Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2018

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 931) to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a voluntary registry to collect data on cancer incidence among firefighters, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 931, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2017, introduced by my friend and colleague on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Representative Chris Collins from New York, who we will hear from shortly, will create a national registry to collect information to better understand cancer incidence in firefighters.

These heroic first responders experience occupational health risks every day. In my district, it is oftentimes from forest fires, like we are having all summer long. This past weekend I saw firsthand what our firefighters face as they battle a number of fires raging in Oregon, putting themselves in harm's way to save property, infrastructure, lives, watersheds, habitats, and our forests.

I was deeply reminded yesterday morning, as I watched some of the news coverage that took us back 16 years ago to 9/11, and seeing the scenes of the buildings collapsing and burning and the people emerging, individual citizens, first responders, caked in dust and toxins and dealing with smoke, you realize just the peril that our first responders often find themselves in. They rush into buildings to save lives, and we deeply appreciate what they do. That is why this legislation is an important step to help them.

Nationwide, we have this problem with our firefighters. They came to us and said: We need this registry.

Again, going back to the West and what we face, and I saw it when I flew across the country to come here, not only are there fires and smoke throughout Oregon, but also all across the West: Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, hill and valley choked with smoke.

Close to 8 million acres burned in wildfires so far this year; more than half a million in Oregon on both public and mostly private lands. Thousands of residents have had to be evacuated. Firefighters, of course, stayed behind. They do what they do.

Multiple studies have shown a correlation between firefighting and cancer. However, the reasons behind this are not fully understood. We owe it to these first responders to understand the causal link to cancer. Having better data to identify why firefighters are at an increased risk for some cancers will hopefully lead to better protective measures and ultimately reduce some of the hazards that they face when putting their lives on the line.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from New York (Mr. Collins) for his good work on this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Collins), the author of this very important legislation and an important member of our committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), the chairman of the

Subcommittee on Health, the gentleman who helped move this legislation forward, and leads our committee on matters of health.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Lance), another very important member of our Energy and Commerce Committee, who I know had many constituents horribly affected by the tragic events of 9/11.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Faso), who also had constituents who were very affected by the events of 9/11.

Mr. Speaker, we all join in thanking our first responders. This is the least of the things we can do to show how much we care about our firefighters, and I would encourage our colleagues in the House to support this very important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 931, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act. I want to thank my partner, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Collins), for introducing this bill. I thank as well Chairman Walden, Ranking Member Pallone, Dr. Burgess, and Mr. Green for helping to shepherd our bill through the Energy and Commerce Committee and onto the floor day.

As co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus and lead Democratic sponsor of this bill, I am proud to stand up for the brave men and women of our fire service. It is these individuals who put their lives on the line day in and day out to keep our communities safe.

In addition to ensuring that our first responders are prepared in advance of disasters and other emergencies, we must also ensure that they receive the necessary medical care and services after answering the call of duty.

When the courageous men and women in the fire services enter dangerous situations, they do not stop to ask whether they are subjecting themselves to long-term health risks.

Yesterday, across this Nation, we honored the first responders that answered the call of duty after the terrorists attacked us on September 11. Many of those brave men and women gave their lives, and many more are living with long-term health problems stemming from the time they spent at toxic Ground Zero.

As evidenced on that day, many before and since, our first responders do whatever is necessary to keep our communities safe. That is why we must have their backs.

While we know that firefighters are routinely exposed to a variety of known carcinogens in chaotic and uncontrolled environments, we do not have a good sense of the full picture of the negative impacts of the exposure.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, firefighters are at higher risk for certain kinds of cancer, including brain cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, and kidney cancer, when compared with the general population.

Despite the knowledge we have gained through these studies, many have been limited by small sample sizes and an underrepresentation of key demographic groups.

The first step to finding solutions is understanding the nature of the problem. Further public health research on this topic is needed so we can start working to find ways to alleviate this risk.

I am pleased that H.R. 931 is on the floor today. It would create a national cancer registry for firefighters diagnosed with this deadly disease. The creation of a specialized firefighter cancer registry will provide scientists and medical professionals with the detailed national data that will allow them to study the relationships between firefighters' exposure to dangerous fumes and harmful toxins and the increased risk for several major cancers. In the future, this information could also allow for better protective equipment and prevention techniques to be developed.

This bill enjoys strong support from major fire organizations across our Nation, including the International Association of Firefighters, the Congressional Fire Services Institute, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the New Jersey State Firefighters' Mutual Benevolent Association, and the International Fire Service Training Association.

