This bill, known as the "Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025," significantly amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand benefits for public safety officers. It establishes a crucial presumption that certain exposure-related cancers are considered personal injuries sustained in the line of duty, qualifying officers for benefits. This presumption applies if the officer was exposed to a carcinogen during duty, served at least five years before diagnosis, and was diagnosed within 15 years of their last active service, provided the cancer directly causes death or permanent disability. However, this presumption can be rebutted by competent medical evidence showing the exposure was not a substantial contributing factor. The bill defines "exposure-related cancer" to include a comprehensive list of conditions such as bladder, brain, breast, lung, and prostate cancers, among others, including any cancer considered a WTC-related health condition. To ensure the list remains current, the Director of the Bureau is mandated to review and update the definition of exposure-related cancers at least every three years, based on competent medical evidence. Furthermore, individuals can petition the Director to add new forms of cancer to this list, requiring expert review and a timely decision. These new provisions apply retroactively to claims for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2020, or disabilities filed on or after that date. Individuals affected by these changes are granted a three-year window from the bill's enactment to file claims. Additionally, the bill expands confidentiality protections for information provided to the Office of Justice Programs, making these protections retroactive to December 27, 1979, and clarifies the definition of "line of duty action" under the Safeguarding America's First Responders Act of 2020.
CancerCongressional oversightDisability assistanceGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesLaw enforcement officersWorker safety and health
Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025
USA119th CongressHR-1269| House
| Updated: 2/12/2025
This bill, known as the "Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025," significantly amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand benefits for public safety officers. It establishes a crucial presumption that certain exposure-related cancers are considered personal injuries sustained in the line of duty, qualifying officers for benefits. This presumption applies if the officer was exposed to a carcinogen during duty, served at least five years before diagnosis, and was diagnosed within 15 years of their last active service, provided the cancer directly causes death or permanent disability. However, this presumption can be rebutted by competent medical evidence showing the exposure was not a substantial contributing factor. The bill defines "exposure-related cancer" to include a comprehensive list of conditions such as bladder, brain, breast, lung, and prostate cancers, among others, including any cancer considered a WTC-related health condition. To ensure the list remains current, the Director of the Bureau is mandated to review and update the definition of exposure-related cancers at least every three years, based on competent medical evidence. Furthermore, individuals can petition the Director to add new forms of cancer to this list, requiring expert review and a timely decision. These new provisions apply retroactively to claims for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2020, or disabilities filed on or after that date. Individuals affected by these changes are granted a three-year window from the bill's enactment to file claims. Additionally, the bill expands confidentiality protections for information provided to the Office of Justice Programs, making these protections retroactive to December 27, 1979, and clarifies the definition of "line of duty action" under the Safeguarding America's First Responders Act of 2020.
CancerCongressional oversightDisability assistanceGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesLaw enforcement officersWorker safety and health