Central ND News

The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, a bill that aims to extend benefits to the families of first responders who succumb to cancer due to exposure to carcinogens during their service. This bipartisan legislation was initially introduced by U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) last year. It also seeks to provide disability benefits in instances where these first responders become permanently and totally disabled due to cancer.

"Firefighters and first responders put their lives and health on the line every day and have an increased risk of receiving devastating diagnoses many years after exposure to carcinogens," stated Cramer. "Our bill expands benefits to include occupationally-connected cancers to care for those who protect our communities. I applaud the bill’s passage out of committee today and implore Leader Schumer to take it up on the Senate floor."

Senator Klobuchar echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the critical role that first responders play in ensuring community safety. She expressed her disappointment that officers who fall victim to work-related cancer or become permanently disabled do not receive equivalent treatment as others who die in active duty.

The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act has received endorsements from various stakeholders, including The International Association of Fire Fighters; Fraternal Order of Police; International Association of Fire Chiefs; National Association of Police Organizations; National Volunteer Fire Council; Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association; National Fallen Firefighters Foundation; Congressional Fire Services Institute; and Sergeants Benevolent Association of New York City.