The "Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act" extends disability benefits to veterans who served as military firefighters and develop certain diseases, like cancer or heart and lung disease, within 15 years of service.
Don Bacon
Representative
NE-2
The Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act extends disability benefits to veterans who served as military firefighters or in damage control roles for at least five years and who develop certain diseases, such as heart, lung, or various cancers, within 15 years of separation from service. To qualify, the disease must result in a disability rating of 10 percent or higher. This act aims to provide necessary support to veterans whose health has been affected by their service in firefighting roles.
Michael Lecik Act: Military Firefighters May Get Easier Access to Disability Benefits for Cancer, Heart, Lung Diseases Within 15 Years Post-Service
The Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act aims to streamline access to disability benefits for veterans who tackled fires during their service. Specifically, it establishes a 'presumption of service connection' for certain diseases if they manifest within 15 years after leaving active duty. This presumption applies to veterans trained in fire suppression who served in a dedicated military firefighting or damage control role for at least five years, provided the disease results in a disability rating of 10 percent or more.
Fighting Fires, Facing Illness: What the Bill Covers
So, what does 'presumption of service connection' actually mean? Think of it like this: if an eligible veteran develops one of the listed conditions within the timeframe, the VA is directed to assume it's linked to their firefighting duties, simplifying the path to benefits. This shifts the burden of proof, meaning the veteran doesn't have to fight as hard to demonstrate the connection themselves. The covered conditions listed in Section 2 are serious and include heart disease, lung disease, brain cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and cancers of the blood or lymphatic systems (like leukemia and lymphoma). The bill also gives the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the authority to add other diseases to this list if they're found to be associated with firefighting.
Who Qualifies and When?
The eligibility rules laid out in Section 2 are quite specific. It's not just any veteran – it targets those with documented training in fire suppression and at least five years serving in a role primarily focused on firefighting or damage control. This could be someone who was a dedicated firefighter on a military base or ship, for example. The clock starts ticking once they separate from service; the disease needs to appear within 15 years. Furthermore, the condition must be disabling enough to warrant at least a 10 percent disability rating from the VA. These criteria aim to ensure the benefits reach the intended group facing health issues potentially stemming from hazardous exposure during their military careers.