,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #edcc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #ag1 #bjbf,mr4 ,padilla 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,curtis1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 and ,mr4 ,sheehy7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,federal ,wildland ,firefighter ,health and ,wellbeing ,program1 a comprehensive initiative to improve the health of ,federal wildland firefighters1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,wildland ,firefighter ,health and ,safety ,act4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4,sec4 #b4 ,definitions4,sec4 #c4 ,wildland ,firefighter ,health ,task ,force4,sec4 #d4 ,federal ,wildland ,firefighter ,health and ,wellbeing ,program4,sec4 #e4 ,occupational safety and health research4,sec4 #f4 ,occupational safety and health standards for wildland firefighter protection4,sec4 #g4 ,office of workers compensation programs4,sec4 #h4 ,duty time for hygiene and gear decontamination for ,federal wildland firefighters4,sec4 #i4 ,government ,accountability ,office study4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,advisory panel ,the term ,advisory ,panel means the ,wildland ,firefighter ,health ,advisory ,panel established under section #c7;e74 7#b7 ,clean apparatus cab protocol ,the term clean apparatus cab protocol means an exposure-reduction protocol for crew transport vehicles and other apparatuses supporting wildland fire operations-- 7,a7 to prevent the transfer of hazardous1 toxic1 and carcinogenic materials and compounds2 7,b7 to establish protocols for reducing exposures2 and 7,c7 to establish decontamination procedures4 7#c7 ,health ,strategy ,the term ,health ,strategy means the ,wildland ,firefighter ,health ,strategy developed under section #c7;f74 7#d7 ,pilot ,program ,the term ,pilot ,program means the respiratory protection pilot program established under section #e7;b74 7#e7 ,program ,director ,the term ,program ,director means the ,federal ,wildland ,firefighter ,health and ,wellbeing ,program ,director appointed under section #d7;c74 7#f7 ,secretaries ,the term ,secretaries means-- 7,a7 the ,secretary of the ,interior2 and 7,b7 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,chief of the ,forest ,service4 7#g7 ,support staff ,the term support staff means any ,federal employee who supports fire activities outside of their primary job responsibilities-- 7,a7 under the direction of either of the ,secretaries2 or 7,b7 under a contract or compact with a federally recognized ,indian ,tribe4 7#h7 ,task ,force ,the term ,task ,force means the ,wildland ,firefighter ,health ,task ,force established under section #c7;a74 7#i7 ,wellbeing ,program ,the term ,wellbeing ,program means the ,federal ,wildland ,firefighter ,health and ,wellbeing ,program established under section #d7;a74 7#aj7 ,wildland firefighter ,the term wildland firefighter means a person-- 7,a7 who-- 7i7 is a firefighter employed by the ,forest ,service or the ,department of the ,interior2 7ii7 participates in wildland firefighting activities under the direction of either of the ,secretaries2 or 7iii7 is a firefighter under a contract or compact with a federally recognized ,indian ,tribe2 and 7,b7 whose duties primarily relate to fires occurring on forest land1 range land1 or other wildland1 as opposed to structural fires4 #c4 ,wildland ,firefighter ,health ,task ,force 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,interior1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 shall establish within the ,department of the ,interior an interagency ,task ,force1 to be known as the ,wildland ,firefighter ,health ,task ,force4 7b7 ,composition 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,task ,force shall be composed of representatives of ,federal agencies1 to be chosen by the ,secretaries1 including not fewer than #a representative from each of the following agencies3 7,a7 ,the ,bureau of ,land ,management4 7,b7 ,the ,national ,park ,service4 7,c7 ,the ,bureau of ,indian ,affairs4 7,d7 ,the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service4 7,e7 ,the ,forest ,service4 7,f7 ,wildland firefighting agencies under the ,department of ,interior or the ,department of ,agriculture4 7,g7 ,the ,national ,institute for ,occupational ,safety and ,health4 7,h7 ,the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,administration4 7,i7 ,the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7#b7 ,,dod participation ,the ,secretaries may extend invitations to relevant ,department of ,defense representatives to participate as ,task ,force members4 7c7 ,chairperson ,the ,program ,director shall be the chair of the ,task ,force4 7d7 ,responsibilities of the task force ,the ,task ,force shall-- 7#a7 provide for interagency coordination to identify administrative and engineering controls-- 7,a7 to be used during arduous wildland fire operations to prevent or significantly reduce inhalation and dermal exposures to toxic and hazardous substances and conditions2 and 7,b7 to the maximum extent practicable1 that can be implemented within #ahj days of the establishment of the ,task ,force2 7#b7 develop pilot testing protocols and procedures for the evaluation of respiratory protection technologies during any temporary compliance adjustment period authorized under this ,act2 7#c7 provide recommendations to inform the promulgation of any occupational safety and health standards described under section #f2 and 7#d7 not later than #a year after the establishment of the ,task ,force1 develop and make publicly available the ,health ,strategy in accordance with subsection 7f71 to be implemented through the ,wellbeing ,program4 7e7 ,wildland firefighter health advisory panel 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,interior1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 shall establish an ,advisory ,panel1 to be known as the ,wildland ,firefighter ,health ,advisory ,panel1 to provide recommendations to the ,task ,force with respect to-- 7,a7 the ,health ,strategy2 and 7,b7 the responsibilities of the ,task ,force under subsection 7d74 7#b7 ,scope ,the ,advisory ,panel shall participate in all aspects of the development and implementation of the ,health ,strategy1 and recommendations and input made by the ,advisory ,panel shall be considered to be advisory in nature4 7#c7 ,advisory panel composition ,the ,advisory ,panel shall be composed of members with expertise in wildland firefighting1 who collectively have a combination of backgrounds1 experiences1 expertise1 and viewpoints1 to be appointed by the ,secretaries1 including-- 7,a7 not fewer than #b current wildland firefighters at ground operation level2 7,b7 not fewer than #b former wildland firefighters2 7,c7 representatives of-- 7i7 unions representing current and former wildland firefighters2 7ii7 unions representing current and former ,state and local government firefighters who respond to ,federal wildfire incidents2 7iii7 employee groups representing wildland firefighter interests2 7iv7 professional organizations2 7v7 nonprofit research foundations2 7vi7 ,state and local fire agencies with established or planned respiratory protection programs2 and 7vii7 ,tribal ,governments or ,tribal fire agencies2 7,d7 academics or researchers with expertise in-- 7i7 cancer and occupational medicine2 7ii7 industrial hygiene2 7iii7 occupational epidemiology2 7iv7 occupational toxicology2 7v7 dermatology2 and 7vi7 behavioral health2 7,e7 any other non-,federal stakeholder or expert in wildland firefighting or in wildland firefighter health and wellbeing1 as identified by the ,task ,force2 and 7,f7 at the discretion of the ,secretaries1 representatives of international fire companies with established or planned respiratory protection programs4 7#d7 ,term of appointment ,each ,advisory ,panel member appointed shall serve a term of #f years4 7#e7 ,vacancies ,any vacancies on the ,advisory ,panel-- 7,a7 shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made2 and 7,b7 to the extent practicable1 shall be filled within #c months of a vacancy to ensure continuous balance of expertise4 7#f7 ,compensation ,a member of the ,advisory ,panel shall serve without compensation4 7#g7 ,travel expenses ,the ,secretary may provide to any member of the ,advisory ,panel travel expenses1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter ,i of chapter #eg of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the ,advisory ,panel4 7#h7 ,collaboration ,the ,task ,force and the ,advisory ,panel shall follow leading practices for effective collaboration1 as identified by the ,government ,accountability ,office1 including in the document entitled ,government ,performance ,management3 ,leading ,practices to ,enhance ,interagency ,collaboration and ,address ,crosscutting ,challenges 7,,gao-#bc-ajeebj7 and published in ,may #bjbc4 7f7 ,wildland firefighter health strategy ,the ,task ,force shall develop1 and update not less frequently than once every #c years1 a coordinated ,wildland ,firefighter ,health ,strategy to address health concerns for wildland firefighters1 to be implemented through the ,wellbeing ,program1 including consideration of-- 7#a7 the availability and use of the best available respiratory protection technologies for wildland firefighting1 and any identified needs for improved technologies2 7#b7 opportunities to reduce dermal exposure to hazardous substances encountered during wildland firefighting1 including-- 7,a7 implementation of clean apparatus cab protocols2 7,b7 transitioning to protective equipment that does not contain perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances or other hazardous chemicals2 7,c7 decontamination of gear1 clothing1 and skin2 and 7,d7 recommendations for near-term and long-term implementation options2 7#c7 opportunities to reduce inhalation exposure to hazardous substances encountered during wildland firefighting2 7#d7 strategies to recognize and address mental health needs of wildland firefighters2 7#e7 strategies for long-term exposure tracking and medical surveillance1 including-- 7,a7 promoting enrollment in the ,national ,firefighter ,registry for ,cancer and the national ,fire ,fighter ,cancer ,cohort ,study2 7,b7 systems to enable wildland firefighters to track individual exposure events over time2 7,c7 the key components of a medical surveillance program1 including data integration with existing health and compensation data systems2 7,d7 requirements for a comprehensive baseline medical assessment upon entry into service for all wildland firefighters2 and 7,e7 health markers to be tracked consistently with periodic updates1 considering lung function