HR 2499 · 117th Congress 2021–2023, ended

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022

Introduced Apr 14, 2021 Originated House Sponsor Salud O. Carbajal D-CA

Fact sheet Spreadsheet

Latest action · May 12, 2022 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

  1. IntroducedApr 14, 2021
  2. Passed HouseMay 11, 2022
  3. Passed SenateNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. Became lawNot reached

Summary

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022

This bill makes it easier for federally employed firefighters who contract certain illnesses to qualify for federal workers' compensation.

Specifically, the bill provides that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mesothelioma, and specified other cancers of those employed in fire protection activities for at least five years are presumed to be proximately caused by such employment for purposes of a disability or death claim under the federal workers' compensation program. This presumption also applies to federal employees employed in fire protection activities for at least five years who experience a sudden cardiac event or stroke within 24 hours of performing a fire protection activity.

The bill also requires the Department of Labor to conduct a review to determine whether breast cancer, gynecological cancer, and rhabdomyolysis should be included under the presumption and to conduct periodic reviews to determine whether other diseases should be included. In addition, a person may petition Labor to include another disease under the presumption.

An employee in fire protection activities is a firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, rescue worker, ambulance personnel, or hazardous material worker who (1) is trained in fire suppression; (2) has the legal authority and responsibility to engage in fire suppression; (3) is engaged in the prevention, control, and extinguishing of fires or response to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk, including the prevention, control, suppression, or management of wildland fires; and (4) performs such activities as a primary responsibility.

Recorded votes 4

Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.

Roll callQuestionResultDate
House 149Passed288–131May 11, 2022
House 148Failed180–242May 11, 2022
House 147Agreed to419–0May 11, 2022
House 146Agreed to224–195May 11, 2022

Cosponsors 203

Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Apr 14, 2021 to May 6, 2022; 3 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
R-PABrian K. FitzpatrickOriginalApr 14, 2021
R-NEDon BaconOriginalApr 14, 2021
D-CAMark TakanoOriginalApr 14, 2021
D-PAMary Gay ScanlonMay 4, 2021
R-OHMichael R. TurnerMay 4, 2021
D-ILBill FosterMay 25, 2021
D-CABrad ShermanMay 25, 2021
D-MEChellie PingreeMay 25, 2021
D-MOCori BushMay 25, 2021
D-DCEleanor Holmes NortonMay 25, 2021
D-CAEric SwalwellMay 25, 2021
D-CAGrace F. NapolitanoMay 25, 2021
D-CAScott H. PetersMay 25, 2021
D-PASusan WildMay 25, 2021
R-NJChristopher H. SmithMay 28, 2021
D-OHTim RyanMay 28, 2021
D-NJJefferson Van DrewJun 8, 2021
D-CAJosh HarderJun 16, 2021
D-NYSean Patrick MaloneyJun 16, 2021
D-VAAbigail Davis SpanbergerJun 23, 2021
D-FLAl Lawson, Jr.Jun 23, 2021
D-NJAndy KimJun 23, 2021
D-MNAngie CraigJun 23, 2021
D-MDAnthony G. BrownJun 23, 2021
R-OHBill JohnsonJun 23, 2021
D-PAConor LambJun 23, 2021
D-VAElaine G. LuriaJun 23, 2021
D-PAMadeleine DeanJun 23, 2021
D-WAMarilyn StricklandJun 23, 2021
D-NJMikie SherrillJun 23, 2021
D-WARick LarsenJun 23, 2021
D-TNSteve CohenJun 23, 2021
D-FLVal Butler DemingsJun 23, 2021
D-MDJamie RaskinJun 24, 2021
D-WAKim SchrierJun 24, 2021
D-MIDaniel T. KildeeJun 25, 2021
R-CADoug LaMalfaJun 25, 2021
D-CAJim CostaJun 28, 2021
D-NCKathy E. ManningJun 28, 2021
D-NYAntonio DelgadoJun 29, 2021
R-WVDavid B. McKinleyJul 2, 2021
D-MDDavid J. TroneJul 2, 2021
D-FLDebbie Wasserman SchultzJul 2, 2021
D-COEd PerlmutterJul 2, 2021
D-MIElissa SlotkinJul 2, 2021
D-CTJahana HayesJul 2, 2021
D-CTJoe CourtneyJul 2, 2021
D-CAJulia BrownleyJul 2, 2021
D-MALori TrahanJul 2, 2021
D-WIMark PocanJul 2, 2021
D-ILMike QuigleyJul 2, 2021
D-TXSheila Jackson LeeJul 2, 2021
D-NVSteven HorsfordJul 2, 2021
D-CABarbara LeeJul 16, 2021
D-MDC. A. Dutch RuppersbergerJul 16, 2021
D-PAChrissy HoulahanJul 16, 2021
D-IACynthia AxneJul 16, 2021
R-NEJeff FortenberryJul 16, 2021
D-CAJerry McNerneyJul 16, 2021
D-CAJimmy PanettaJul 16, 2021
D-CAJohn GaramendiJul 16, 2021
D-MDJohn P. SarbanesJul 16, 2021
D-CAJuan VargasJul 16, 2021
D-CAKatie PorterJul 16, 2021
D-NMMelanie A. StansburyJul 16, 2021
D-CAMike LevinJul 16, 2021
D-CANanette Diaz BarragánJul 16, 2021
D-MAStephen F. LynchJul 16, 2021
D-NYThomas R. SuozziJul 16, 2021
D-AZTom O'HalleranJul 16, 2021
D-LATroy A. CarterJul 16, 2021
D-TXVicente GonzalezJul 16, 2021
D-CAAlan S. LowenthalJul 21, 2021
R-NYAndrew R. GarbarinoJul 21, 2021
D-NJBill Pascrell, Jr.Jul 21, 2021
D-COJoe NeguseJul 21, 2021
D-NJJosh GottheimerJul 21, 2021
D-CAPete AguilarJul 22, 2021
D-NYCarolyn B. MaloneyJul 26, 2021
D-NJDonald NorcrossJul 26, 2021
D-VADonald S. Beyer, Jr.Jul 26, 2021
D-MAJames P. McGovernJul 26, 2021
D-CAMaxine WatersJul 26, 2021
D-MIAndy LevinJul 30, 2021
D-MNIlhan OmarJul 30, 2021
D-NYJoseph D. MorelleJul 30, 2021
D-AZRaúl M. GrijalvaJul 30, 2021
D-TXVeronica EscobarAug 6, 2021
D-ILCheri BustosAug 23, 2021
D-NVDina TitusAug 23, 2021
D-CAMark DeSaulnierAug 23, 2021
D-CAJ. Luis CorreaAug 24, 2021
D-CALinda T. SánchezSep 20, 2021
D-HIKaiali'i KaheleSep 21, 2021
D-MOEmanuel CleaverOct 8, 2021
D-NHChris PappasDec 1, 2021
D-NHAnn M. KusterDec 2, 2021
R-MOAnn WagnerDec 7, 2021
D-WADerek KilmerJan 3, 2022
