# What This Bill Does

This bill creates a new compensation fund specifically for military firefighters who got sick from exposure to PFAS chemicals. PFAS are man-made chemicals commonly found in firefighting foam that's been used at military bases for decades. These chemicals have been linked to serious health problems including cancer, thyroid disease, and immune system disorders. The bill recognizes that military firefighters faced this hazard while doing their jobs and deserve financial help if they developed illnesses because of it.

The Department of Defense would have two years to set up the "Military Firefighters Compensation Fund" and establish a process for firefighters to apply for benefits. If you're a current or former military firefighter who worked at a military base, National Guard facility, or defense site during a time when PFAS was present, you'd be presumed to have been exposed unless there's strong evidence otherwise. This is important because it means you wouldn't have to prove you were exposed—the burden would be on the government to prove you weren't. If you developed an illness from this exposure, you could receive compensation and medical benefits including doctor-prescribed treatments, medical equipment, and necessary transportation to get care.

The bill also protects firefighters' families. If a firefighter dies from a PFAS-related illness, their survivors—spouse, children, parents, or grandparents—could receive compensation in a specific order of priority. For example, a surviving spouse would receive the payment first, or if there's no spouse, the children would split it equally. Medical benefits would start from the date you file your claim, so you wouldn't lose coverage while waiting for approval.

To direct the Secretary of Defense to establish a compensation fund for military firefighters exposed to PFAS.

Strickland, Marilyn

This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish the Military Firefighters Compensation Fund to provide compensation to current and former military firefighters, or survivors of such firefighters, for illnesses incurred in the line of duty due to exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS. PFAS are man-made and may have adverse human health effects.Under the bill, current and former military firefighters are presumed to have been exposed to PFAS (in the absence of substantial evidence to the contrary) if the firefighter was employed at a military installation, facility of the National Guard, or formerly used defense site during a period when PFAS would have been present at such facility.The bill provides that in cases where a military firefighter is deceased at the time of payment of compensation, the surviving spouse must receive the payment. If there is no surviving spouse, the bill provides for the order of distribution to other surviving parties (e.g., a child or parent of the firefighter). The bill also provides that a survivor of a firefighter may file a claim for compensation if the firefighter dies before filing a claim.DOD must furnish the services, appliances, and supplies prescribed or recommended to a military firefighter who is receiving medical benefits for an illness related to PFAS exposure. Additionally, such firefighter&nbsp;may be furnished necessary and reasonable transportation and expenses incident to securing care for such illness.