Bacon introduces bill to expand support for military veteran firefighters

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), a U.S. Air Force veteran, introduced a bipartisan bill that would strengthen benefits for veteran firefighters diagnosed with diseases that are tied to firefighting work.

In March, Rep. Bacon joined U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) to unveil the Michael Lecik Firefighters Protection Act, H.R. 2111, named after a Powhatan County, Va., resident and former U.S. Air Force firefighter who died last month. Lecik was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a condition associated with the carcinogenic workplace conditions that military firefighters operate in, according to Rep. Bacon’s office.

Currently, the Veterans Health Administration does not pay for the cost of treatment related to diseases like Lecik’s, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) often does not recognize the connection between military firefighting and cancer as a service-related disability beyond one year following active duty, the lawmakers explained. 

H.R. 2111 would provide veteran firefighters with fair healthcare and retirement benefits by creating the presumption that firefighters who contracted certain diseases, including heart and lung disease and certain cancers, were disabled by their illness during their time serving in the military. The presumption of service-connected diseases would be extended to 15 years, thereby allowing the VA to cover the cost of disability benefits and treatment for veteran firefighters, according to a summary of the bill from Rep. Bacon’s staff.

“After nearly 30 years in the Air Force, I’ve witnessed hundreds of heroic military firefighters who put their own lives on the line by carrying us out of burning buildings or jets and exposing themselves to toxic substances and deadly fumes,” said Rep. Bacon. “Creating the presumption that those who become disabled from serious disease contracted the illness while serving in the military allows the VA to treat thousands of military firefighters that would normally not be covered.”

Firefighters experience higher rates of cancer than the general U.S. population due to the long-term risks in their workplaces, according to the lawmakers, who cited a 2010 study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 

Reps. Bacon and Spanberger first introduced the legislation in Jan. 2020.

“It was my honor to know Mike, and it is my privilege to reintroduce this legislation — and push it forward with Congressman Bacon — in his name,” Rep. Spanberger said.