D-GACarolyn BourdeauxJan 10, 2022
R-TXTony GonzalesFeb 1, 2022
D-FLDarren SotoFeb 15, 2022
R-AKDon YoungFeb 15, 2022
D-MEJared F. GoldenFeb 15, 2022
D-FLLois FrankelFeb 15, 2022
D-CARo KhannaFeb 15, 2022
D-VAJennifer WextonFeb 28, 2022
D-NYJerrold NadlerFeb 28, 2022
D-CALucille Roybal-AllardFeb 28, 2022
D-ILSean CastenFeb 28, 2022
D-CATony CárdenasFeb 28, 2022
D-CAJared HuffmanMar 2, 2022
D-ORKurt SchraderMar 2, 2022
D-NYRitchie TorresMar 2, 2022
D-NYAdriano EspaillatMar 7, 2022
D-NCAlma S. AdamsMar 7, 2022
D-PABrendan F. BoyleMar 7, 2022
D-NYBrian HigginsMar 7, 2022
D-MIDebbie DingellMar 7, 2022
D-CODiana DeGetteMar 7, 2022
D-CADoris O. MatsuiMar 7, 2022
D-OREarl BlumenauerMar 7, 2022
D-VAGerald E. ConnollyMar 7, 2022
D-TXHenry CuellarMar 7, 2022
D-COJason CrowMar 7, 2022
D-CANorma J. TorresMar 7, 2022
D-WAPramila JayapalMar 7, 2022
D-INAndré CarsonMar 8, 2022
D-MNBetty McCollumMar 8, 2022
D-ILBobby L. RushMar 8, 2022
D-MIBrenda L. LawrenceMar 8, 2022
D-NCDeborah K. RossMar 8, 2022
D-FLFrederica S. WilsonMar 8, 2022
R-PAGlenn ThompsonMar 8, 2022
D-MAJake AuchinclossMar 8, 2022
D-ILJesús G. "Chuy" GarcíaMar 8, 2022
D-TXJoaquin CastroMar 8, 2022
D-ORPeter A. DeFazioMar 8, 2022
D-MIRashida TlaibMar 8, 2022
D-AZRuben GallegoMar 8, 2022
D-GASanford D. Bishop, Jr.Mar 8, 2022
D-FLSheila Cherfilus-McCormickMar 8, 2022
D-WASuzan K. DelBeneMar 8, 2022
D-ORSuzanne BonamiciMar 8, 2022
D-NMTeresa Leger FernandezMar 8, 2022
D-NJTom MalinowskiMar 8, 2022
R-FLMaria Elvira SalazarMar 9, 2022
D-ILMarie NewmanMar 9, 2022
D-NYGrace MengMar 11, 2022
D-VARobert C. "Bobby" ScottMar 11, 2022
D-INFrank J. MrvanMar 15, 2022
R-WAJaime Herrera BeutlerMar 15, 2022
D-NYJamaal BowmanMar 15, 2022
D-MDKweisi MfumeMar 15, 2022
R-NYJohn KatkoMar 18, 2022
D-NYMondaire JonesMar 18, 2022
R-OKTom ColeMar 18, 2022
R-NYTom ReedMar 18, 2022
D-CAAdam B. SchiffMar 28, 2022
R-OHDavid P. JoyceMar 28, 2022
D-KYJohn A. YarmuthMar 28, 2022
R-VARobert J. WittmanMar 28, 2022
D-CAZoe LofgrenMar 28, 2022
D-AZGreg StantonApr 4, 2022
R-WYLiz CheneyApr 4, 2022
D-OHShontel M. BrownApr 4, 2022
D-VAA. Donald McEachinApr 11, 2022
D-NJBonnie Watson ColemanApr 11, 2022
D-ILDanny K. DavisApr 11, 2022
D-GADavid ScottApr 11, 2022
D-NYHakeem S. JeffriesApr 11, 2022
D-RIJames R. LangevinApr 11, 2022
D-ILJanice D. SchakowskyApr 11, 2022
D-GALucy McBathApr 11, 2022
D-OHMarcy KapturApr 11, 2022
D-GANikema WilliamsApr 11, 2022
D-NYNydia M. VelázquezApr 11, 2022
D-ILRobin L. KellyApr 11, 2022
D-CAJudy ChuApr 14, 2022
R-NCRichard HudsonApr 14, 2022
D-MASeth MoultonApr 14, 2022
R-KYAndy BarrApr 21, 2022
D-CTJohn B. LarsonMay 3, 2022
D-WAAdam SmithMay 6, 2022
D-TXAl GreenMay 6, 2022
D-CAAmi BeraMay 6, 2022
R-ASAumua Amata Coleman RadewagenMay 6, 2022
D-RIDavid N. CicillineMay 6, 2022
D-PADwight EvansMay 6, 2022
D-MPGregorio Kilili Camacho SablanMay 6, 2022
D-MIHaley M. StevensMay 6, 2022
D-GAHenry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr.May 6, 2022
D-CTJames A. HimesMay 6, 2022
D-MAKatherine M. ClarkMay 6, 2022
D-DELisa Blunt RochesterMay 6, 2022
D-TXMarc A. VeaseyMay 6, 2022
R-ILMike BostMay 6, 2022
D-CAMike ThompsonMay 6, 2022
D-VTPeter WelchMay 6, 2022
D-ILRaja KrishnamoorthiMay 6, 2022
D-CASara JacobsMay 6, 2022
D-ALTerri A. SewellMay 6, 2022
R-CAYoung KimMay 6, 2022

