Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced
Summary
Would create a dedicated, no-fault compensation program for firefighters with PFAS-related illnesses and deaths. It would set eligibility rules, a payout formula, and a PFAS Trust Fund paid for by new excise taxes and litigation taxes.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Firefighter PFAS compensation program
If enacted, HHS would create a no-fault program to pay firefighters for PFAS-related illnesses or death. You would qualify only if you served as a firefighter at least 2 years and have a listed or Secretary-designated PFAS-related condition. Base awards would be $250,000 for a PFAS-related cancer and $50,000 for a noncancer condition, each multiplied by a service factor (1x for 2–4 years, 2x for 5–6, 3x for 7–9, 4x for 10+). The Secretary would finalize rules within 90 days, must decide claims within 120 days, and would pay awards within 20 days. If trust funds run short, HHS would prorate payments, then later pay unpaid amounts plus 6% interest; attorney fees would be capped under 28 U.S.C. 2678 and awards to deceased firefighters would be protected from their creditors. HHS could seek appropriations to run the program for FY2027–FY2031.
New PFAS taxes and trust fund
If enacted, the bill would impose a 10% excise tax on PFAS-containing products sold by manufacturers, producers, or importers. It would also impose a 10% tax on the present value of qualifying PFAS litigation awards (excluding personal injury awards) paid by taxpayers. Amounts equal to taxes collected and other contributions would be placed in a new PFAS Trust Fund. The Trust Fund would be available to HHS, without further appropriation, to pay firefighter PFAS claims. These taxes would apply to amounts paid, sold, or incurred after enactment.
PAYGO accounting exclusion
If enacted, the bill would direct that its budgetary effects not be entered on statutory PAYGO scorecards. This is a change to congressional budget accounting and would not itself change who gets awards or how much they are.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov