WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez (FL-28) lead a bipartisan coalition of 36 lawmakers urging congressional leadership to ensure the inclusion of the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act (H.R. 1269 / S. 237) in the final Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
In a letter sent to Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the lawmakers highlighted the urgent necessity of this legislation and called for its retention in the conferenced NDAA. The provision has been unanimously approved in the United States Senate and has broad, bipartisan support in both chambers.
“Our firefighters are courageous public servants who put their lives on the line every single day,” said Congressman Carlos Gimenez. “Our first responders go above and beyond the call of duty to protect the communities they serve, and this legislation will ensure that their families receive the benefits they rightfully deserve. The Senate has already acted unanimously, and we have strong bipartisan support in the House. Now we must finish the job. By including this provision in the final NDAA, Congress will honor the sacrifice of our fallen firefighters, protect their families, and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to those who stand watch over our communities.”
"Firefighters don’t just face danger in the moment—they carry the health risks of this job with them for a lifetime. We know their chronic exposure to cancer-causing toxins is real, and too many families have been denied the survivor benefits they’ve earned simply because that exposure can’t be tied to a single incident. The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act fixes that injustice. Our fallen Firefighters’ families deserve the same care, dignity, and support as those lost in any other line-of-duty tragedy, and I’m proud to stand with them,” said Congressman Nick LaLota.
Read the letter below:
"Dear Speaker Johnson and Leaders Thune, Jeffries, and Schumer:
"As negotiations come to a close for the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), we write to respectfully urge the inclusion of The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act (H.R. 1269 / S. 237) in the final conferenced package. This provision, which has already been unanimously approved by the United States Senate and included in the Senate version of the NDAA, has broad bipartisan support in both chambers. It is imperative that the final conference agreement incorporates this vital measure.
"The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act addresses a critical gap in survivor benefits for firefighters who risk their lives to protect our communities. As it stands, firefighters only qualify for benefits through the Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program if their death can be definitively connected to a specific emergency incident. This connection is made easily for incidents including a building collapse, heart attack, or 9/11-related cancer. However, firefighters who succumb to job-related cancer and who did not respond to the September 11th Terror Attacks are wrongly denied these benefits because their cancer cannot be tied conclusively to a specific emergency incident. In fact, firefighters’ chronic exposure to carcinogens in smoke, diesel exhaust, and other toxins throughout their careers drives their increased cancer risks.
"H.R. 1269/S. 237 addresses this oversight in the PSOB program by recognizing firefighters’ career-long carcinogenic exposures and removes the requirement to connect their cancer to a single, specific emergency response. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to our nation’s fallen heroes when we know job-related exposures are causing many to die from cancer at rates far higher than the general public.
"Given that the Senate has already acted unanimously and that significant bipartisan support exists in the House, finalizing this provision in the FY26 NDAA would demonstrate a shared commitment to the wellbeing of firefighters nationwide. We respectfully request your leadership in ensuring that The Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act is retained in the final NDAA conference agreement and enacted into law.
"Thank you for your continued support of those who protect our communities and our country. Our offices are eager to work with you on this important matter."
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