and other necessary markers2 7#f7 strategies to increase research and development opportunities to address any critical knowledge gaps1 including-- 7,a7 short- and long-term impacts of inhalation and dermal exposures on reproductive health for male and female firefighters1 including adverse health outcomes for pregnant firefighters2 7,b7 exposure1 lung function1 and malignancy tracking necessary to optimize early identification of exposure risks2 7,c7 specific exposure limits and types of monitoring equipment or practices to guide decision-making on the use of respiratory protection2 and 7,d7 any other knowledge gaps identified by the ,task ,force that impede efforts to meet program goals2 7#g7 the amount of time spent by wildland firefighters working in the wildland-urban interface and specific health concerns associated with working in that environment2 7#h7 scientific1 technological1 cultural1 or other challenges necessary to be addressed to understand and to significantly reduce health risks faced by wildland firefighters2 and 7#i7 priorities for the grant program described in section #d7;g7 to support research1 pilot testing1 and evaluation of exposure reduction technologies and practices4 7g7 ,meetings ,the ,task ,force and the ,advisory ,panel shall meet at the call of the ,chair but not less frequently than twice per calendar year4 7h7 ,administrative support ,the ,secretary of the ,interior shall provide such clerical and technical support as may be necessary to enable the ,task ,force and the ,advisory ,panel to carry out the functions and meetings of the ,task ,force and the ,advisory ,panel4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated #ae1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbg through #bjcb to carry out this section4 #d4 ,federal ,wildland ,firefighter ,health and ,wellbeing ,program 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary of ,interior1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 shall establish and maintain a ,federal ,wildland ,firefighter ,health and ,wellbeing ,program4 7b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of the ,wellbeing ,program is to improve the long-term health outcomes of wildland firefighters and support personnel by-- 7#a7 addressing occupational exposures to hazardous materials1 respiratory hazards1 and other risks associated with wildland fire occupations2 and 7#b7 focusing on cancer prevention and early detection4 7c7 ,program ,director 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,wellbeing ,program shall be headed by a ,federal ,wildland ,firefighter ,health and ,wellbeing ,program ,director1 who shall be appointed by the ,secretary of the ,interior1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7#b7 ,initial appointment ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the initial ,program ,director shall be appointed4 7d7 ,program scope ,in carrying out the ,wellbeing ,program1 the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,program ,director and in coordination with the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 shall-- 7#a7 assess occupational health risks faced by wildland firefighters1 including risks associated with wildfire smoke1 hazardous substances1 heat1 and other environmental and operational exposures2 7#b7 expand prevention1 education1 and support services to address trauma and cumulative stress1 build coping skills1 bolster resiliency1 and improve mental preparedness2 7#c7 identify and implement administrative and engineering controls to reduce inhalation hazards and exposure risk2 7#d7 carry out and support demonstrations1 experiments1 and pilot programs for technology or safety practices2 7#e7 coordinate with manufacturers in the development of respiratory protection technologies and evaluate the efficacy and field use of those technologies through data collection and firefighter feedback1 including surveys and interviews2 7#f7 support efforts by the ,national ,institute for ,occupational ,safety and ,health to coordinate with ,state1 ,tribal1 and local fire services to promote consistency of respirator technology use2 7#g7 develop and administer comprehensive training and education for wildland firefighters on smoke exposure health risks and benefits of respiratory protection2 7#h7 promote a culture among wildland firefighters and support crews to prevent exposure to wildfire smoke2 7#i7 support crew leadership in promoting decontamination and cleanliness practices2 7#aj7 implement dermal exposure reduction strategies and clean apparatus cab protocols2 7#aa7 support the testing and use of exposure monitoring technologies1 including sensors and devices providing real-time air quality or dermal exposure feedback2 7#ab7 develop and implement a system for wildland firefighters and support staff to track their own exposure and document their risk over time2 7#ac7 develop a medical surveillance protocol1 including data integration with existing health and compensation data systems1 and share data with the ,national ,institute for ,occupational ,safety and ,health2 7#ad7 conduct baseline medical exams1 including early indicators of cancer and chronic cardiopulmonary disease1 on the hiring of an employee and conduct medical exams annually to track health outcomes2 7#ae7 provide access to regular medical screenings for early detection of