Pascrell Continues Fight for More Funding for Firefighter’s with Cancer

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) has asked members of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health to support his legislation (H.R. 3821) to reauthorize the Firefighter Cancer Registry for five years at a higher funding authorization level. Congressman Pascrell helped create the Registry in 2018 through his Firefighter Cancer Registry Act and is now leading legislation to extend this lifesaving program into the future.

“Supporting research for deadly diseases is one of the most effective ways in which the federal government can invest in improving the health outcomes of our citizenry. I am grateful that my bipartisan bill, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Reauthorization Act of 2023, is a part of today’s discussion. I appreciate the support of Reps. Fitzpatrick, Hoyer, and Bost, who are the co-chairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus and are my co-leads on H.R. 3821,” Congressman Pascrell told the subcommittee.

Created by Congress in 2018, the Firefighter Cancer Registry is maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor and study the relationship between career-long exposure to dangerous fumes and toxins and the incidence of cancer in firefighters so to develop better protective gear and prevention techniques. H.R. 3821 would authorize the Firefighter Cancer Registry for five years at $5.5 million, which is an increase from previous authorized level of $2.5 million. The International Association of Fire Fighters, New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Congressional Fire Services Institute, National Volunteer Fire Council, and National Fallen Firefighters Foundation support H.R.3821.

In 2015, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a multi-year study which found that firefighters are 9% more likely to develop cancer and 14% more likely to die from cancer relative to the general population. Last year, cancer was the leading cause of death among firefighters, accounting for 74% of line of duty deaths according to the International Association of Fire Fighters.

On July 9, 2018, legislation sponsored by Rep. Pascrell and Sen. Menendez creating a firefighter cancer registry for the first time was signed into law. Their bill required the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to create a national cancer registry for firefighters to monitor and study the relationship between career-long exposure to dangerous fumes and toxins and the incidence of cancer in firefighters so to develop better protective gear and prevention techniques. Rep. Pascrell and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) first announced the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act in May 2016 during a news conference at Clifton, New Jersey Fire Station 5, where they were joined by dozens of firefighters, including retired Haddon Heights Fire Chief Gene Dannenfelster, who later lost his battle with cancer.

The full text of Congressman Pascrell’s written statement to the committee is below.

Testimony of the Honorable Bill Pascrell, Jr. for

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Legislative Hearing

“Examining Proposals that Provide Access to Care for Patients and Support Research for Rare Diseases.”

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

I thank Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Health Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie, and Ranking Member Anna Eshoo for your important work in holding this critical hearing. This committee has an important opportunity to show needed leadership and support for protecting the health of our nation’s firefighters.

Supporting research for deadly diseases is one of the most effective ways in which the federal government can invest in improving the health outcomes of our citizenry. I am grateful that my bipartisan bill, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R. 3821), is a part of today’s discussion. I appreciate the support of Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Steny Hoyer, and Mike Bost, who are the co-chairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus and are my co-leads on H.R. 3821.

While the immediate, physical toll of the firefighting profession is tangible, the effects of exposure to deadly toxins and carcinogens can take years to develop. In 2015, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a multi-year study which found that firefighters are nine percent more likely to develop cancer and 14 percent more likely to die from cancer relative to the general population. Cancer is now the leading cause of death for firefighters.

Nearly three years ago, Paterson, New Jersey firefighter Jerry Behnke tragically lost his life to cancer. He was a leader in our community. He embodied the very best of public service. He was my dear friend.

We have found that this story is too common. Eduardo Diaz of Hasbrouck Heights was a career firefighter at North Hudson Regional who we lost to cancer six years ago at the age of 53.

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, information about their cancer is reported to the cancer registry in their state. However, specific details about their work are not taken into account. By collecting occupational information, the National Firefighter Registry allows researchers to better understand cancer and its risk factors in the fire service.

Congress created the Firefighter Cancer Registry by passing my bill (H.R. 931) into law in 2018 to study the relationship between long-term exposure to dangerous fumes and toxins and the incidence of cancer in firefighters. In April 2023, the registry officially opened. Since then, the volunteer registry has already signed up thousands of firefighters. This is the largest effort in our nation’s history to understand and reduce cancer among firefighters.

H.R. 3821 would simply reauthorize the registry for five years at a modest level of funding needed to continue this important mission.

I am pleased to have worked with the many prominent firefighting organizations on this legislation to ensure our government is doing more to combat this pernicious disease. Thank you to the International Association of Fire Fighters, New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Congressional Fire Services Institute, and National Volunteer Fire Council.

Congress should act expeditiously to reauthorize the Firefighter Cancer Registry and I thank the committee for holding this hearing on our bipartisan bill.