DES MOINES, Iowa — For months, the Des Moines Association of Professional Firefighters has been working with state lawmakers to bring forward new legislation that would ensure all cancers are covered under their disability coverage.
On Thursday, that legislation made it to the debate floor in the Iowa House, and several members of IAFF Local 4 were in the gallery to show support for the bill. HF 2482 passed out of the House with unanimous support.
“Today, we’re joined by the Des Moines Local 4 Professional Firefighters," said Rep. Austin Baeth, D-Polk County. "Our own Local 4 has fallen victim to far too much cancer."
At least 10 Des Moines firefighters have been diagnosed with some form of cancer since 2018, according to the department.
Austin Johnson, a firefighter/paramedic at Station #1, helped spearhead an email campaign involving Iowans across the state. Through social media, they asked the public to send an email to their local state lawmakers, showing support for the bill.
"We sent about 5,000 messages to both the House and the Senate," Johnson told Local 5. "That's about 2,500 people getting involved across the state."
Most recently, long-time Des Moines firefighter Mike Broderick lost a difficult battle with liver cancer, forever changing the lives of his family.
Right now in Iowa, only 14 of the 200 known cancers are included in their disability coverage, which also means that the families of those who have fallen do not receive full death benefits.
A bipartisan effort, the legislation was initiated by Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Cedar County. Kaufmann and Baeth worked together to bring the bill out of subcommittee and to the debate floor.
"This is for you, this is for all of you. You’ve had all of our backs all of these years, this is our way of having yours," Kaufmann said.
There was no debate on the bill, but rather unwavering support. HF 2482 now makes its way to the Iowa Senate floor for consideration.