Menendez, Booker, 11 Senators Reintroduce Bipartisan Firefighter Cancer Registry Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker today reintroduced bipartisan legislation with 11 other Senate cosponsors to create a national cancer registry for firefighters diagnosed with the deadly disease.  Firefighters are exposed to a range of harmful toxins, and research has indicated that there is a strong connection between firefighting and an increased risk for several major cancers such as testicular, stomach, multiple myeloma and brain cancers.

“Firefighters risk their lives and health every time they answer the bell.  And it’s not just smoke and flames they have to worry about, but dangerous fumes and toxins, in some cases known carcinogens, released during a fire that pose additional risks for the men and women who so bravely charge-in to ensure our safety,” said Sen. Menendez.  “By studying, quantifying and understanding the risks of cancer for firefighters, it is my sincere hope that we can develop better ways of protecting them and preventing cancer.”

“Our brave firefighters put their lives on the line keeping our families and New Jersey communities safe. Just as they protect us, we have an obligation to protect them against threats to their health,” said Sen. Booker.  “By prioritizing data collection on the incidence of cancer among firefighters, we are reinforcing our commitment to improve the health and well-being of these courageous men and women.”

The Firefighter Cancer Registry Act would monitor and study the relationship between career-long exposure to dangerous fumes and toxins and the incidence of cancer in firefighters to determine if there is a link, and to develop better protective gear and prevention techniques.

The registry would improve collection capabilities and activities related to the nationwide monitoring of cancer incidence among all firefighters – career and volunteer. Specifically, the registry would:

• Store and consolidate epidemiological information submitted by healthcare professionals related to cancer incidence among firefighters

• Make de-identified data available to public health researchers to provide them with robust and comprehensive datasets to expand groundbreaking research

• Improve our understanding of cancer incidence and could potentially lead to the development of more sophisticated safety protocols and safeguards as more data is collected

• To ensure the effectiveness of the registry, its administrators would be required to consult regularly with epidemiologists, public health experts, clinicians, and firefighters.

In May, Sen. Menendez first introduced the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act with Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as original cosponsors during the last Congress.

“This is an issue that hits close to home, because we have seen firsthand in Alaska firefighters not only diagnosed with, but lose their battle with, cancer directly linked to exposure on the job. We must do what we can to address cancer rates among our firefighters—true heroes who put everything on the line for our safety,” said Sen. Murkowski.  “This critical legislation will enable us to look at the data and determine the best possible response to the increased risk of cancer among firefighters.  I am proud to support some of the bravest men and women in our communities.”

“Firefighters across Minnesota and our country sacrifice their safety each day for others in their community.  The very least we can do is help protect their health through improved research into the links between their work and occurrences of deadly diseases like cancer,” Sen. Klobuchar said.  “The establishment of a national cancer registry is an important step forward in helping our brave firefighters in their fight against this disease.”

“Firefighters put their lives on the line each and every time they are called on to protect civilians from dangerous fires, making them susceptible to multiple health complications, including cancer.  I am proud to support a bill that aims to prevent and protect firefighters from deadly diseases,” said Sen. Rubio.

Led by Sen. Menendez, the current Senate bill is cosponsored by Booker, Murkowski, Klobuchar, Rubio, Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.).  Congressmen Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J.) and Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) are the lead sponsors of companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

The Firefighter Cancer Registry Act has strong support from several major fire organizations, including the National Volunteer Fire Council, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, the Congressional Fire Services Institute, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the International Fire Services Training Association, the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey, and the New Jersey State Firefighters’ Mutual Benevolent Association.