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H.R. 948 111th Congress House

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2009

Official title: To amend chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, to create a presumption that a disability or death of a Federal employee in fire protection activities caus… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, to create a presumption that a disability or death of a Federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty.

Introduced: February 10, 2009 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Blood and blood diseasesCancerCardiovascular and respiratory healthDisability and paralysis
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Disability assistanceEmergency medical services and trauma careEvidence and witnessesFiresGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementHazardous wastes and toxic substancesHealth personnelMedical researchWorker safety and health
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 23, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
Feb 10, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Feb 10, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 23, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2009 - Provides that: (1) specified diseases, including heart disease, lung disease, tuberculosis, hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and specified cancers, of federal employees in fire protection activities shall be presumed to be proximately caused by such employment; (2) the disability or death of such an employee due to such a disease shall be presumed to result from personal injury sustained while in the performance of duty; and (3) such presumptions may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence.

Defines an "employee in fire protection activities" as 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 extinguishment of fires or response to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk; and (4) performs such activities as a primary responsibility of his or her job.

Directs the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to examine the implementation of this Act and appropriate scientific and medical data related to the health risks associated with firefighting and to report to Congress on: (1) an analysis of the injury claims made under this Act; (2) an analysis of the available research related to the health risks associated with firefighting; and (3) recommendations for any administrative or legislative actions necessary to ensure that those diseases most associated with firefighting are included in the presumption created by this Act.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 43
Ellsworth, Brad
· Dec 16, 2009
D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Sep 17, 2009
Hodes, Paul
· Jul 21, 2009
D
Heinrich, Martin
New Mexico · Jun 3, 2009
D
Larsen, Rick
Washington · Jun 2, 2009
D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · May 4, 2009
D
Titus, Dina
Nevada · May 4, 2009
Kratovil, Frank
· Apr 21, 2009
D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Apr 21, 2009
D
Himes, James A.
Connecticut · Mar 26, 2009
Space, Zachary
· Mar 26, 2009
R
McCaul, Michael T.
Texas · Mar 23, 2009
Bordallo, Madeleine
· Mar 19, 2009
D
Costa, Jim
California · Mar 19, 2009
D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Mar 19, 2009
Driehaus, Steve
· Mar 19, 2009
D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Mar 19, 2009
D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · Mar 19, 2009
D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Feb 24, 2009
Murphy, Patrick
· Feb 24, 2009
D
Sánchez, Linda T.
California · Feb 24, 2009
Arcuri, Michael
· Feb 10, 2009
Carney, Christopher
· Feb 10, 2009
D
Carson, André
Indiana · Feb 10, 2009
D
Courtney, Joe
Connecticut · Feb 10, 2009
D
DeGette, Diana
Colorado · Feb 10, 2009
D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · Feb 10, 2009
D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Feb 10, 2009
D
Luján, Ben Ray
New Mexico · Feb 10, 2009
D
Lynch, Stephen F.
Massachusetts · Feb 10, 2009
D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Feb 10, 2009
D
Matsui, Doris O.
California · Feb 10, 2009
D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Feb 10, 2009
McMahon, Michael
· Feb 10, 2009
D
Murphy, Christopher
Connecticut · Feb 10, 2009
Nye, Glenn
· Feb 10, 2009
D
Pingree, Chellie
Maine · Feb 10, 2009
D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Feb 10, 2009
D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · Feb 10, 2009
D
Sherman, Brad
California · Feb 10, 2009
R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Feb 10, 2009
D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Feb 10, 2009
R
Wittman, Robert J.
Virginia · Feb 10, 2009
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 948: Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2009. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-948/
MLA
"H.R. 948: Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2009." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-948/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 948, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-948/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 948: Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2009](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-948/)
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