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119-hr-10462119th CongressWALLET

Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]

Introduced

Summary

Would create a no-fault federal compensation program to pay firefighters for physical injuries or death tied to PFAS exposure funded by a new PFAS Trust Fund. The proposal sets award levels, service-based adjustments, an expert advisory panel to add covered illnesses, and new excise taxes to finance the fund.

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  • Current and former firefighters could file one claim covering PFAS-related illnesses; base awards are $250,000 for PFAS-related cancers and $50,000 for PFAS-related noncancer conditions, and claimants may appeal to the United States Court of Federal Claims.
  • Estates and adult heirs can pursue claims after a firefighter’s death, but heir-filing rules can affect eligibility; claims must be filed within a two-year window after final regulations or death and payments to decedent claimants are protected from creditors.
  • A PFAS Trust Fund would pay awards and be filled by a 10% excise tax on PFAS products and a 10% excise tax on qualifying PFAS litigation awards, plus voluntary contributions; amounts in the Trust Fund are available to the Secretary without further appropriation.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

How much you could receive and when

If enacted, the bill would set base awards of $250,000 for a PFAS‑related cancer and $50,000 for a PFAS‑related noncancer condition. Your base award would be multiplied by a service modifier: 1 (2–<5 years), 2 (5–<7), 3 (7–<10), and 4 (10+ years). The Secretary must make a written compensation decision within 120 days and pay the award from the PFAS Trust Fund within 20 days of the final decision. If funds are insufficient, the Secretary would prorate payments, repay unpaid amounts in the first fiscal year funds are available plus 6% interest, and awards to deceased firefighters would be protected from creditors. Attorney fees would be capped at the percentage allowed under 28 U.S.C. §2678.

New firefighter PFAS claims program

If enacted, the bill would create a no‑fault Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Program run by HHS. Current firefighters generally must have at least 2 years of service and a PFAS‑related health condition to file. The Secretary would have 90 days after enactment to write final rules and an expert panel would advise on illnesses. You would get one claim per firefighter, and you could appeal decisions to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. The bill would also authorize administrative funding for the program for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

New 10% PFAS product and award taxes

If enacted, the bill would impose two 10% excise taxes and put the money into the PFAS Trust Fund. One tax would be 10% of the sale price of any product containing PFAS, paid by manufacturers, producers, or importers (this explicitly includes PFAS‑containing firefighter gear). The other would be 10% of the present value of qualifying PFAS litigation awards (excluding personal injury awards).

Treasury PFAS Trust Fund created

If enacted, the bill would create a PFAS Trust Fund in the Treasury to receive amounts equal to the new PFAS taxes and contributions accepted by HHS. Money in the Trust Fund would be available without further appropriation to pay compensation under the firefighter program. The Secretary could accept voluntary contributions on terms the Secretary sets.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]

FL • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

  • Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 9/16/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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