposure for firefighters. Beyond PFAS-related risks, the gear can weigh nearly 45 pounds, restrict mobility, and lack features to indicate when cleaning or maintenance is necessary.

This legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Sam Graves (MO-06) and has been referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

See full bill text here.

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