Sponsors (4)
The bill extends and clarifies hazard-related compensation protections for certain federal fire investigators and ATF responders, improving benefits access and claims handling but potentially raising federal compensation costs and—if limited to new claims—leaving earlier claimants unprotected.
Federal certified fire investigators and ATF National Response Team members become explicitly eligible for hazard-related compensation protections as 'employees in fire protection activities,' extending benefits to these responders.
Federal employees in the newly covered categories get clarified claims-processing rules for claims filed on or after enactment, reducing denial risk and administrative disputes.
If the change is applied only prospectively (claims filed on or after enactment), certified investigators and ATF responders with earlier claims may not receive the same protections, leaving some harmed employees without relief.
Expanding compensable employee categories will likely increase federal workers' compensation payouts, imposing additional costs on taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 1 section of legislative text.
Designates ATF Certified Fire Investigators and National Response Team members as employees in fire protection activities under 5 U.S.C. § 8143b, affecting compensation claim eligibility.
Official title: 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.
Introduced May 15, 2026 by Austin Scott · Last progress May 15, 2026
Treats certain ATF fire investigators as employees in fire protection activities so they qualify for covered compensation benefits. Specifically, it adds Certified Fire Investigators and members of the ATF National Response Team to the definition used in 5 U.S.C. § 8143b, and makes that change apply to compensation claims filed on or after enactment.