February 20, 2007 – Legislation granting disability retirement benefits to federal fire fighters who contact certain illnesses on the job has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

HR 1142, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, was introduced by Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA) and Jo Ann Davis (R-VA). The bill creates a rebuttal presumption that federal fire fighters who become disabled by heart disease, lung disease, certain cancers and certain infectious diseases contracted such illnesses on the job.

A Senate version of the legislation is expected to be introduced in the coming weeks. The Federal Firefighters Fairness Act will be featured at the upcoming IAFF Legislative Conference in March.

For more information about the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, click here.