S. 153

Healthy Firefighters Act

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II

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 153

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 4, 2007

Mrs. Boxer introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

February 5, 2007

Committee discharged; referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

A BILL

To provide for the monitoring of the long-term medical health of firefighters who responded to emergencies in certain disaster areas and for the treatment of such firefighters.

1.

Short title

This Act may be referred to as the Healthy Firefighters Act.

2.

Findings

Congress makes the following findings:

(1)

Firefighters from the San Jacinto Ranger District responded to the Esperanza Incident wildfire in southern California in October of 2006.

(2)

Five firefighters from the San Jacinto Ranger District lost their lives as a consequence of fighting that fire.

3.

Monitoring and treatment of firefighters in disaster areas

(a)

In General

The United States Fire Administration, after consultation with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, shall—

(1)

contract with an appropriate, locally based medical research university to conduct long-term medical health monitoring of those firefighters who responded to emergencies in any areas referred to in subsection (b); and

(2)

in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, provide for the treatment of firefighters described in paragraph (1) who suffer health-related conditions as a result of responding to such emergencies.

(b)

Affected Firefighters

An area referred to in this subsection is any area which is declared a disaster area by the Federal Government.

(c)

Health Monitoring

The long-term health monitoring referred to in subsection (a) shall include—

(1)

pulmonary illness, neurological damage, and cardiovascular damage; and

(2)

exposure documentation.

(d)

Authorization of Appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the United States Fire Administration to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011.