Cancer is the biggest threat facing fire fighters and is our leading cause of death. The Public Safety Officers Benefits (PSOB) program provides federal death and disability benefits for fire fighters killed or permanently injured in the line of duty. While the PSOB program recognizes a variety of medical deaths, like heart attacks and 9/11-connected cancer, the PSOB program does not provide benefits when a fire fighter dies from occupational cancer. This denial of benefits has forced countless fire fighters' survivors to face financial struggles after losing a loved one. 

 

In October, the Senate included the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act (S. 237/H.R. 1269) in their version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In doing so, the Senate has brought us one step closer to recognizing occupational cancer as a covered line of duty death under the PSOB program. It is critically important that Congress keep the Honor Act in the final version of the NDAA and come to the aid of survivors of fire fighters lost to occupational cancer.