Firefighters fought deadly hits in Los Angeles County in January, and California’s US senator Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla signed legislation with a simple goal. It provides federal support to the first respondents who have been diagnosed with service -related cancer.
that We respect our fallen heroes Climate change is considered decisive by supporters as it supplies fuel. Increased forest fires And firefighting It is considered to be carcinogenicity By the World Health Organization. The firefighter is as follows 14% high opportunity According to a 2024 study, the disease Responsibility for 66% Career firefighters death from 2002 to 2019.
Los Angeles Forest Fire brought the fear generated by these statistics into a bold slogan. House, business and automobiles, and products in it are incineration, gas, chemicals, asbestos and Other toxic contaminants It was released into the air and often settled in soil and dust. The first respondent working at a short range Proper respiratory protectionThere was a high risk of side effects.
A few days after the fire broke out, the researchers tested. 20 firefighters group We helped fight flames in northern California and found dangerous leads and mercury in blood.
Padilla said in a statement that “firefighters and the first respondents gave their lives without the second thought of protecting the California community from the destructive southern California fire.” “When we sacrifice life or face serious disabilities due to service -related cancer, we are obliged to help you bring your family back to your feet.”
But the honor of our fallen heroes is being supported by this Bundang but still facing a politically rough road, and those who have spent years have spent several years in dealing with similar government -operated programs that warn about major implementation issues when the bill becomes a law.
The Senate Judicial Commission passed a similar bill in 2024, but the bill did not exercise the right to vote on the floor. And as legislators potentially pondered large -scale federal budget cuts, the fate of Congress is not clear. Clearly, the legislative legislation that ties the health status of services is that the devil is in detail.
John Feal, who was injured on the 9/11 Ground Zero site while working as a demolition supervisor, said, “It is not difficult to pass through the bill, and he has since become a fierce advocate for the first respondents and military veterans.
Feal said, “At that point, at that point he added,“ At that point, people who need help are getting mature, and at that point he added that the ability to successfully handle the applications of those who ask for the growth of the program can be a challenge.
Feal said it happened in various government programs created after the 9/11 attack. Both September 11th Victims Compensation Fund and World Trade Center Health Program Significant funding problems occurred and were kicked out by the failure of logistics.
The structure of our Fallen Heroes Act, sponsored by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn), can avoid funding traps. The bill will be given a long -standing firefighter with a cancer -related condition, rather than 9/11, rather than creating a new benefit program. Benefits of public safety officersIt provides financial deaths, disability and education benefits to the surviving family members and surviving family members.
The benefits of such a program are considered Mandatory We raise funds regardless of parliamentary budget decision. However, the funds for disability and education benefits depend on annual expenditure.
Despite the complete financing, this law can face similar implementation issues, including complex qualification standards, and it is difficult to document that the disease is related to the service, and we are waiting for a longer registration. Federal attempt to reduce.
Attorney Michael Barasch represents James Zadroga, a New York police police, who developed lung fibrosis on toxic exposure at the World Trade Center site. 9/11 Health and Compensation It has been named. For the improvement of the program and financing, the 9/11 victims and the lobby parliament, which represents the 9/11 victim and the lobby parliament, said that respect for our Fallen Heroes Act should simplify the process that can be documented that the first respondents are related to the fight with the forest fire.
BARASCH said to KFF Health News, “In terms of more than 40,000 members of the 9/11 community, similar programs must have a clear standard for determining qualifications.” Unnecessary complexity has serious risks that qualified respondents may not be able to access benefits. “
FEAL added that if the National Assembly is added to the current guaranteed conditions, the benefits of the public safety officer should be ready to properly strengthen the employees as an employee.
Feal said, “There were 75,000 people in this program in 2015. Currently, there are nearly 140,000 people.” Because there is a lack of back logs about the WTC program registration, there is a back log, and there is a back log for the disease certification.
As the benefits of public safety officers are currently implemented, firefighters and the first respondents are eligible to receive support for the physical injury or work -related heart attack, stroke, mental health status and 9/11 diseases. This bill adds provisions for those who die from other service -related cancer or permanently disabled.
research It has already begun to track the short -term and long -term health effects of Los Angeles forest fires. Kari Nadeau, a professor of Harvard TH Cold Public Health School, said, “This was an environmental and health disaster that will be developed for decades.”
Meanwhile, firefighters who fought a large camp fire in northern California Transport higher levels According to a study commissioned by the San Francisco Firefighter Foundation, the carcinogens and other toxic substances of the blood rather than the general population.
Our Fallen Heroes Act was first introduced in 2023 and was introduced again on January 23 this year, and Klobuchar mentioned her California forest fire. press release. The parliamentary budget office estimates that last year’s bill will be about $ 250 million annually from 2024 to 2034. The weight has not been measured since the bill was reintroduced.
Edward Kelly, chairman of the International Firefighter Association, said, “The grip of cancer for firefighting services cannot be denied.” “When a firefighter dies of occupational cancer, we are owing them so that their families can get a mandatory death benefit.”
I wrote this article KFF Health NewsPublished California Health LineEditorial independent service California Health Care Foundation.
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