U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), and Mike Bost (R-IL-12), the co-chairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, led 47 Democrats and Republicans seeking to fund the Firefighter Cancer Registry at the congressionally-authorized level of $2.5 million.

Created by Congress in 2018, the Firefighter Cancer Registry is maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor and study the relationship between career-long exposure to dangerous fumes and toxins and the incidence of cancer in firefighters so to develop better protective gear and prevention techniques.

“The firefighter cancer registry is an important resource in understanding and preventing the growing occurrence of cancer among our nation’s firefighters. Research has shown that there are significant increases in the risks of developing cancer for firefighters and, for some types of cancer, the risk relative to the general population can be as much as 229 percent higher,” the members write the leaders of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services. “We urge you to consider the safety of our brave firefighters across the nation as you formulate the FY22 Labor, Health, Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill by including full funding for the Firefighter Cancer Registry.”

The Firefighter Cancer Registry is the product of legislation authored and long-championed by Rep. Pascrell. Pascrell first introduced it in May 2016 during a news conference at Clifton, New Jersey Fire Station 5. 

A 2015 study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that firefighters had a greater number of cancer diagnoses and cancer-related deaths for certain types of cancer when compared to the general U.S. population, specifically digestive, oral, respiratory and urinary cancers, and malignant mesothelioma.  The study confirmed that firefighters have an increased risk of cancer because of occupational exposure.  To bolster the efforts led by researchers at NIOSH, the firefighter cancer registry will improve collection capabilities and activities related to the nationwide monitoring of cancer incidence among all firefighters – both career and volunteer.

The text of the members’ letter is provided below.

April 26, 2021

The Honorable Rosa DeLauro                                                The Honorable Tom Cole

Chairwoman                                                                           Ranking Member

Subcommittee on Labor, Health,                                            Subcommittee on Labor, Health

and Human Services                                                               and Human Services

House Committee on Appropriations                                    House Committee on Appropriations

Washington, D.C. 20515                                                        Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairwoman DeLauro and Ranking Member Cole,

As you consider the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Labor, Health, Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, we urge you to fund the Firefighter Cancer Registry to the authorized level of $2.5 million.

The firefighter cancer registry is an important resource in understanding and preventing the growing occurrence of cancer among our nation’s firefighters. Research has shown that there are significant increases in the risks of developing cancer for firefighters and, for some types of cancer, the risk relative to the general population can be as much as 229 percent higher

Since the passage of the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act (Public Law No. 115-194), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has laid the groundwork to establish a database of cancer incidence among firefighters to assist in developing new protocols and equipment designed to safeguard these brave men and women. Starting this year, the CDC will recruit and enroll firefighters into the program so that data collection for this critical project can begin.

We urge you to consider the safety of our brave firefighters across the nation as you formulate the FY22 Labor, Health, Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill by including full funding for the Firefighter Cancer Registry.

Thank you for your attention to and consideration of this request. 

Sincerely,