Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) reintroduced the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act. The bipartisan legislation, which passed unanimously (21-0) out of the Senate Judiciary Committee last year, 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. 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.
The legislation is being introduced in honor of Michael Paidar, a St. Paul fire captain who died of an aggressive form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia on August 26, 2020 while still working for the fire department. 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 Act would ensure that firefighters and other first responders across the country are eligible to receive similar benefits under the federal PSOB program.
This legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Banks (R-IN), Barrasso (R-WY), Blackburn (R-TN), Blumenthal (D-CT), Coons (D-DE), Cornyn (R-TX), Cruz (R-TX), Duckworth (D-IL), Durbin (D-IL), Fetterman (D-PA), Fischer (R-NE), Graham (R-SC), Hirono (D-HI), Hoeven (R-ND), Justice (R-WV), Kelly (D-AZ), Markey (D-MA), Padilla (D-CA), Rounds (R-SD), Schiff (D-CA), Shaheen (D-NH), Sheehy (R-MT), Smith (D-MN), Warner (D-VA), Warren (D-MA), Welch (D-VT), Whitehouse (D-RI), and Wyden (D-OR).
“As we are seeing in California and throughout the country, our firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe, often exposing themselves to carcinogens that can have lethal long-term effects. It’s unacceptable that firefighters who succumb to cancer from work-related exposure or become permanently and totally disabled don’t receive the same treatment as others who die in the line of duty,” said Klobuchar. “That’s why I’m working with Senator Cramer to ensure that firefighters get the support they deserve. Our bipartisan legislation will honor the memory and sacrifice of St. Paul Fire Department Captain Mike Paidar and so many others who risk their lives in service of their communities.”
“Our first responders epitomize courage and selfless sacrifice, confronting both the immediate perils of their duty and lingering health risks associated with their service,” said Cramer. “The exposure to dangerous carcinogens happens on our behalf. When these heroes make the ultimate sacrifice, their families should not bear these burdens alone.”
“Firefighters and first responders put their lives on the line without a second thought to protect California communities from the devastating Southern California wildfires,” said Padilla. “When they sacrifice their lives or face severe disabilities due to service-related cancers, we have a shared duty to help get their families back on their feet.”
“Our first responders risk everything for us – from the front lines of wildfires to the unseen lines of duty that keep our communities safe. When they lose their lives to service-related cancers, their families deserve the full measure of support they’ve earned. No one who has lost so much should be left to face hardship alone,” said Schiff.
The Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program provides benefits to the survivors of fire fighters; law enforcement officers; and other first responders who are killed as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty. The program also provides disability benefits where first responders become permanently or totally disabled. The Public Safety Officers’ Educational Assistance (PSOEA) program, a component of the PSOB program, provides higher-education assistance to the children and spouses of public safety officers killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. The PSOB and PSOEA programs are administered by the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
The Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act would expand access to federal support for the families of firefighters and first responders who pass away from cancer caused by carcinogenic exposure during their service. The bill would also extend disability benefits in cases where these first responders become permanently and totally disabled due to cancer.
The legislation is endorsed by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), as well as the 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 Sergeants Benevolent Association of the NYPD.
“I’m grateful to Senators Klobuchar and Cramer for introducing the bipartisan Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act. Every day, our nation’s first responders selflessly serve and protect their communities. Unfortunately, through exposures on the job, many are also fighting occupational cancer. As our family knows firsthand, the lives of the first responder and their family are forever changed upon the cancer diagnosis. Mike loved being a career firefighter and paramedic. Losing him to Leukemia in 2020 was devastating not only for our family, but also for his fire family and our communities. This important legislation will recognize the sacrifices of our fallen, allowing first responders and their families to receive the PSOB benefits they rightly deserve,” said Julie Paidar, widow of St. Paul Fire Captain Michael Paidar.
“There are thousands of firefighters across the United States that are in the fight for their life battling cancers that they should never get and hundreds more receiving a diagnosis daily. In 2022, 75% of firefighter Line of Duty Deaths (LODD) were due to occupational cancer. Saint Paul Firefighters IAFF Local 21 will always remember Captain Mike Paidar as a fit, healthy man, a loving father, doting husband and a courageous firefighter, who loved his job and went to work each day with a smile on his face to care for people that needed his help. Sadly, Mike died from his job related exposure to known carcinogens. The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act makes it possible for us to preserve Mike’s dignity and care for his family, just as he did for so many others during their time of need. This is what we want to be Mike’s legacy, ” said Kyle Thornberg, President of St. Paul International Association of Fire Fighters Local 21.
“Cancer is ravaging the fire service and is the leading cause of line of duty deaths. Medical studies and commonsense prove this epidemic comes from our exposures to toxins in smoke, vehicle exhaust, and even our own protective gear. In 2022, the International Agency for Research on Cancer found this evidence so clear that they classified the occupation of firefighting itself as a Group 1 carcinogen – their highest and most dangerous level. However, when fire fighters succumb to job-related cancer, their families are left with nothing and denied critically-needed death benefits. It is unconscionable to abandon fallen fire fighters’ families when they need help most. The IAFF applauds Senators Klobuchar and Cramer for standing with fire fighters’ families and ensuring they don’t fall through the cracks. The Honor Act will rightfully recognize our cancer deaths as line of duty deaths and provide families with sorely needed death benefits. We urge Congress to pass the Honor Act immediately and send a lifeline to families who have already sacrificed a loved one for our nation,” said Edward Kelly, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters.
