Bacon, Crow Reintroduce Legislation to Recognize Long-Term Risks of Military Firefighting, Strengthen VA Benefits for Veteran Firefighters

Bipartisan Legislation is Named after Veteran and Firefighter Michael Lecik

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE-02) and Jason Crow (D-CO-06) introduced H.R. 2244 the Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act, which provides veteran firefighters with the fair compensation, healthcare, and retirement benefits they’ve earned through their service. Rep. Bacon originally introduced this legislation in 2020 alongside former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA).

The bipartisan legislation is named after Virginia resident Michael Lecik, a former U.S. Air Force firefighter who was twice deployed to the Middle East. Following his military service, Lecik became a civilian firefighter and then became chief fire inspector at U.S. Army Garrison Fort Lee. He also volunteered as a firefighter with the Huguenot Volunteer Fire Department. 

In February 2019, Lecik was diagnosed with multiple myeloma — a condition tied to the high-risk, carcinogenic workplace conditions that come with being a military firefighter. Lecik passed away in March 2021.

The Veterans Health Administration does not currently cover treatment costs related to diseases like Lecik’s, as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) — in many cases — does not recognize the direct service connection between military firefighting and cancer as a service-connected disability beyond one year following active duty. Bacon and Crow’s Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act would create the presumption that veteran firefighters who become disabled by serious diseases — including heart disease, lung disease, and certain cancers — contracted the illness due to their service in the military. Additionally, it would extend the window of time for veteran military firefighters with certain diseases to claim presumptive service-connection to 15 years. By creating this presumption, the VA would be able to provide equitable disability benefits and treatment cost coverage to veteran firefighters like Lecik.

“After nearly 30 years in the Air Force, I’ve witnessed hundreds of heroic military firefighters who put their own lives on the line by carrying us out of burning buildings or jets and exposing themselves to toxic substances and deadly fumes,” said Rep. Bacon. “Creating the presumption that those who become disabled from serious disease contracted the illness while serving in the military allows the VA to treat thousands of military firefighters that would normally not be covered. This bill changes that. I fully support this mission, and I will continue to work with Rep. Crow to not only get this over the finish line, but to honor the life of former USAF firefighter, Michael Lecik, to which this bill is named after.”

“I know from my days as an Army Ranger that military firefighters protect the safety of everybody in our ranks,” said Rep. Crow. “Too many of our military firefighters have been denied VA health care for conditions connected to their service, and that’s unacceptable. That’s why I’m introducing bipartisan legislation that expands their access to the care they deserve.”

A 2014 study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that U.S. firefighters are more likely to suffer certain diseases and illnesses as a result of their career — and they experience higher rates of cancer than the general U.S. population. While many states have already recognized this link, the VA has not yet recognized this long-term presumptive disability — meaning thousands of U.S. veteran firefighters are left uncovered by the VA.

Click here to read the full bill text.

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