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Legislative bills

Reauthorizing the Firefighter Cancer Registry to Better Understand and Reduce Cancer Risk

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Firefighter Cancer Registry, a critical program aimed at understanding and reducing the risk of cancer among U.S. firefighters, is set to be reauthorized with a significant increase in funding. Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), along with Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05), and Mike Bost (R-IL-12), have introduced legislation to increase the authorization funding level to $5.5 million through 2028. The registry, created in 2018, is the largest effort undertaken to monitor and study the relationship between career-long exposure to hazardous fumes and toxins and the incidence of cancer in firefighters. This reauthorization aims to build upon the progress made and provide vital data to develop better protective gear and prevention techniques.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Firefighter Cancer Registry is a critical program aimed at understanding and reducing the risk of cancer among U.S. firefighters.
  • The legislation aims to reauthorize the registry with a significant increase in funding to $5.5 million through 2028.
  • The registry, created in 2018, is the largest effort undertaken to monitor and study the relationship between career-long exposure to hazardous fumes and toxins and the incidence of cancer in firefighters.
  • Cancer is now the leading cause of death among firefighters, accounting for 74% of line-of-duty deaths, according to the International Association of Fire Fighters.
  • A 2015 study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that firefighters are 9% more likely to develop cancer and 14% more likely to die from cancer relative to the general population.
  • The Firefighter Cancer Registry Act requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to create a national cancer registry for firefighters.
  • Congressman Bill Pascrell, and Senator Bob Menendez co-led the legislation creating the Firefighter Cancer Registry in 2018.
  • The registry is maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor and study the relationship between career-long exposure to hazardous fumes and toxins and the incidence of cancer in firefighters.
  • The IAFF General President, Edward A. Kelly, supports the reauthorization of the National Firefighter Cancer Registry and urges Congress to ensure long-term funding for this program.
  • The NJ FMBA President, Eddie Donnelly, praises the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act and its impact on saving lives.

Statistics:

  • Firefighters are 9% more likely to develop cancer (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2015).
  • Firefighters are 14% more likely to die from cancer (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2015).
  • Cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters, accounting for 74% of line-of-duty deaths (International Association of Fire Fighters).
  • The Firefighter Cancer Registry Act was signed into law on July 9, 2018.
  • The registry is maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  • The CDC is required to create a national cancer registry for firefighters.

Sources:

  • "MIL-OSI USA News - Rep. Pascrell, Fitzpatrick, Hoyer and Bost Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Firefighter Cancer Registry" (Contify.com, 2023)
  • Congressional Fire Services Institute (cfsi.org)
  • International Association of Fire Fighters (iaff.org)
  • United States House of Representatives (House.gov)
  • International Association of Fire Chiefs (iafc.org)
  • National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (nih.gov)

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