Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and John Curtis (R-Idaho) to introduce the Protecting Firefighters and Advancing State-of-the-Art (PFAS) Alternatives Act of 2026, legislation to support the development of next-generation, PFAS-free protective gear to better protect firefighters.
Firefighters are exposed to carcinogens when they respond to virtually every type of fire or incident. This includes PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, which are unfortunately currently found in firefighters’ turnout gear and firefighting foams, in addition to the smoke and air firefighters breathe when responding to emergencies. Exposure to PFAS is linked to an array of health problems, including various cancers, kidney disease, reduced immune function, and reproductive challenges.
Tragically, cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty death in the fire service. Because of their occupational exposure to carcinogens, including PFAS chemicals and other toxins in their own protective gear, firefighters are nearly 10 percent more likely to develop cancer and almost 15 percent more likely to die from cancer than the general population. Despite advances in research and materials science, there is no protective gear currently available to firefighters that is proven to be completely hazard-free.
The PFAS Alternatives Act helps address this by creating a new grant program dedicated to the research, development, and testing of PFAS-free turnout gear that maintains effectiveness while improving firefighter safety.
“Every day, firefighters across Colorado put their lives on the line to protect our families, homes, and property,” said Bennet. “They take on enough risk just by doing their jobs. They shouldn’t have to worry that the gear meant to protect them is increasing their risk of cancer. The PFAS Alternatives Act will help ensure that these brave first responders are protected from hazardous materials while they do their jobs.”
“Our first responders put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities, and too many suffer or lose their lives from cancers caused by toxic exposures on the job — including from harmful PFAS chemicals in their protective gear. Our firefighters shouldn’t have to worry that the gear designed to protect them is putting their health at risk,” said Heinrich. “That’s why I’m leading legislation to invest in next-generation PFAS-free firefighting gear. Because we need to do more to protect the people who protect all of us.”
“Our firefighters put everything on the line to keep us safe, and it’s our job to make sure they are taken care of,” said Fischer. “This bill gives us the resources for producing next-generation protective gear, free of PFAS chemicals, to protect the health and safety of firefighters in Nebraska and across the nation.”
“From Vermont to Idaho and everywhere in between, firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe. Their line of work is already hazardous enough without having to deal with toxic chemical exposure from the very gear meant to protect them,” said Welch. “I’m proud to work across the aisle on this legislation to support investments into developing new, PFAS-free turnout gear that protects firefighters across the country.”
“Utah’s firefighters shouldn’t have to worry that the gear designed to keep them safe could expose them to harmful chemicals,” said Curtis. “This bipartisan legislation invests in the research needed to improve turnout gear, helping ensure firefighters have the proper protective equipment they deserve.”
Specifically, the PFAS Alternatives Act would:
- Establish a grant program within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to fund the research, development, and testing of next-generation, toxin-free turnout gear;
- Ensure that such research is done by, and in collaboration with, firefighters and entities that understand the unique demands that firefighters face;
- Authorize up to $25 million in Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) through FY31 for that research, development, and testing; and
- Authorize an additional $2 million for FY28-FY32 for the development and dissemination of best practices and trainings to ensure that firefighters are equipped with the knowledge to ensure that the next-generation turnout gear is as effective as possible at reducing their risk of potentially harmful exposures.
“The science is clear. Toxic PFAS chemicals are contributing to alarming rates of cancer in the fire service, and we must do everything we can to reduce fire fighters’ exposure to these carcinogens – including in the gear we wear that is supposed to keep us safe. The PFAS Alternatives Act will accelerate the development of next-generation, toxin-free gear, and make sure fire fighters – not corporate interests – are at the center of research into the products we rely on for our safety. The 366,000 members of the IAFF are proud to support this bipartisan legislation, and we thank Sens. Curtis, Welch, Fischer, and Heinrich for their leadership on this critical issue,” said Edward Kelly, General President, International Association of Fire Fighters.
Bennet has consistently fought to secure protections and support for firefighters. In April 2025, Bennet and Colorado U.S. Representative Joe Neguse reintroduced the Tim’s Act to overhaul federal wildland firefighter compensation and benefits, as the wildland firefighting workforce continues to face increasing uncertainty as a result of the Trump Administration’s reckless attacks on federal employees. In February 2025, Bennet and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) reintroduced the High-Rise Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act to help place more sprinklers in older high-rise residential buildings where fires are especially dangerous. In January 2023, Bennet joined former U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and a group of their bipartisan colleagues in calling on Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young to provide information on changes to the availability and cost of federal firefighter housing. In March 2022, Bennet introduced the Public Safety Officer Health Improvement Act to reduce the cost of health care for retired public safety officers who are not yet eligible for Medicare. In September 2021, Bennet joined a group of senators in a letter urging the Biden Administration to begin preparing to implement the wildland firefighter pay and personnel provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
In addition to Bennet, Heinrich, Fischer, Welch, and Curtis, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) cosponsored this bill. Companion legislation in the House is led by U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Sam Graves (R-Mo.).
The text of the bill is available HERE.
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