disease or illness1 including cancer screenings and periodic pulmonary function testing2 7#af7 implement hearing protective protocols in accordance with section #aiaj4ie of title #bi1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor regulation72 7#ag7 ensure that the results of any monitoring or medical surveillance are made available to the affected firefighter in a timely manner2 and 7#ah7 develop a mechanism for wildland firefighters to provide comments or suggestions or ask questions1 via a website or another mechanism1 which shall allow for anonymous and non-anonymous feedback4 7e7 ,requirement for ,wellbeing ,program staffing 7#a7 ,full-time staffing ,the ,secretaries shall ensure the ,wellbeing ,program is staffed with a sufficient number of full-time employees necessary to carry out the ,program duties1 including at least #a full-time staff at each regional office and at least #d full-time employees at the national level1 with appropriate expertise in-- 7,a7 occupational health2 7,b7 industrial hygiene2 7,c7 epidemiology2 7,d7 toxicology2 7,e7 respiratory protection2 7,f7 wildfire operations2 7,g7 data management2 7,h7 behavioral health2 or 7,i7 other related disciplines4 7#b7 ,support personnel ,the ,secretaries shall provide adequate administrative1 technical1 analytical1 and field support-- 7,a7 to implement the ,health ,strategy2 7,b7 to oversee pilots and grants2 7,c7 to coordinate with the ,task ,force and the ,advisory ,panel2 and 7,d7 to meet reporting requirements4 7#c7 ,annual certification ,the ,program ,director shall annually assess and report to ,congress whether staffing and funding are sufficient to carry out the ,wellbeing ,program and identify additional resource needs4 7f7 ,pilot testing authority ,the ,program ,director1 in consultation with the ,task ,force1 may implement any pilot programs1 demonstration projects1 or field testing in coordination with the ,national ,institute for ,occupational ,safety and ,health to assess the feasibility1 effectiveness1 and operational suitability of protective technologies4 7g7 ,grantmaking authority 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,program ,director1 in consultation with the ,task ,force1 may establish and carry out additional grant programs to support-- 7,a7 research1 pilot testing1 and evaluation of exposure reduction technologies and practices2 7,b7 the acquisition and distribution of respiratory protective equipment2 and 7,c7 research and development efforts to address knowledge gaps identified in the ,health ,strategy4 7#b7 ,advisory role for ,wellbeing ,program ,the ,task ,force shall advise the ,wellbeing ,program with respect to the grant program described in paragraph 7#a7 on-- 7,a7 standards and criteria for grant award determinations2 7,b7 selection of grant applications2 and 7,c7 final funding decisions4 7h7 ,coordination ,the ,program ,director shall consult with the ,task ,force and the ,advisory ,panel in carrying out this section at the frequency specified in section #c7;g74 7i7 ,worker compensation information sharing 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of appointment under subsection 7c77#b71 the ,program ,director shall set and coordinate bi-annual meetings with the ,director of the ,office of ,workers' ,compensation ,programs of the ,department of ,labor to facilitate information-sharing between the workers' compensation programs of the ,department of ,labor and the ,wellbeing ,program on issues impacting wildland firefighters' health1 benefits1 compensation1 or any other matters relating to those programs or the ,wellbeing ,program4 7#b7 ,task ,force and ,advisory ,panel ,the information gathered during a meeting described in paragraph 7#a7 shall be shared with the ,task ,force and the ,advisory ,panel4 7j7 ,program performance plans assessment ,not later than #de days before the end of the first full fiscal year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and not later than #de days before the end of each fiscal year thereafter1 following ,federal performance management best practices outlined by the ,government ,accountability ,office 7including in the document entitled ,evidence-,based ,policymaking3 ,practices to ,help ,manage and ,assess the ,results of ,federal ,efforts 7,,gao-#bc-ajedfj771 the ,program ,director shall complete a plan that-- 7#a7 establishes goals to define ,wellbeing ,program performance1 including-- 7,a7 long-term strategic goals2 and 7,b7 near-term performance goals to be achieved over the following #a-year period2 7#b7 expresses those performance goals in an objective1 quantifiable1 achievable1 and measurable form2 7#c7 establishes a balanced set of performance indicators to be used in measuring or assessing progress toward each performance goal1 including outcome indicators1 as appropriate2 7#d7 establishes data collection protocols for the performance indicators established under paragraph 7#c7 to collect the information and data needed to assess progress toward performance goals2 and 7#e7 carries out the tasks described in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#d7 in consultation with-- 7,a7 the ,task ,force2 and 7,b7 the ,advisory ,panel and other relevant stakeholders1 as the ,program ,director determines to be appropriate4 7k7 ,assessment and report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after