Ciresi’s legislation for free cancer screenings for firefighters heads to full House

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus June 10, 2026 | 11:29 AM

HARRISBURG, June 10 – In a clear demonstration of bipartisan support for the commonwealth’s first responders, the House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee today overwhelmingly approved state Rep. Joe Ciresi’s legislation to establish a statewide program providing free annual cancer screenings for firefighters.

House Bill 2394 would ensure that firefighters can access annual cancer screening examinations at no cost when those services are not fully covered by their health insurance. The program would apply to both career and volunteer firefighters across the Commonwealth.

According to Ciresi, firefighters’ repeated job-related exposure to cancer-causing chemicals has led the disease to become one of the leading causes of line-of-duty deaths. Studies by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health found that firefighters face a 9% increase in cancer diagnoses, and a 14% increase in cancer-related deaths, compared to the general population in the U.S.

“Today’s vote shouts out loud and clear to our firefighters that we recognize the health risk of occupational cancer they uniquely face and that we have their backs,” said Ciresi, D-Montgomery. “Currently, many of our firefighters must choose between their health and their families’ finances. That is a moral outrage. My legislation would improve our firefighters’ health outcomes—and shield them from crushing health care costs--by reducing the costs of work-related preventative care.

“I thank the members of the House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee for their support of H.B. 2394.”

The bill now moves to the House chamber for full consideration.