Legislation to reauthorize $5.5 million in annual funding through 2028 for the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer has passed both houses of Congress. The bill now moves to President Joe Biden’s desk for signature.
The IAFF has been a longtime supporter of the registry.
“Cancer is the greatest threat fire fighters face. But we need accurate data to help us take on this deadly disease,” IAFF General President Edward Kelly said. “That is why keeping this registry moving forward is so important.”
The National Firefighter Registry for Cancer Act was first passed in 2018. It directs the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to collect data related to cancer in fire fighters.
Researchers then analyze data to estimate an overall rate of cancer for fire fighters. This helps determine if certain groups are at a higher risk of cancer than others, based on level of exposure, geography, gender or other factors. This also will lead to studies on the efficacy of protective gear and cancer prevention polices.
The voluntary registry opened for enrollment in April 2023. All U.S. fire fighters are eligible to register, regardless of whether they have cancer. Those interested can do so here.
Earlier this year, Capt. Kenny Fent, Ph.D., CIH, NIOSH’s manager of the Firefighter Health Program, spoke about five common misconceptions fire fighters have about the program – and what you should know about the registry.
