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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 8, 2023 01:55 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Robert E. Merski and Rep. Patrick J. Harkins |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Cancer screenings for professional firefighters |
| Many are unaware that firefighter occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service. According to a multi-year study of nearly 30,000 career firefighters by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), firefighters have a nine percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general population of the United States. While these numbers are concerning, what is even more staggering is the study showed that firefighters’ risks for developing some specific types of cancer are significantly higher. For instance, firefighters have a 100 percent increased risk of getting mesothelioma; Firefighters have a 62 percent higher risk of getting esophageal cancer; Firefighters have just over 100 percent higher risk of getting testicular cancer. To combat these alarming statistics among professional firefighters, we will be introducing legislation aimed at improving the chances of survival from a cancer diagnosis and reducing long-term medical costs associated with cancer treatments by providing for as early detection of cancer as possible. To accomplish this goal, our legislation will require cancer screenings for every full-time paid firefighter to occur once within the first three years of employment and every three years thereafter while employed. The cancer screenings will be required under the health insurance policy of the full-time paid firefighter’s employer with no out-of-pocket costs to the firefighter. We owe it to the men and women who serve our communities as professional firefighters to help them in the fight against cancer. Please join us in this fight by supporting this potentially life-saving legislation. |
Introduced as HB1492