Thank you for your kind introduction, Harold.  Thank you for your strong and visionary leadership of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Good morning, my name is Lois Capps, and it’s my honor to represent the 23rd Congressional District of California.  The IAFF has served as the voice of America’s professional fire fighters and their families for nearly 90 years.  As an organization, you are responsible for almost every advance we have achieved in fire and emergency services.  Thank you for all that you do to protect our communities, and thank you for allowing me to join you today.

I would like to begin by sharing a poignant story of a municipal firefighter from my district.  Fire Captain Greg Otto was a 20-year veteran of the San Luis Obispo City Fire Department.  He was a respected leader in the department, and beloved member of our community.  In September 2004, Greg was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  Doctors determined that Greg’s cancer had been caused by prolonged exposure to toxic diesel fumes in the firehouse.  Sadly, Greg passed away only months later at the age of 45.  Inspired by Greg’s memory, the department installed diesel exhaust recovery systems in every firehouse in the city.  I met with Greg’s wife and daughter just a few days ago in San Luis Obispo. They are so proud of this way of remembering him.

The fire department would not have these critical systems had it not been for the FIRE Grant they received from the federal government.  The fact is these grants help save lives.  That is why I will continue to support efforts to increase funding for the FIRE and SAFER grant programs.  And I will support finding a way that all fire fighters can benefit by life saving devices such as diesel exhaust recovery systems.

While FIRE grants help give you additional tools, it’s your bravery, skill, and tireless advocacy that have made America’s firefighters the best trained and best equipped in the world.  With the help of better safety equipment that you have fought for, such as flame retardant suits, fire fighters can get to the heart of fires quicker and pull more victims to safety.  All Americans benefit from that. 

But I don’t need to tell you that fire fighting is still extremely dangerous.  More than ever, fire fighters are working longer, harder hours, uncertain of what dangers lay ahead.  That is why I will continue to support efforts to give all fire fighters the right to join unions and bargain collectively. I am a proud cosponsor of the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act.  This legislation will put fire fighters on equal footing with other employees and provide them with the fundamental right to negotiate.

I don’t think most people understand – until they go through a fire or an emergency – exactly how many roles you play, and how dangerous your job often is.  In addition to high stress and extreme temperatures, firefighters are exposed to a wide array of toxic substances and biohazards on a daily basis.

That’s why we gather today – to promote the programs and polices that safeguard the lives of our professional firefighters and emergency medical personnel.  As a nurse, one issue I know is critical to address is providing adequate presumptive disease coverage, especially coverage that extends beyond respiratory disease.  Science tells us that when we combine high levels of stress with environmental exposure to toxins, serious ailments can result.  Fire fighting is hazardous enough – the least we can do is to extend presumptive coverage to these work-related illnesses.

For that reason I have introduced H.R. 1142, the Federal Fire Fighters Fairness Act of 2007.  My colleague Jo Ann Davis from Virginia is cosponsoring this legislation with me.  H.R. 1142 creates a presumptive disability for Federal fire fighters who become disabled by heart or lung disease, cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma, and infectious diseases like tuberculosis and hepatitis.  We introduced this bipartisan legislation on behalf of thousands of Federal fire fighters.

At great personal risk, these men and women protect America’s defense installations, our veterans, Federal wild lands, and other national treasures. Yet when they present with work-related illnesses, Federal law denies them compensation and retirement benefits unless they can point to the specific conditions that caused their disease. This onerous requirement makes it nearly impossible for Federal fire fighters to receive fair and just compensation or retirement benefits. It’s ironic and unjust that the very people we call on to protect us are not afforded the health care and retirement protection that they deserve. The Federal Fire Fighters Fairness Act will help protect the lives of our federal fire fighters and it will provide them with a vehicle to secure their health and safety.

In recent years, there has been a greater appreciation for the risks fire fighters and emergency response personnel face every day. 41 states have already enacted similar disability presumption laws for state and local fire fighters. It’s time to provide the same protection for Federal fire fighters.

A few years ago, one of the Federal fire fighters in my district at Vandenberg Air Force Base was diagnosed with brain cancer. After fighting though the painful treatments and radiation therapy, this father of three found himself responsible for tens of thousands of dollars in co-pays for his treatment. Without presumptive care protection he has only limited Federal insurance coverage and must rely on the support of his fellow firefighters from the IAFF. I applaud the IAFF for stepping up to the challenge – but this is the responsibility of the Federal government.

Federal firefighters and their families deserve the same care and compensation as their municipal counterparts. When you visit Congressional offices tomorrow, tell everyone you meet to end this injustice. Tell them to support the Federal Fire Fighters Fairness Act!

Some might say the bill costs too much. That it’s too broad, or that there’s not enough proof of a connection between fire fighting and these serious ailments. Ask them to walk in your boots for a shift. And if anyone says that when you put on your turnout gear and rush into a fire – when you are blinded by the smoke, and burdened by the incredible heat – if they say your heart and body aren’t affected, they are wrong.

This bill is not only good policy; it’s the right thing to do. We will make every effort to pass this bill. You and your families deserve no less.

The firefighters’ pledge captures everything that a public servant should aspire to: “I promise the wisdom to lead,” it reads, “the compassion to comfort and the love to serve unselfishly whenever I am called.”  What a calling to service that is. May we in Congress work every day to live up to that pledge and do right by you and your families.

Thank you for your sacrifice and labor. I’m so proud to stand with you and your families. Thank you.

Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.