Being a firefighter comes with many dangers, including an increased risk of cancer. Act 101 of 1976 (Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act) provides death benefits for survivors of Pennsylvania emergency responders, law enforcement, and National Guard members who are killed in the line of duty. This includes firefighters. While Act 101 is there to support survivors, a recent Commonwealth Court ruling has made it difficult for survivors of firefighters who had cancer to receive benefits.

In February 2026, the Commonwealth Court ruled in Estate of Thomas R. Tratthen and Lise Tratthen v. Department of General Services that in order to receive these benefits, survivors must prove that firefighting was the sole cause of their loved one’s illness and death. However, this is not how medical science works. Doctors are typically unable to attribute cancer solely to firefighting. As a result of this Commonwealth Court ruling, Act 101 benefits will become difficult, if not impossible, for survivors to access.

Our firefighters put their lives on the line every day for their communities. We must do more to support their families if they pass away from cancer that was caused by their occupation. I will be introducing legislation to modernize the language in Act 101 to recognize that firefighting is the major contributing factor in a firefighter’s illness, not just the sole cause.

Join me in supporting firefighters and their families. We must update the law to allow access to these important benefits for firefighters who became ill and died from cancer as a result of their heroic work.