Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is backing bipartisan legislation to protect firefighters from harmful toxins found in their own equipment by subsidizing innovation.
What the Bill Does
The Protecting Firefighters and Advancing State-of-the-Art (PFAS) Alternatives Act, introduced by Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and further backed by Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Peter Welch (D-VT), and John Curtis (R-UT), would authorize a grant program within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to research, develop, and test firefighting gear free of toxins, starting with up to $25 million in Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) through FY31 and another $2 million for FY28-FY32 for the development and dissemination of best practices and trainings.
Why It's Needed
According to Sen. Gallego's office, modern turnout gear (the protective suit) and firefighting foam contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, AKA "forever chemicals"), which ironically only exacerbate health problems caused by smoke inhalation, such as various cancers, kidney disease, reduced immune function, and reproductive challenges.
Firefighters are statistically more likely to develop and die from cancer because of it.
What Gallego is Saying
"Firefighters run towards danger to keep Arizonans safe – the gear they wear and the equipment they use should never put them at risk," said Sen. Gallego in a press release. "I'm proud to back this bill to ensure we're doing everything we can to protect our brave first responders from harmful forever chemicals."
Previous Support for Firefighters
Backing this bill is not the first time the Arizona Senator has stood up for firefighters, previously introducing the Federal Firefighters Families First Act last July, which standardizes a 60-hour workweek while maintaining current wages, ensuring that full wages are paid to a firefighter for their hours of scheduled overtime, rather than only valuing these hours at their introductory rate of pay.
In September, Gallego spearheaded a letter to several Trump Administration figures demanding they ensure that federal firefighters are adequately protected from smoke inhalation and other health hazards.
