Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2018
Latest action (7 Jul 2018): Signed by President.
What this bill does
H.R. 931, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2018, directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to create and maintain a voluntary national registry tracking cancer incidence among firefighters. The registry would collect health, demographic, and occupational information—such as years of service, type of firefighting work, and number of incidents attended—and, where possible, connect electronically with state cancer registries to obtain diagnosis and treatment data. The Secretary must develop strategies for encouraging participation, ensuring representative data (including from minority, female, and volunteer firefighters), and protecting personal privacy, and must consult with outside experts and report periodically to Congress.
The law primarily affects volunteer, paid-on-call, and career firefighters, whose data may be included in the registry to help researchers, public health officials, and fire service organizations better understand cancer risks tied to firefighting. It also involves state health agencies and cancer registries that may share data with the federal registry.
The bill was introduced in February 2017, passed both chambers of Congress, and was signed into law by the President on July 7, 2018. It authorizes $2,500,000 annually for fiscal years 2018 through 2022 to implement the registry. No further congressional action is required; implementation is now the responsibility of HHS and the CDC.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2018
(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop and maintain a voluntary registry of firefighters in order to collect history and occupational information that can be used to determine the incidence of cancer among firefighters. The registry must be used to improve monitoring of cancer among firefighters and to collect and publish epidemiological information. The CDC should seek to include specified information in the registry, including the number and type of fire incidents attended by an individual.
To collect information for the registry, the CDC must enable the registry to connect to state-based cancer registries.
The CDC must also: (1) develop a strategy to encourage participation in the registry, (2) develop guidance for states and firefighting agencies regarding the registry, and (3) seek feedback on the registry from nonfederal experts.
The CDC must make registry data available to the public and in accordance with privacy laws.
Timeline
7 Jul 2018
Signed by President.
22 Jun 2018
On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
10 May 2018
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
12 Sep 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
27 Jul 2017
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 931 do?
- H.R. 931, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2018, directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to create and maintain a voluntary national registry tracking cancer incidence among firefighters. The registry would collect health, demographic, and occupational information—such as years of service, type of firefighting work, and number of incidents attended—and, where possible, connect electronically with state cancer registries to obtain diagnosis and treatment data. The Secretary must develop strategies for encouraging participation, ensuring representative data (including from minority, female, and volunteer firefighters), and protecting personal privacy, and must consult with outside experts and report periodically to Congress. The law primarily affects volunteer, paid-on-call, and career firefighters, whose data may be included in the registry to help researchers, public health officials, and fire service organizations better understand cancer risks tied to firefighting. It also involves state health agencies and cancer registries that may share data with the federal registry. The bill was introduced in February 2017, passed both chambers of Congress, and was signed into law by the President on July 7, 2018. It authorizes $2,500,000 annually for fiscal years 2018 through 2022 to implement the registry. No further congressional action is required; implementation is now the responsibility of HHS and the CDC.
- Has H.R. 931 become law?
- Yes. H.R. 931 has been enacted. Status last updated 7 Jul 2018.
- Who sponsored H.R. 931?
- H.R. 931 was sponsored by Rep. Chris Collins [R-NY27, 2013-2019] (Republican-NY), with 188 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 931?
- Signed by President. (7 Jul 2018).
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