Reps. Don Bacon and Jason Crow have reintroduced the Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act. This legislation is designed to provide better compensation, healthcare, and retirement benefits to veteran firefighters. Originally introduced by Bacon in 2020, the bill honors Michael Lecik, a former U.S. Air Force firefighter who faced serious health challenges after service.
Veteran firefighter Michael Lecik, who passed away in 2021, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a disease linked to hazardous conditions associated with military firefighting. The proposed legislation seeks to address the gap in current Veterans Health Administration policies by creating a presumption that certain diseases contracted by veteran military firefighters are service-connected. This would apply to illnesses such as heart disease, lung disease, and specific cancers.
Rep. Bacon emphasized the bill’s importance, stating, “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.”
Rep. Crow also highlighted the urgency of the legislation, saying, “Too many of our military firefighters have been denied VA health care for conditions connected to their service, and that’s unacceptable.”
This measure is backed by a 2014 study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which found U.S. firefighters face higher disease rates, including cancer, than the general population. Although many states recognize this connection, the Department of Veterans Affairs has not yet established a long-term presumptive disability policy for veteran firefighters.