the end of the first full fiscal year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and not later than #fj days after the end of each fiscal year thereafter1 the ,program ,director shall submit to ,congress a report describing the progress the ,wellbeing ,program has made toward meeting its performance goals during the prior year1 along with-- 7,a7 detailed action plans to improve results for any performance goals that were not met2 7,b7 any challenges or lessons learned identified2 and 7,c7 any other findings relevant to ,wellbeing ,program performance4 7#b7 ,task ,force input ,the ,program ,director shall develop each report under paragraph 7#a7 with input from the ,task ,force4 7#c7 ,task ,force meetings ,at the end of each fiscal year1 the ,program ,director shall set a meeting with the ,task ,force to review ,wellbeing ,program progress and-- 7,a7 determine the extent to which the ,wellbeing ,program met its established goals during the prior year2 7,b7 identify and document any challenges the ,wellbeing ,program faces in meeting its established goals and detailed plans to address them1 including an assessment of challenges related to staffing1 training1 or funding levels2 and 7,c7 assess and document lessons learned to be applied in the years going forward4 7l7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated #cd1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbg through #bjcb to carry out this section4 #e4 ,occupational safety and health research 7a7 ,establishment ,section #bb of the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,act of #aigj 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #fga7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7i7 ,office of ,firefighter ,health ,and ,safety 7#a7 ,in general ,there shall be permanently established within the ,institute an ,office of ,firefighter ,health ,and ,safety 7referred to in this subsection as the ,office71 which shall be administered by an ,associate ,director to be appointed by the ,director4 7#b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of the ,office1 with respect to firefighting and disaster response occupations1 is to-- 7,a7 promote fast identification and prevention of new and emerging hazards2 7,b7 provide a central point for wildland and structural firefighters1 fire-service organizations1 and other stakeholders to engage with the broad scope of relevant research and services2 7,c7 enhance and accelerate the development of new safety technology1 technological applications1 and work practices2 7,d7 expedite the commercial availability and implementation of such technology and practices in firefighting work2 7,e7 study the relationship between work in firefighting and health outcomes over time2 7,f7 investigate line-of-duty deaths and serious injuries for the purpose of developing preventive measures2 and 7,g7 conduct research and develop criteria for new and improved occupational safety and health standards for firefighters4 7#c7 ,authorities ,to fulfill the purposes described in paragraph 7#b71 the ,director1 acting through the ,office1 shall use any authority provided under this ,act and shall also have the authority to-- 7,a7 award competitive grants to institutions and private entities to encourage the development and manufacture of new and innovative personal protective equipment and safety-enhancing technologies for firefighters2 7,b7 award contracts to educational institutions or private entities for the performance of product testing or related work with respect to new firefighting technology and equipment2 7,c7 support longitudinal surveillance and biomonitoring research program to evaluate exposures and markers of cancer and other disease risk for wildland fire personnel2 7,d7 conduct research on the relationship between work in firefighting and health outcomes over time2 7,e7 develop and publish contamination-control and clean apparatus cab criteria to inform agencies' equipment procurement practices2 7,f7 conduct experiments1 evaluations1 and field tests to assess firefighting technology and equipment in settings that realistically reflect conditions of firefighting2 7,g7 develop and implement strategies for long-term exposure tracking and medical surveillance1 including-- 7i7 systems to enable workers to track individual exposure events over time2 7ii7 registries and cohorts of workers in firefighting2 7iii7 data integration with existing health and compensation data systems2 and 7iv7 systems that are consistent and accessible to firefighters and relevant agencies and are permanently retained2 and 7,h7 coordinate with manufacturers in the development of respiratory protection technologies and evaluate the efficacy and field use of such technologies through data collection and firefighter feedback1 including surveys and interviews4 7#d7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the establishment of the ,office under this subsection1 and every #b years thereafter1 the ,director shall submit to the ,committee on ,education and ,workforce of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate a report that1 with respect to the year involved-- 7,a7 describes the new health and safety technologies and practices that have been studied1 tested1 and certified for use1 and with respect to such technologies and practices that have been considered but