Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Program

The Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: XXXIV Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Program 3401. Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Program (a) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Program (in this title referred to as the Program), for the purpose of providing compensation for physical injury or death suffered by firefighters in connection with PFAS-related health conditions. (b) Submission of claims (1) In general Subject to paragraph (3), to seek compensation under the Program, an eligible claimant shall submit to the Secretary a claim— (A) using the claim form developed by the Secretary under paragraph (2); and (B) by presenting any additional evidence, including witness testimony and supporting documents, alongside such claim form. (2) Claim form The Secretary shall develop a claim form that requests the following information: (A) Information concerning any PFAS-related health condition of the firefighter in relation to whom the eligible claimant seeks compensation, including— (i) proof of the diagnosis of such condition by a physician; and (ii) the date of such diagnosis. (B) The years of service of such firefighter. (C) A description of any special circumstances that may support a more substantial award. (3) Time limitation An eligible claimant may submit a claim under paragraph (1) during the period beginning on the date on which the regulations are promulgated as final under section 3403 and ending on the later of— (A) the date that is 2 years after the date on which such regulations are promulgated as final; and (B) the date that is 2 years after the date of death of the firefighter in relation to whom the eligible claimant seeks compensation. (c) Eligible claimant (1) In general A person is eligible to submit a claim under the Program only if such person— (A) (i) served as a firefighter for 2 or more years; and (ii) during or after such service, suffered a PFAS-related health condition; or (B) in the case of a deceased firefighter who meets the requirements of subparagraph (A)— (i) is the administrator of the estate of such firefighter; or (ii) in the case that the claim is submitted before the date on which the estate of such firefighter is opened— (I) is an adult heir of such firefighter; and (II) is represented by counsel. (2) Claims from multiple adult heirs prohibited If more than 1 adult heir described in paragraph (1)(B)(ii) submits a claim for the same firefighter before the date on which the estate of such firefighter is opened, all such adult heirs shall cease to be eligible claimants. In such case, the eligible claimant shall be the administrator of the firefighter’s estate under paragraph (1)(B)(i). (d) Review of claims (1) In general For each claim submitted under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall— (A) determine whether the firefighter suffered a PFAS-related health condition; and (B) not later than 120 days after the date on which the claim is submitted— (i) determine the amount of compensation (if any) to award to the eligible claimant, as described in subsection (e); and (ii) provide to the eligible claimant written notice of such determination. (2) No-fault program In reviewing claims under paragraph (1), the Secretary— (A) shall conclude that any PFAS-related health condition of a firefighter was caused by exposure to PFAS during the firefighting activities of such firefighter; and (B) may not consider negligence or any other theory of liability or defense thereto. (3) Rights of eligible claimant An eligible claimant in a review under paragraph (1) shall have the right to be represented by an attorney. (e) Amount of compensation (1) In general The amount of compensation described in subsection (d)(1)(B)(i) is the base award described in paragraph (2), as multiplied by the service modifier described in paragraph (3), and as modified by any special circumstances (as the Secretary determines appropriate). (2) Base award Subject to paragraph (4), the base award described in this paragraph is— (A) $250,000 for a PFAS-related health condition that is a cancer; and (B) $50,000 for a PFAS-related health condition that is not a cancer. (3) Service modifier The service modifier described in this paragraph is— (A) 1 for a firefighter with at least 2 and fewer than 5 years of service; (B) 2 for a firefighter with at least 5 and fewer than 7 years of service; (C) 3 for a firefighter with at least 7 and fewer than 10 years of service; and (D) 4 for a firefighter with at least 10 years of service. (4) Inflation adjustments The Secretary may adjust the base award described in paragraph (2) to account for any inflation or deflation occurring after the date of enactment of the Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act of 2026. (5) No punitive damages; no consideration of funding availability In determining the amount of compensation described in subsection (d)(1)(B)(i), the Secretary— (A) may not include any punitive damages; and (B) may not consider the amounts available in the PFAS Trust Fund under section 9512 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (f) Limitations on claims (1) Only 1 cancer and 1 noncancer condition An eligible claimant may receive compensation under the Program only with respect to 1 PFAS-related health condition that is a cancer and 1 PFAS-related health condition that is not a cancer. (2) Single claim rule Only 1 claim may be submitted under the Program with respect to any firefighter, but a single claim may include multiple PFAS-related health conditions, and claims may be amended and supplemented. (g) Appeals to Court of Federal Claims (1) In general An eligible claimant aggrieved by a determination of the Secretary with respect to a claim of such eligible claimant under the Program may appeal such determination to the United States Court of Federal Claims. (2) De novo review The United States Court of Federal Claims shall review any determination appealed under paragraph (1) using a de novo standard of review. (3) Additional evidence As part of an appeal referred to in paragraph (1), an eligible claimant may provide additional evidence, including witness testimony and supporting documents, irrespective of whether such evidence was provided in the claim submitted under subsection (b)(1). 