Bill Overview
Title: Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022
Description: 2022 This bill makes it easier for federally employed firefighters who contract certain illnesses to qualify for federal workers' compensation. Specifically, the bill provides that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mesothelioma, and specified other cancers of those employed in fire protection activities for at least five years are presumed to be proximately caused by such employment for purposes of a disability or death claim under the federal workers' compensation program. This presumption also applies to federal employees employed in fire protection activities for at least five years who experience a sudden cardiac event or stroke within 24 hours of performing a fire protection activity. The bill also requires the Department of Labor to conduct a review to determine whether breast cancer, gynecological cancer, and rhabdomyolysis should be included under the presumption and to conduct periodic reviews to determine whether other diseases should be included. In addition, a person may petition Labor to include another disease under the presumption. An employee in fire protection activities is a firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, rescue worker, ambulance personnel, or hazardous material worker who (1) is trained in fire suppression; (2) has the legal authority and responsibility to engage in fire suppression; (3) is engaged in the prevention, control, and extinguishing of fires or response to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk, including the prevention, control, suppression, or management of wildland fires; and (4) performs such activities as a primary responsibility.
Sponsors: Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
Target Audience
Population: Federally employed firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, rescue workers, ambulance personnel, and hazardous material workers
Estimated Size: 20000
- The bill specifically targets federally employed firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), rescue workers, ambulance personnel, and hazardous material workers engaged in fire protection activities.
- It focuses on individuals who have been employed in these roles for at least five years, which likely represents a core group within the broader federal firefighting and emergency response workforce.
- The bill addresses health conditions that are presumed to be work-related, thus it will impact those federal employees who might contract specified illnesses like COPD, mesothelioma, or certain cancers.
- The periodic reviews and ability for individuals to petition for other diseases to be included means the bill has potential to impact a wider array of conditions over time, though the current immediate impact focuses on those already specified diseases.
- Globally, the number of firefighters is extensive, but this bill explicitly targets federal employees, which are a smaller, distinct group mostly concentrated within the United States.
Reasoning
- The policy specifically impacts federal firefighters and similar roles, thus the interviews need to primarily focus on this group.
- The wellbeing scores should reflect the health benefits and security the firefighters gain from such protections.
- We need to consider the broader indirect effects, such as reduced stress from better coverage and support systems.
- Some interviews should also represent individuals who are not directly affected, such as non-federal firefighters or federal employees in different roles to show the limited scope of the policy.
Simulated Interviews
Wildland Firefighter (California)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy is a great step towards recognizing the risks we take in our jobs.
- It'll provide a peace of mind knowing that if I get sick, my family is taken care of financially.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Paramedic (Arizona)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This change is crucial for someone in my situation; it's about security and justice.
- It's disheartening that it took this long for recognition.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Hazmat Responder (Washington)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Retired personnel like me also need considerations.
- Even though I'm retired, the effects of my work are still with me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) (Colorado)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's reassuring to know that our health risks are finally being acknowledged officially.
- Hopefully, it leads to even broader support in the future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Firefighter (Texas)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- These changes are great but it would be nice if they were extended to cover volunteers like us.
- We face similar risks but have to rely on our primary jobs for health coverage.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Firefighter (Oregon)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Gives me more confidence to continue in this demanding job knowing there's back-up support for my health.
- Hopefully, this will encourage more people to join the federal services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Ambulance Personnel (New York)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a move in the right direction but should include mental health aspects as well.
- Knowing my physical health is covered reduces a significant worry.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Retired Federal Firefighter (Florida)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a step forward but may be too late for many like me who already left the service.
- It recognizes the sacrifices we made which is emotionally comforting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 2 |
Fire Protection Engineer (Illinois)
Age: 43 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I am not directly affected, the safety of the personnel I work with is of utmost importance.
- This policy may push for better preventive measures across the board.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Federal Wildland Firefighter (Virginia)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's reassuring that the federal government is listening to our needs.
- Still skeptical about how smoothly this will be implemented and who actually benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $30000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $50000000)
Year 2: $31500000 (Low: $21000000, High: $52500000)
Year 3: $33075000 (Low: $22050000, High: $55125000)
Year 5: $36382500 (Low: $24255000, High: $60593750)
Year 10: $46460813 (Low: $30973875, High: $77334844)
Year 100: $972521957 (Low: $648347971, High: $1620869928)
Key Considerations
- The scope of the bill focuses on federal employees, which limits the overall scale but concentrates benefits in a specific worker segment.
- Health and safety benchmarks might need adjustments based on periodic reviews, influencing future costs.
- Presumptive eligibility for compensation simplifies the claims process but carries financial risks in terms of potentially increased and substantial claims volume.