not yet certified for use1 the reasons for not certifying2 and 7,b7 identifies cancer1 respiratory1 or other medical conditions warranting consideration by the ,secretary of ,labor for regulatory updates to presumptive coverage under chapter #ha of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly known as the ,federal ,employees' ,compensation ,act74 7#e7 ,wildland firefighter priorities ,with respect to wildland firefighter 7as defined in section #b of the ,wildland ,firefighter ,health and ,safety ,act7 safety1 health1 and wellbeing1 the ,director shall-- 7,a7 develop1 in coordination with the ,federal ,wildland ,firefighter ,health and ,wellbeing ,program established under section #d of the ,wildland ,firefighter ,health and ,safety ,act1 priorities for research1 pilot testing1 and evaluation of exposure reduction technologies and practices tailored to the conditions of wildland firefighting2 7,b7 develop and implement1 in coordination with the ,federal ,wildland ,firefighter ,health and ,wellbeing ,program1 strategies to inform wildland firefighters about the ,national ,firefighter ,registry for ,cancer established under the ,firefighter ,cancer ,registry ,act of #bjah 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bhj;e-#e7 and the national ,fire ,fighter ,cancer ,cohort ,study2 7,c7 identify and assess the best available respiratory protective technologies suitable for wildland firefighting1 in particular any such technologies that meet the ,national ,fire ,protection ,agency #aihd ,standard on ,respirators for ,wildland ,fire-,fighting ,operations and ,wildland ,urban ,interface ,operations 7or any successor or equivalent standard that provides equal or greater protection72 7,d7 periodically analyze and report data about exposures1 hazards1 and health effects specific to wildland firefighters2 and 7,e7 develop and support a longitudinal surveillance and biomonitoring research program to evaluate exposures and markers of cancer and other disease risk for wildland fire personnel4 7#f7 ,coordination ,the ,director shall coordinate with the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 and heads of relevant agencies to ensure that standards and exposure reduction technologies developed by the ,office are integrated into agency procurement requirements1 training1 programs1 and other relevant operational guidance for wildland fire personnel4 7#g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated #aj1jjj1jjj1 to be available through fiscal year #bjcb to enable the ,institute and the ,office to carry out this subsection4 4 7b7 ,respiratory protection pilot program 7#a7 ,establishment ,not later than #a year after the establishment of the ,task ,force1 the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,program ,director and in coordination with the ,secretary of ,agriculture and the ,director of the ,national ,institute for ,occupational ,safety and ,health1 shall design and carry out a pilot program1 to be known as the respiratory protection pilot program1 to evaluate respiratory protection technologies for use by wildland firefighters4 7#b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of the ,pilot ,program is to assess and identify the feasibility1 effectiveness1 and usability of respiratory protection technologies for wildland firefighters4 7#c7 ,duration ,the ,pilot ,program shall be carried out for a #b-year period4 7#d7 ,scope of pilot program ,in carrying out the ,pilot ,program1 the ,director of the ,national ,institute for ,occupational ,safety and ,health shall-- 7,a7 evaluate and test respiratory protection technologies1 including respirators and related equipment1 that may reduce inhalation exposure to wildfire smoke and other airborne hazards encountered during arduous wildland firefighting2 7,b7 conduct field testing of respiratory protection technologies to assess performance1 including heat1 exertion1 duration of use1 and conditions of use2 7,c7 conduct field testing in real-world operational contexts1 including line construction1 mop-up1 and transport2 7,d7 collect data from wildland firefighters on usability1 comfort1 and compliance with the technology described in subparagraph 7,a72 7,e7 provide opportunities for wildland firefighter feedback on any aspects of the pilot program2 7,f7 coordinate with manufacturers1 researchers1 and other experts to support fit testing1 refinement1 and evaluation of technology2 and 7,g7 consult with the ,task ,force on pilot testing protocols and procedures under section #c7;d77#b74 7#e7 ,final report ,not later than #ahj days after the end of the period described in paragraph 7#c71 the ,secretaries shall submit to the ,committees on ,natural ,resources and ,education and ,workforce of the ,house of ,representatives1 and the ,committees on ,energy and ,natural ,resources and the ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate1 a final report that includes information regarding-- 7,a7 recommendations to the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,administration for the standards under section #f2 7,b7 the costs associated with carrying out the ,pilot ,program2 7,c7 the usage of respiratory protection technology under the ,pilot ,program2 7,d7 the extent of participation in the ,pilot ,program by wildland firefighters2 and 7,e7 any other findings and conclusions with respect to