Families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty, alongside IAFF union leaders, gathered to advocate for expanded federal benefits for fallen fire fighters on Capitol Hill.
The focus of their efforts is the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2024, legislation aimed at providing greater support to families affected by occupational cancers.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the bipartisan bill in March 2023 with Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Reps. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) in honor of fallen St. Paul, MN Local 21 Captain Mike Paidar. The bill unanimously passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in May.
“When a fire fighter dies from occupational cancer, we owe it to them to ensure their families get the line-of-duty death benefits they are owed,” said General President Edward Kelly. “Cancer’s grip on the fire service is undeniable. The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act recognizes this by extending benefits to the survivors of our brothers and sisters who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
When a fire fighter dies from occupational cancer, we owe it to them to ensure their families get the line-of-duty death benefits they are owed.
general President edward Kelly
Among those present this week were members of the IAFF, the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters, Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters, and IAFF Locals throughout Virginia, Minnesota, Ohio, and Florida. IAFF locals were also joined by the survivors of fallen fire fighters from New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Texas, South Dakota, Missouri, Arizona, and California.
“It’s been extremely powerful to witness Julie Paidar tell her story to our lawmakers about losing her husband to acute myeloid leukemia in 2020. Mike was a captain of the Saint Paul Fire Department and developed AML from his exposures on the job as a fire fighter,” said Local 21 Secretary Kyle Thornberg. “The families deserve this. It is crucial we appropriately acknowledge the poignant impact when a fire fighter perishes in a structure fire, or dies from heart disease, or succumbs to cancer that is known to be developed from their exposure to harmful chemicals and toxic PPE.”
Along with IAFF union leaders, Aimee and her 11-year-old son walked through the halls of Congress sharing the story of Aimee’s late husband, Christopher Griffin – a fire fighter/EMT from Norfolk, VA Local 68, who died of occupational glioblastoma (brain cancer) in 2021.
“It’s about expanding Federal Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) benefits and making sure the federal government acknowledges our husbands’ deaths weren’t just in vain. We’re also all our kids have left, and we need to make sure their needs are taken care of too,” Aimee said.
In 2023, 72 percent of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service resulted from occupational cancer. The bill proposes expanding PSOB to assist families of first responders who died or were permanently disabled due to occupational cancer.
It’s about expanding Federal Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) benefits and making sure the federal government acknowledges our husbands’ deaths weren’t just in vain.
aimee griffin, wife of late fire fighter/emt chris griffin
The current federal PSOB program provides benefits for fire fighters who die in the line of duty due to traumatic incidents or specific medical conditions, such as 9/11-related cancers, heart attacks, and PTSD. However, it does not comprehensively cover occupational cancers, despite cancer being the leading cause of death among fire fighters.
“It’s very difficult to get these cancers covered, although we know it’s being caused by the job,” said Local 2924 President Max Gonano during a meeting with legislators.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) shared a message on social media commending the IAFF and fallen fire fighter families, affirming his commitment to expanding disability and death benefits for first responders affected by carcinogen exposure during their service.
“It was an honor to attend in Washington, D.C. this week with amazing folks from across this country. Working together with widows, children, friends, and fire fighters, we visited over 150 congressional offices to advocate for the bill,” said Julie Paidar, Mike’s wife. “Being able to meet in person with our legislators was so impactful, and we are very grateful for this opportunity to make a positive impact for families of the fallen.”
Passing the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act (S. 930) was among the IAFF’s legislative priorities at this year’s Alfred K. Whitehead Legislative Conference.
“Congress must stand with our families and recognize occupational cancer deaths as occurring in the line of duty,” said Kelly.
Members can use the IAFF’s online advocacy center to contact their members of Congress and urge them to support the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act.