Committees 2

Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.

ChamberCommitteeWhat it did
HouseEducation and Workforce Committee
Referred Apr 14, 2021Markup Mar 16, 2022Reported May 6, 2022
SenateHomeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Referred May 12, 2022

Actions 19

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. May 12, 2022Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  2. May 11, 2022Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1097. (consideration: CR H4816-4831)
  3. May 11, 2022Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 903, H.R. 2499, H.R. 5129 and H.R. 7691. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 903, H.R. 2499, and H.R. 5129 under a structured rule. H.R. 7691 is considered under a closed rule. Bills considered under the rule are debatable for one hour. The rule provides that H. Res. 1096 is adopted and amends H. Res. 188 by striking May 13, 2022 and inserting June 10, 2022.
  4. May 11, 2022DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 2499.
  5. May 11, 2022DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1097, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment en bloc No. 1.
Show all 19 actions

In the Congressional Record 3

Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.

WhereIn the RecordMembersDate
House · ExtensionsDebate and remarks E492, H4875Joe Neguse D-CO, Vicente Gonzalez D-TXMay 12, 2022
HouseDebate and remarks H4816–H4831Text printed H4816Amendments H4822, H4823, H4826Recorded votes H4828, H4829, H4830enactJoyce of Ohio amendment (increase time period claimant under Federal Employee Compensation Act may supply supporting documentation to Office of Workers' Compensation)Scott of Virginia amendment (en bloc)Lists H4828, H4829, H4830, H4831Votes recorded by proxy on H.R. 2499, Federal Firefighters Fairness ActVotes recorded by proxy on Joyce of Ohio amendment to H.R. 2499, Federal Firefighters Fairness ActVotes recorded by proxy on Keller amendment to H.R. 2499, Federal Firefighters Fairness ActVotes recorded by proxy on Scott of Virginia amendment to H.R. 2499, Federal Firefighters Fairness ActAl Green D-TX, André Carson D-IN, Bill Pascrell, Jr. D-NJ, Bruce Westerman R-AR, Chrissy Houlahan D-PA (amendment), David P. Joyce R-OH (amendment), Fred Keller R-PA (amendment), Greg Stanton D-AZ (amendment), Marjorie Taylor Greene R-GA, Mikie Sherrill D-NJ, Norma J. Torres D-CA (amendment), Rashida Tlaib D-MI (amendment), Robert C. "Bobby" Scott D-VA, Salud O. Carbajal D-CA, Sheila Jackson Lee D-TX (amendment), Steny H. Hoyer D-MD, Susan Wild D-PA, Suzanne Bonamici D-OR, Teresa Leger Fernandez D-NM, Virginia Foxx R-NCMay 11, 2022
HouseDebate and remarks H4764–H4774Text printed H4764Amendments H4773Recorded votes H4773consideration (H. Res. 1097), previous questionLists H4773, H4774Votes recorded by proxy on H. Res. 1097, consideration of H.R. 2499, Federal Firefighters Fairness ActVotes recorded by proxy on previous question to H. Res. 1097, consideration of H.R. 2499, Federal Firefighters Fairness ActAbigail Davis Spanberger D-VA, Jamie Raskin D-MD, Michelle Fischbach R-MN (amendment)May 10, 2022

Research

What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.

Committee report

Congressional Budget Office cost estimate

  1. Apr 19, 2022H.R. 2499, Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022As ordered reported by the House Committee on Education and Labor on March 16, 2022

Constitutional authority

Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant to the following: Article I, Section 8

The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 167, no. 64, April 14, 2021, page H1790.

Printed hearings 3

Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.

