South Carolina H 3714: Recognizing January as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3714 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 15, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3714

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A house RESOLUTION

to recognize january 2025 as "professional firefighter 
cancer awareness month" in the state of south carolina, to honor the sacrifices 
made by south carolina firefighters, to increase public awareness about the 
cancer risks they face, and to promote actions to mitigate these risks.

Whereas, South Carolina 
firefighters risk their lives daily to protect the public, and in doing so, 
they are exposed to a variety of carcinogens through smoke, hazardous 
materials, and contaminated gear; and

Whereas, cancer has 
been identified as the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths among firefighters, 
accounting for approximately 66 percent of firefighter fatalities according to 
the Firefighter Cancer Support Network; and

Whereas, studies have 
shown that firefighters are 9 percent more likely to develop cancer and 14 
percent more likely to die from cancer compared to the general population, with 
elevated risks for cancers such as mesothelioma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and 
testicular cancer; and 

Whereas, per- and 
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as "forever chemicals," are present in 
firefighter gear and are linked to a wide range of cancers, including kidney, 
liver, and prostate cancer; and 

Whereas, the 
elimination of PFAS from firefighter personal protective equipment and the 
development of safer alternatives are critical steps in reducing cancer risks 
for firefighters; and 

Whereas, awareness, 
education, and proactive measures, such as routine health screenings, 
decontamination practices, and advocacy for safer equipment are essential in 
reducing occupational cancer risks among professional South Carolina 
firefighters; and 

Whereas, it is 
imperative that funding be increased for research into firefighter occupational 
cancer and the development of PFAS-free gear, and educational initiatives aimed 
at equipping firefighters and their families with knowledge about cancer 
prevention and early detection. Additionally, there needs to be advocacy for state 
and federal policies to phase out PFAS from all firefighter equipment and to 
support the transition to safer alternatives; and

Whereas, the House of 
Representatives is committed to collaborating with local fire departments, 
unions, and associations to prioritize the health and safety of firefighters 
and to ensure that they are provided with the tools and resources necessary to 
reduce their cancer risks. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House 
of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize 
January 2025 as "Professional Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month" in the State 
of South Carolina, to honor the sacrifices made by South Carolina firefighters, 
to increase public awareness about the cancer risks they face, and to promote 
actions to mitigate these risks.

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This web page was last updated on January 15, 2025 at 04:27 PM