Bills
| 3.23.22

Should There be a Voluntary Registry to Gather Data on Cancer Among Firefighters? (H.R. 931)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 931?

(Updated May 19, 2020)

This bill was enacted on July 7, 2018

This bill would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop and maintain a voluntary registry of firefighters to collect history and occupational information that can be linked to existing data in state cancer registries. The registry would be used to improve the monitoring of cancer among firefighters and to collect and publish epidemiological information regarding cancer among firefighters. The CDC would seek to include specified information in the registry, including the number and type of fire incidents attended by an individual.

To collect information for the registry, the CDC would be permitted to incorporate questions into existing public health surveys, questionnaires, and other databases. The CDC would be required to:

  • Develop a strategy to maximize participation in the registry;

  • Develop a guidance for states and firefighting agencies regarding the registry;

  • Encourage inclusion in the registry of data on minority, female, and volunteer firefighters;

  • Seek feedback on the registry from nonfederal experts.

The CDC must develop a process for making registry data available for research without a fee if findings or publications from the research are made public or available to stakeholders.

Argument in favor

The CDC should maintain a voluntary cancer registry for firefighters — they put their lives on the line for the public in dangerous situations and any insights that can be gained into the types of cancer threat they face would be beneficial.

Argument opposed

There’s not much to be gained from maintaining a voluntary cancer registry for firefighters across the country. This bill is unnecessary and the CDC should focus its resources elsewhere.

Impact

Firefighters who would participate in the voluntary cancer registry; and the CDC.

Cost of H.R. 931

The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would cost $10 million over the 2018-2022 period.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) introduced this bill to develop and maintain a voluntary registry to collect data on the incidence of cancer in firefighters:

“Firefighters are some of the bravest among us and more needs to be done to keep them safe. This legislation has the potential to lead to methods that save the lives of the courageous men and women that keep our communities safe. I’m humbled by the strong bipartisan support we have received and look forward to getting this bill on the House floor.”

Lead cosponsor Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) added:

“When the brave men and women in the fire services enter dangerous situations they do not stop to ask whether they are subjecting themselves to long-term health risks. They do whatever is necessary to keep our communities safe. That is why we must have their backs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on average firefighters are at higher risk for certain kinds of cancer when compared with the general population. Further public health research on this topic is needed so we can start working to find ways to alleviate this risk.”

This legislation passed the House Energy & Commerce Committee on a voice vote, and has the support of 188 bipartisan cosponsors — including 114 Democrats and 74 Republicans.


Media:

Summary by Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: chuckmoser / iStock)