3402. Payments to eligible individuals (a) In general Subject to subsection (b), not later than 20 days after the date on which a determination is made by the Secretary regarding the amount of compensation to award an eligible claimant under the Program, the Secretary shall pay to such eligible claimant such amount from the PFAS Trust Fund under section 9512 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (b) Limitations (1) Payment system The Secretary shall establish a system for providing compensation for claims in accordance with this subsection and section 3401. (2) Agency policies and procedures (A) Development (i) In general Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of the Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act of 2026, the Secretary shall develop agency policies and procedures that meet the requirements described in clauses (ii) and (iii) for providing compensation for claims. (ii) No exceeding amounts in Fund The policies and procedures developed under clause (i) shall ensure that total obligations and expenditures in providing compensation for claims do not exceed the amounts appropriated to the PFAS Trust Fund under section 9512 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (iii) Proration The policies and procedures developed under clause (i) shall include a process for prorating payments when funding is deficient and for supplementing the prorated payments as funding becomes available consistent with paragraph (3). (B) Reassessment Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act of 2026, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a reassessment of the agency policies and procedures developed under subparagraph (A) to ensure that such policies and procedures continue to satisfy the requirements described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of such subparagraph. If the Secretary determines, upon reassessment, that such agency policies or procedures do not achieve the requirements of such clauses, the Secretary shall take additional actions or make such modifications as necessary to achieve such requirements. (3) Adjustment for delayed payment due to insufficient funding (A) In general For any claim for which the Secretary advises the eligible claimant that the amount of compensation to be paid has been reduced on the basis of insufficient funding, the Secretary shall, in the first fiscal year beginning after sufficient funding becomes available, pay to the eligible claimant the unpaid amount plus 6 percent interest per annum on such unpaid amount. (B) Definitions In this paragraph: (i) Insufficient funding The term insufficient funding means funding that the Secretary determines is insufficient for purposes of compensating all claims under the Program. (ii) Sufficient funding The term sufficient funding means funding that the Secretary determines is sufficient for purposes of compensating all claims under the Program. (iii) Unpaid amount The term unpaid amount means the amount of additional compensation the eligible claimant would have been paid under the Program if sufficient funding had been available. (4) Decedents’ creditors Compensation paid under the Program is not subject to a claim of a creditor of any deceased firefighter with respect to whom such compensation was paid. (c) Attorneys’ fees (1) Maximum percentage Notwithstanding any contract, attorneys’ fees for services rendered in obtaining compensation under the Program (including an appeal under section 3401(g)) may not exceed the highest percentage permitted under section 2678 of title 28, United States Code. (2) Penalties Any attorney who charges, demands, receives, or collects for services rendered in connection with obtaining compensation under the Program any amount in excess of that allowed under this subsection, if recovery be had, shall be subject to the penalties provided in such section 2678. 3403. Regulations Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this title, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out this title, including regulations with respect to— (1) the claim form developed by the Secretary under section 3401(b)(2); (2) procedures for hearing and the presentation of evidence; (3) procedures to assist a person in submitting and pursuing a claim under this title; and (4) other matters determined appropriate by the Secretary. 3404. Definitions In this title: (1) Firefighter The term firefighter means a member of a civilian or military fire department or volunteer fire organization who is qualified to respond to and extinguish fires. (2) Heir The term heir means, in relation to a deceased individual, an individual who, at the time of death of the deceased individual, was a spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling of the deceased individual. (3) PFAS The term PFAS means per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. (4) PFAS-related health condition (A) In general The term PFAS-related health condition means an illness or health condition for which exposure to PFAS is likely to be a significant factor in aggravating, contributing to, or causing the illness or health condition, including— (i) cancers of the kidney, testicle, liver, prostate, bladder, pancreas, breast, colon, and ovary; (ii) thyroid diseases; (iii) ulcerative colitis; and (iv) any other illness or health condition, as the Secretary determines appropriate. (B) Advisory panel (i) Establishment The Secretary shall establish an advisory panel of individuals with appropriate expertise to advise the Secretary on which other illnesses or health conditions should be considered PFAS-related health conditions under subparagraph (A)(iv). (ii) Recommendations regarding specific claims For each claim submitted under section 3401(b)(1) with respect to an illness or health condition not listed in clauses (i) through (iii) of subparagraph (A), or previously determined by the Secretary to be a PFAS-related health condition under clause (iv) of such subparagraph, the advisory panel established under clause (i) shall, not later than 90 days after the submission of such claim, submit to the Secretary a recommendation on whether the illness or health condition should be considered a PFAS-related health condition. (iii) Termination Section 1013(a)(2) of title 5, United States Code (relating to the termination of advisory committees), shall not apply to the advisory panel established under clause (i). 3405. Funding (a) Compensation paid only from PFAS Trust Fund Compensation under this title may be awarded only from amounts in the PFAS Trust Fund established under section 9512 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (b) Authorization of appropriations for administrative costs There is authorized to be appropriated for the costs of administering and carrying out this title such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031..