To amend title 5, United States Code, to add certain employees of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to the definition of employees in fire protection activities for the purpose of compensation for certain illnesses and diseases deemed to be proximately caused by employment in fire protection activities.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8863
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-15: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-02T19:45:08Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 8863
Purpose
This legislation aims to expand eligibility for workers' compensation benefits under federal law for certain illnesses and diseases presumed to result from employment in fire protection activities. It specifically includes select employees from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) who perform investigative and response duties involving fires and explosives.
Key Provisions
- Amends section 8143b of title 5, United States Code, by adding a new subsection (c).
- Defines Certified Fire Investigators and members of the National Response Team within the ATF as employees in fire protection activities for compensation purposes.
- Applies the changes only to claims for compensation filed on or after the date the bill becomes law.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Broadens the scope of the existing definition in 5 U.S.C. § 8143b, which previously covered traditional firefighters and certain other fire protection roles, to now encompass specific ATF personnel.
- Introduces a presumption that qualifying illnesses or diseases in these roles are proximately caused by their employment, facilitating access to benefits without requiring additional proof of causation for each case.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: May increase administrative and financial responsibilities for the Department of Labor in processing claims and for the ATF in managing employee health records and potential liability.
- Citizens: Provides enhanced support for affected ATF employees and their families through improved access to compensation for work-related conditions such as respiratory illnesses or cancers.
- International relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Certified Fire Investigators and National Response Team members employed by the ATF.
- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and its parent agency, the Department of Justice.
- Federal workers' compensation administrators within the Department of Labor.
- Families and dependents of the covered employees.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legally, this modifies provisions of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act to create a targeted presumption of occupational causation, which could set precedents for similar expansions to other specialized federal roles.
- No significant constitutional issues are evident, as the bill operates within Congress's authority to regulate federal employee benefits.
- Politically, the measure reflects bipartisan support for recognizing the hazards faced by fire-related federal investigators, with introduction by members from both major parties.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-15: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-05-15: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-15: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend title 5, United States Code, to add certain employees of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to the definition of employees in fire protection activities for the purpose of compensation for certain illnesses and diseases deemed to be proximately caused by employment in fire protection activities. — issued 2026-05-15 — PDF (2 pages)