H.R. 2244 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Mar 21, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryProtects military firefighters with VA benefits
This bill creates a special rule for military firefighters who get certain diseases. Normally, veterans have to prove their disease was caused by their military service to get disability pay from the VA (Veterans Affairs). This bill says that if a military firefighter gets one of these diseases within 15 years of leaving the service, the VA automatically assumes it came from their firefighting work, without needing extra proof.
How it affects you
If you're a veteran who spent at least five years doing firefighting or damage control in the military, this could change your life. You may now qualify for VA disability benefits and health care for certain diseases just by having the disease show up within 15 years of leaving—the VA won't make you jump through extra hoops to prove the military caused it.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Mar 21, 2025)
Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act
This bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for specified diseases becoming manifest in certain military firefighter veterans to a degree of disability of 10% or more within 15 years of the veteran's separation from active military, naval, or air service. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific diseases or disabilities diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded.
Veterans addressed by this bill are those who (1) are trained in fire suppression, and (2) served on active duty in a military occupational specialty or career field with a primary responsibility of firefighting or damage control for at least five years in the aggregate.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 2244
A BILL
Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act
Sponsor: Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-2) · Introduced Mar 21, 2025 · Armed Forces and National Security · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 4, 2025: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.”