NumberHearingCommitteeHeld
Serial No. 117-24MARKUP OF H.R. 6353, TO AUTHORIZE THE NATIONAL SERVICE ANIMALS MONUMENT CORPORATION TO ESTABLISH A COMMEMORATIVE WORK IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND ITS ENVIRONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, ``NATIONAL SERVICE ANIMALS MEMORIAL ACT''; H.R. 6438, TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO CONDUCT A SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY OF THE SITE KNOWN AS ``DEARFIELD'' IN THE STATE OF COLORADO, ``DEARFIELD STUDY ACT''; H.R. 6799, TO DIRECT THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO CONDUCT A SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY TO DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY AND FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING THE JOHN P. PARKER HOUSE IN RIPLEY, OHIO, AS A UNIT OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM, ``JOHN P. PARKER HOUSE STUDY ACT''; H.R. 7618, TO DESIGNATE THE KOL ISRAEL FOUNDATION HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL IN BEDFORD HEIGHTS, OHIO, AS A NATIONAL MEMORIAL; AND H.R. 8393, TO ENABLE THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO RICO TO CHOOSE A PERMANENT, NONTERRITORIAL, FULLY SELF-GOVERNING POLITICAL STATUS FOR PUERTO RICO AND TO PROVIDE FOR A TRANSITION TO AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT495 pagesNatural Resources CommitteeJul 20, 2022
Serial No. 117-37STRENGTHENING THE SAFETY NET FOR INJURED WORKERS144 pagesEducation and Workforce CommitteeDec 2, 2021
Serial No. 117-3H.R. 1522, ``PUERTO RICO STATEHOOD ADMISSION ACT''; AND H.R. 2070, ``PUERTO RICO SELF-DETERMINATION ACT OF 2021''147 pagesNatural Resources CommitteeApr 14, 2021

Amendments 4

Amendments offered to this bill.

AmendmentDescriptionOffered byStatus
HAmdt 193Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1097, the amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 117-41, modified by the amendment printed in part C of this report is considered adopted.Rules CommitteeOn agreeing to the Rules amendment (A001) Agreed to by voice vote.
HAmdt 194Amendments en bloc comprised of amendments numbered 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8, printed in Part D of House Report 117-320.Robert C. "Bobby" Scott D-VAOn agreeing to the Scott (VA) amendments (A002) Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 224 - 195 (Roll no. 146).
HAmdt 195Amendment adds the Kenneth Meisel Public Servants Claimant Fairness Act, which amends the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) to establish that claimants who have been asked by the Office of Workers Compensation Programs to provide additional evidence to support their occupational illness, traumatic injury, or death claim have at least 60 days to provide such evidence.David P. Joyce R-OHOn agreeing to the Joyce (OH) amendment (A003) Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 419 - 0 (Roll no. 147).
HAmdt 196Amendment sought to strike the text of the bill and insert a provision establishing the Firefighter Special Claims Unit at the Department of Labor to process any claim relating to occupational disease filed by a federal firefighter, and direct GAO to submit a report describing any known barriers to the delivery of health care to federal firefighters.Fred Keller R-PAOn agreeing to the Keller amendment (A004) Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 180 - 242 (Roll no. 148).

Related bills 2

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

BillTitleRelationshipLatest action
HRES 1097Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 903) to enhance the security operations of the Transportation Security Administration and stability of the transportation security workforce by applying the personnel system under title 5, United States Code, to employees of the Transportation Security Administration who provide screening of all passengers and property, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2499) to amend chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, to create a presumption that a disability or death of a Federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employees duty, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5129) to amend the Community Services Block Grant Act to reauthorize and modernize the Act; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R 7691) making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.Procedurally relatedMay 10, 2022
S 1116Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022Identical billSep 13, 2022

Titles 5

Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.

Official Title as Introduced
To amend chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, to create a presumption that a disability or death of a Federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employees duty, and for other purposes.
Short Title(s) as Introduced
Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2021
Short Title(s) as Reported to House
Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022
Short Title(s) as Passed House
Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022
Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text
Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Government Operations and Politics.

Text 4

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

  1. May 12, 2022Referred in Senate
  2. May 11, 2022Engrossed in House
  3. May 6, 2022Reported in House
  4. Apr 14, 2021Introduced in House

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Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.