Sponsors (13)
The bill makes it substantially easier for federal fire‑protection employees to get benefits for Parkinson's disease by shifting proof burdens, at the cost of added federal fiscal outlays and potential precedent for expanding presumptions.
Federal firefighters and other federal fire‑protection employees will have Parkinson's disease presumed to be work‑related, making it easier for them to obtain disability benefits, medical care coverage, and compensation.
Affected workers will face fewer procedural hurdles and faster determinations because the bill shifts the burden of proof away from claimants, reducing administrative delays and casework for benefits adjudication.
Taxpayers and the federal government may incur increased costs for medical care and compensation as a result of expanding presumptions that make more claims easier to qualify for.
Establishing this presumption could create precedent or pressure to add additional presumptive conditions in the future, increasing long‑term obligations for federal employee benefit systems.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a presumption that Parkinson’s disease in federal employees performing fire protection activities is work-related by adding it to the statute's enumerated list of presumptive illnesses.
Official title: To amend title 5, United States Code, to include Parkinson's disease in the list of illnesses and diseases deemed to be proximately caused by employment in fire protection activities, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 16, 2025 by Val Hoyle · Last progress July 16, 2025
Adds Parkinson’s disease to the list of illnesses that are presumed to be caused by employment in fire protection activities for federal employees covered by the cited statute. The change creates a legal presumption that Parkinson’s disease in qualifying federal fire protection workers is work-related for purposes of benefits and claims handled under that law. The amendment simply inserts Parkinson’s disease into the enumerated list of presumptive conditions and updates lettering of subsequent items; there are no new spending authorizations or procedural changes in other areas.