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H.R. 2499: Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022

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H.R. 2499: Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022

117th Congress · introduced 2021-04-14 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-04-14 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 4 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 146 (2022): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR2499 (2022-05-11), Agreed to. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022

Plain summary

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022 This bill makes it easier for federally employed firefighters who contract certain illnesses to qualify for federal workers' compensation. Specifically, the bill provides that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mesothelioma, and specified other cancers of those employed in fire protection activities for at least five years are presumed to be proximately caused by such employment for purposes of a disability or death claim under the federal workers' compensation program. This presumption also applies to federal employees employed in fire protection activities for at least five years who experience a sudden cardiac event or stroke within 24 hours of performing a fire protection activity. The bill also requires the Department of Labor to conduct a review to determine whether breast cancer, gynecological cancer, and rhabdomyolysis should be included under the presumption and to conduct periodic reviews to determine whether other diseases should be included. In addition, a person may petition Labor to include another disease under the presumption. An employee in fire protection activities is a firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, rescue worker, ambulance personnel, or hazardous material worker who (1) is trained in fire suppression; (2) has the legal authority and responsibility to engage in fire suppression; (3) is engaged in the prevention, control, and extinguishing of fires or response to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk, including the prevention, control, suppression, or management of wildland fires; and (4) performs such activities as a primary responsibility.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] · 203 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2499, Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022 (2022-04-19)

Cosponsors on this site

Don Bacon (R-NE), Mark Takano (D-CA), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Michael R. Turner (R-OH), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Bill Foster (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ), Josh Harder (D-CA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Angie Craig (D-MN), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Jim Costa (D-CA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Troy A. Carter (D-LA), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA) and 143 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] reported raising $1.9 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr2499 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117