“Firefighters face an increased risk of cancer due to the hazardous nature of their jobs. The Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program should reflect the scope of the risks faced by our nation’s first responders, including occupational cancer. We look forward to working with Senators Klobuchar and Cramer to ensure that firefighters and their families receive the benefits they need and deserve,” said Bill Webb, Executive Director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute.
“Modern medicine often struggles to link an officer’s medical condition directly to a specific on-the-job incident; however, federal law enforcement officers face significant carcinogenic exposure in the line of duty, especially as first responders to large-scale chemical, radiological, or biological incidents. Unfortunately, the current Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) system denies many officers earned benefits due to these scientific limitations. We commend Senators Klobuchar and Cramer for introducing legislation to align the PSOB system with the real-world risks faced by law enforcement. This bill is a vital step toward ensuring officers receive the support they deserve,” said Mathew Silverman, National President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.
“We are grateful to Senators Klobuchar and Cramer for their leadership on this issue. Our law enforcement officers are in harm’s way each and every day. They are exposed not only to physical threats, but also unseen or unknown threats while operating in potentially hazardous environments. Public safety officers who are exposed to known carcinogens and who contract cancer that ends their lives or disables them should be considered to have sustained a personal injury in the line of duty for the purposes of the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program. The Klobuchar-Cramer bill, which had 37 cosponsors and cleared the Judiciary Committee unanimously will do just that,” said Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police.
“I thank Senator Klobuchar and the bill’s cosponsors for re-introducing the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act. Cancer remains a major cause of death for firefighters across the nation. It is time for the nation to recognize the families that have lost loved ones due to cancer caused by modern-day firefighting. We owe them a debt of gratitude and should take care of them,” said Chief Josh Waldo, President and Board Chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
“The Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) strongly supports the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act and applauds Senators Klobuchar and Cramer for their leadership. This bipartisan legislation ensures that families of first responders who lose their lives to service-related cancer receive the benefits they deserve. Our first responders put their lives on the line daily, facing not just immediate dangers but long-term health risks from carcinogen exposure. Supporting their families through these benefits strengthens our public safety community and honors the sacrifices made by those who serve,” said Megan Noland, Executive Director of the Major County Sheriffs of America.
“Our nation’s public safety officers put their lives at risk every day. Sometimes unnoticed are the officers pulling families from burning cars or saving children from house fires or responding to disasters such as the wildfires in Los Angeles. These acts of heroism often have long-term consequences for the officers, including exposure-related cancers. The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act recognizes these as line-of-duty injuries under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program and ensures that officers suffering from these cancers and their families get the benefits they have earned. We stand with Senators Klobuchar and Cramer in support of this bill and thank them for championing this important issue,” said Bill Johnson, Executive Director of the National Association of Police Organizations.
“The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation expresses our steadfast support of the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act. Multiple studies have shown that firefighters have an increased risk of cancer compared to the general public. These men and women put their lives on the line every day to protect their communities, and as a result, are exposed to a variety of carcinogens through the very nature of their work, including exposure to hazardous materials, toxic smoke, and other environmental factors. The federal government must recognize their sacrifice, and the families of public safety officers who die or are permanently disabled as a result of occupational cancer should have access to benefits provided by the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program. We commend Senators Klobuchar and Cramer for championing this important legislation,” said Victor Stagnaro, Chief Executive Officer of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
“NFPA urges Congress to approve the HONOR Act which has strong bipartisan support. As a nation, we must honor firefighters lost to occupational cancer and provide support to the families they leave behind,” said Jim Pauley, President and CEO of the National Fire Protection Association.
“Too often battles with occupational related cancer leave first responders permanently disabled or leave their survivors financially struggling after their passing. I applaud Senators Klobuchar and Cramer for introducing the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025. This important legislation will provide much needed support to first responder and their families as they face the aftermath of occupational cancer by providing coverage for certain exposure-related cancers under the Public Safety Officers Benefit program,”said Steve Hirsch, Chairman of the National Volunteer Fire Council.
“For more than twenty years, we have seen firsthand the devasting toll that cancer has taken among the heroes who responded to the 9/11 attacks. The ongoing health crisis among 9/11 responders has also brought to light other serious and long-term health risks that public safety officers across this country face from job-related exposures to known carcinogens. That is why the SBA is proud to join with Sen. Klobuchar and Sen. Cramer again in advocating for swift passage of the ‘Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act’ to ensure PSOB benefits for the families of those who succumb to job-related cancers,” said Vincent Vallelong, President of the Sergeants Benevolent Association of the NYPD.
Klobuchar has long led efforts to support firefighters and first responders. Klobuchar co-led bipartisan legislation to create a national cancer registry for firefighters diagnosed with the deadly disease was signed into law in 2018 and reauthorized last year. The Firefighter Cancer Registry Act calls on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor and study the relationship between career-long exposure to dangerous fumes and toxins and the incidence of cancer in firefighters.
Klobuchar also worked to pass the bipartisan Fire Grants and Safety Act which was signed into law in 2023, and continues funding for the Assistance for Firefighters Grant and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant programs. The Assistance for Firefighters Grant program helps firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources. The SAFER Grants program provides direct funding to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to increase or maintain the number of trained, “front line” firefighters and enhance their capacity to comply with staffing, response, and operational standards.
Klobuchar also worked to pass the Protecting America’s First Responders Act, which was signed into law in 2021. This legislation improves the PSOB program by allowing benefit amounts to be calculated based on the date of the award and account for cost of living increases.
Klobuchar also co-led legislation to retrofit older high-rise apartment buildings with sprinkler systems and help prevent future tragedies like the Cedar High Apartments fire, which took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2019.