Skip to main content
HR 948 111th Congress House Government Operations and Politics Blood and blood diseases Cancer Cardiovascular and respiratory health Disability and paralysis Disability assistance Emergency medical services and trauma care Evidence and witnesses Fires Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management Hazardous wastes and toxic substances Health personnel Medical research Worker safety and health

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2009

Introduced: April 21, 2009 See on congress.gov
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
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 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.

What's happening now March 23, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 40
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
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
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/)
Report a problem