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H.R. 1035 114th Congress House

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2015

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: September 8, 2015 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Blood and blood diseasesCancerCardiovascular and respiratory healthDisability and paralysis
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Disability assistanceEmergency medical services and trauma careEvidence and witnessesFiresFirst responders and emergency personnelGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementHazardous wastes and toxic substancesHealth personnelMedical researchWorker safety and health
This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) 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
Apr 29, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
Feb 24, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Feb 24, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 29, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2015

Provides that: (1) specified diseases, including heart disease, lung disease, and specified cancers of federal employees employed in fire protection activities for a minimum of 5 years shall be presumed to be proximately caused by such employment if the employee is diagnosed with the disease within 10 years of the last active date of employment in fire protection activities; (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 presumption may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence. Allows such presumption for fire protection employees who contract any uncommon infectious disease, including but not limited to tuberculosis, hepatitis A, B, or C, or the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), regardless of the length of employment of such employee.

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 in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 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.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1035: Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-1035/
MLA
"H.R. 1035: Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-1035/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1035, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-1035/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1035: Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-1035/)
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