Amendment sought to strike the text of the bill and insert a provision establishing the Firefighter Special Claims Unit at the Department of Labor to process any claim relating to occupational disease filed by a federal firefighter, and direct GAO to submit a report describing any known barriers to the delivery of health care to federal firefighters.

Strike all of the text and insert the following:

SECTION 1. FIREFIGHTER SPECIAL CLAIMS UNIT.

(a) In General.--Chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code (known as the “Federal Employees' Compensation Act”) is amended by inserting after section 8152 the following:

“Sec. 8153. Firefighter Special Claims Unit.

“There is established in the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs of the Department of Labor the Firefighter Special Claims Unit. The Firefighter Special Claims Unit shall be responsible for processing any claim relating to occupational disease filed by a Federal firefighter, including a wildland firefighter or forestry technician, on or after the date of enactment of this Act under this chapter.”.

(b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 8152 the following:

“8153. Firefighter Special Claims Unit.”.

SEC. 2. GAO REPORT.

(a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on the health care benefits and treatment under chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code (known as the “Federal Employees' Compensation Act”) provided to Federal firefighters with the following conditions:

(1) Bladder cancer.

(2) Brain cancer.

(3) Breast cancer.

(4) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

(5) Colorectal cancer.

(6) Esophageal cancer.

(7) Kidney cancer.

(8) Leukemias.

(9) Lung cancer.

(10) Mesothelioma.

(11) Multiple myeloma.

(12) Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

(13) Prostate cancer.

(14) Skin cancer (melanoma).

(15) A sudden cardiac event or stroke while, or not later than 24 hours after, engaging in activities related to the employee's occupation.

(16) Testicular cancer.

(17) Thyroid cancer.

(b) Contents.--The report required under subsection (a) shall include--

(1) a description of any known barriers to the delivery of health care to Federal firefighters submitting an occupational claim under chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code (known as the “Federal Employees' Compensation Act”), including denials of claims and delays in the processing of claims, and the degree to which such barriers impact the ability of firefighters with legitimate medical needs, including firefighters in rural areas, to access treatment for diseases described in subsection (a);

(2) an evaluation of the claims submitted by firefighters and survivors under such Act that have been approved, denied, or are waiting for a final determination, including--

(A) the percentages of claims approved; and

(B) the average amount of time it takes for a claim to be resolved; and

(3) a description of the standard that the Department of Labor is using to determine causation with respect to such claims, including information on how the Department created such standard and the frequency with which the Department regularly updates the standard to take into account the latest scientific research, if at all.