By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
- Washington, D.C. — Congress passed the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, recognizing occupational canceras a line-of-duty death (or qualifying disability) for public safety officers; the bill now heads to the President. FireRescue1
- Vote & vehicle: The measure rode in the NDAA and cleared Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support(House 312–0, Senate 77–0). FireRescue1
- Who’s covered: Establishes a presumption for 20 listed cancers (plus WTC-related cancers) when exposure occurred on duty, with ≥5 years of service and diagnosis within 15 years of last service. Extends PSOB death, disability, and education benefits. FireRescue1
- What’s next: Signature expected; DOJ/PSOB will implement eligibility and claims guidance. FireRescue1
WASHINGTON — Fire service advocates scored a long-sought federal change Thursday as Congress approved the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, recognizing specified occupational cancers as line-of-duty deaths (or qualifying permanent disabilities) under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program. The legislation traveled in the National Defense Authorization Act and now awaits the President’s signature. FireRescue1
The bill—backed by the IAFF and a coalition of police and fire organizations—creates a presumption that certain cancers are duty-related when key conditions are met: the exposure happened while performing official duties; the member had at least five years of service before diagnosis; and the diagnosis occurred within 15 years of the last active service date. The text enumerates 20 cancers and sweeps in any cancer recognized as a World Trade Center–related health condition. For eligible cases, the law extends PSOB death and educational assistance to survivors and disability benefits to officers rendered permanently and totally disabled. FireRescue1
Union leaders framed the vote as a “turning point,” saying it ends years of families having to prove a single, specific exposure to qualify for federal benefits—often an impossible standard given the cumulative nature of fireground and overhaul exposures. The measure advanced with lopsided bipartisan margins—312–0 in the House and 77–0 in the Senate—after a sustained push during the IAFF’s 2025 legislative conference. FireRescue1
Once signed, the Department of Justice is expected to issue guidance aligning PSOB claims with the new presumption and timelines. Departments and families should watch for implementation details on documentation requirements, lists of covered cancers, and how existing claims may be reevaluated. FireRescue1