Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022
| Date | Chamber | What was voted on | Result | Yes–No | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 2022 | House · vote #149 | On Passage | Passed | 288–131 | See who voted → |
Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.
3 agreed to 1 failed
| Amendment | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|
| HAMDT 196 | — | Failed |
| HAMDT 195 | Joyce, David P. | Agreed to |
| HAMDT 194 | Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" | Agreed to |
| HAMDT 193 | — | Agreed to |
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Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 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.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
- Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
- Referred in Senate Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
- Reported in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2499: Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2499/
"H.R. 2499: Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2499/.
H.R. 2499, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2499/.
[H.R. 2499: Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2499/)