Taking care of the brave men and women of the fire service is an important task. We cannot delay in getting them the help they need. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House to pass this bill swiftly so we can work on getting it through the Senate and onto the President's desk.

Mr. Speaker, I come before you in support of my bill, H.R. 931, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act.

Sixteen years ago yesterday, on September 11, 2001, we witnessed a horrible tragedy that will leave an impression on generations of Americans forever. Through this tragedy, we witnessed the heroic actions of America's brave first responders working and volunteering in the days and weeks that followed.

We lost many first responders during those attacks of 9/11, and we continue to lose more every year from ongoing health effects.

All firefighters across our Nation sacrifice their health every day to face the dangers of smoke inhalation and toxic chemicals. These dangers cannot be entirely avoided, which is why this bill, H.R. 931, is so important. This bipartisan legislation takes an important first step towards addressing the detrimental health impacts faced by our Nation's firefighters.

The career of firefighting is a dangerous one. There are nearly 1.2 million men and women serving as firefighters in the United States. With every single fire they fight, these heroes take their lives into their own hands. Firefighters bravely risk their safety to protect our families, our homes, and our communities.

Unfortunately, the risks of firefighting surpass the scene of the fire. These men and women are exposed to dangerous smoke and chemicals that often result in a lifetime of health trouble. We see firefighters all across the United States with higher rates of cancer than the general population, and it is vital that we learn more about this correlation.

That is why I, along with my colleague, Representative Bill Pascrell, introduced the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act. This bill will require the CDC to establish a registry to track cancer incidence in the firefighting community. This comprehensive registry will work with fire departments across our Nation to include the important variables of a firefighter's career, including years of service, number of fires attended, and the types of fires attended. This information is essential to the development of future protocols, safeguards, and the development of equipment that will better protect these men and women.

Firefighters put their lives at risk every day, and Congress should do all it can to shed light and reduce the health hazards they face. I would like to commend Chairman Walden and Ranking Member Pallone of the full committee, and Chairman Burgess and Ranking Member Green of the Health Subcommittee for a bipartisan showing of support during both markups of this legislation. I cannot think of a more relevant week to bring this legislation to the House floor. I urge the rest of my colleagues to support the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act, as we honor tragic losses of September 11.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 931, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2017. Yesterday we recognized the sixteenth anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks. The tragic

events on that day exhibited the heroism our firefighters and other first responders display as they run toward disaster while everyone else runs away.

The long-term health consequences on September 11, including several forms of cancer and chronic respiratory conditions among first responders, also serve as a reminder of the unique health risks firefighters face. As firefighters run into burning buildings and other environments, they often do not know whether carcinogens or hazardous materials are present. Such exposures have resulted in cancer becoming the leading cause of line of duty death among firefighters. My grandfather was a captain in the Houston Fire Department and died of cancer.

We still do not fully understand the relationship between firefighters and cancer risk. That is why a more comprehensive approach is needed to understand this relationship. H.R. 931, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act, will create a voluntary cancer registry of firefighters to collect data on their cancer risks and outcomes related to their job exposures. This registry will inform research into the health risks facing firefighters, as well as ways to mitigate such risks. That evidence will allow us to implement new practices and develop new tools to protect the health of individuals who courageously put their lives at risk to protect the public.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), a cosponsor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we have no more speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in very strong support of the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act sponsored by my close friends, Congressman Collins and Congressman Pascrell.

Congressman Collins has been involved in this issue for many years, including as an Erie County executive in western New York. Congressman Pascrell has spent his entire public career in defense of firefighters as mayor of Paterson, as a member of the State legislature, and for more than two decades as a Member of Congress.

This bill will direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to collect data on cancer incidence among firefighters. We need this data to help save the lives of the brave heroes who put their lives on the line every day.

The CDC will compile critical information like risk factors and the dangers to which firefighters are exposed. This information collected on a voluntary basis will help develop better protective equipment and prevention techniques that can be disseminated across the country.

It is fitting that we consider this legislation this week as our Nation mourns the somber anniversary of the September 11 attacks. This country can never forget the images of firefighters, police, EMS, and other first responders initiating rescues and putting themselves in grave danger, both during and after the attacks.

Many lives were lost that day and, in the years that have followed, from the rescue and recovery work. Let's do all we can to make sure this information and best practices are shared so that we can protect as many lives as possible.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote.