Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act Headed to Trump for Signature

The Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act is headed to President Trump for his signature.

The measure was included in the $901B National Defense Authorization Act that the U.S. Senate passed 77-20 Wednesday afternoon.

He is slated to sign the bill at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Once the bill is signed, families of responders who die of occupational cancer will be eligible to receive Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB). It will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2020.

Heretofore, only relatives of firefighters who died of cancers associated with Sept. 11 were eligible.

In June, family members and colleauges of responders claimed by various cancers went to Capitol Hill to lobby legislators for support for the bipartisan bill.

Although cancer is a leading cause of firefighters' deaths, it has never been recognized by the Department of Justice which adminsters PSOB.

That didn't sit well with Julie Paider, who lost her husband, St. Paul Firefighter Michael Paider to acute myaloid leukemia. 

She lobbied Minnesota officials to determine his death as one that occurred in the line-of-duty. With the support of fellow firefighters, she was successful.

"He was the first firefighter, who died of occupational cancer, to be recognized in the state."

While he also was honored at the National Fallen Firefighters' Memorial Service in Emmitsburg, MD., she and her family weren't eligible for federal benefits granted to survivors of responders who die while serving their communities.

She met other survivors in the same predicament, who also weren't willing to sit idly by.

After the Senate vote Wednesday afternoon, Paider struggled to find the right words to describe her feelings.

"It's great. My phone's been blowing up..."

She and others are surprised about how the legislation supported on both sides of aisle was fast-tracked.

Paider said it's been a very emotional ride over the past few years as she's shared her husband's story and listened to the many tributes.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation praised legislators for their unwavering support.

“Firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep their communities safe. By recognizing fire service–related cancers under the PSOB program, we ensure that those who risk their health for others receive the support they and their families deserve. I especially want to thank our brave Fire Hero Families who tirelessly advocated for the passage of this vital legislation. Their dedication, passion, and tenacity are why this bill will soon become law,” NFFF CEO Victor Stagnaro wrote in a statement.

Likewise, IAFF General President Ed Kelly remarked: We know the devastation occupational cancer has brought to our profession. When a fire fighter (sic) dies from job-related cancer, that is a line-of-duty death – and it is long past time the federal government recognized that truth. Congress’s passage of the Honor Act marks a significant turning point. This legislation ensures our fallen are honored, and their families are not left behind.”