the ,pilot ,program the ,secretary considers appropriate1 which may include details on any challenges encountered1 any actions needed to address them1 and any lessons learned4 7#f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated #a1ejj1jjj to carry out this section4 #f4 ,occupational safety and health standards for wildland firefighter protection 7a7 ,interim final standard 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after submission of the report described in section #e7;b77#e71 the ,secretary of ,labor1 acting through the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,administration1 shall issue an interim final standard with respect to protecting the health of wildland firefighters1 which shall-- 7,a7 require employers to develop and implement a comprehensive health protection plan that addresses long-term occupational health risks associated with wildland firefighting2 and 7,b7 require the provision of respiratory protection1 subject to availability and feasibility1 consistent with the interim nature of the standard4 7#b7 ,inapplicable provisions of law and executive order ,the following provisions of law and executive orders shall not apply to the issuance of the interim final standard under this subsection3 7,a7 ,the requirements applicable to occupational safety and health standards under section #f7;b7 of the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,act of #aigj 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #fee7;b774 7,b7 ,the requirements of chapters #e and #f of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7,c7 ,subchapter ,i of chapter #ce of title #dd1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly referred to as the ,paperwork ,reduction ,act74 7,d7 ,executive ,order ,no4 #abhff 7#eh ,fed4 ,reg4 #eagce2 relating to regulatory planning and review71 as amended4 7#c7 ,notice and comment ,the ,secretary shall1 prior to issuing the interim final standard under this subsection1 provide notice in the ,federal ,register of the interim final standard and a #cj-;day period for public comment4 7#d7 ,development ,the interim final standard shall be developed in coordination with the ,task ,force and ,advisory ,panel and shall be informed by the results and findings of the ,pilot ,program4 7#e7 ,effective date of interim final standard ,the interim final standard shall-- 7,a7 take effect on a date that is not later than #cj days after issuance1 except that such interim final standard may include reasonable delays due to the availability of personal protective equipment or technology2 7,b7 have the legal effect of an occupational safety and health standard as defined by section #c7h7 of the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,act of #aigj 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #feb7h772 and 7,c7 remain in effect until superseded by the final standard promulgated pursuant to subsection 7b74 7b7 ,final standard 7#a7 ,proposed final standard ,not later than #b years after the submission of the report under section #e7;b77#e71 pursuant to section #f of the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,act of #aigj 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #fee71 the ,secretary of ,labor1 acting through the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,administration1 shall promulgate a proposed final standard with respect to protecting the health of wildland firefighters-- 7,a7 for the purpose described in subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 of subsection 7a77#a72 and 7,b7 that shall provide at least as much protection as the interim final standard promulgated under subsection 7a74 7#b7 ,final standard ,not later than #e years after the submission of the final report described in section #e7;b77#e71 the ,secretary shall issue a final standard that shall-- 7,a7 take effect on a date that is not later than #cj days after issuance1 except that such final standard may include reasonable delays due to the availability of personal protective equipment or technology2 7,b7 provide no less protection than any wildland firefighter health standard adopted by a ,state plan that has been approved by the ,secretary under section #ah of the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,act of #aigj 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #ffg71 provided the ,secretary finds that the final standard is feasible on the basis of the best available evidence2 7,c7 be effective and enforceable in the same manner and to the same extent as any standard promulgated under section #f7;b7 of the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,act of #aigj 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #fee7;b772 and 7,d7 comply with the requirements described in subsection 7c74 7c7 ,requirements for final standard ,the requirements described in this subsection shall require-- 7#a7 implementation of engineering and administrative controls1 exposure minimization strategies1 and operational adjustments when exposure thresholds are exceeded2 7#b7 strategies to encourage respiratory protection from smoke and other hazards including providing fire personnel with the appropriate equipment to protect from wildfire smoke and other respiratory hazards2 7#c7 training and education materials to fire personnel regarding-- 7,a7 how to properly use protective equipment2 7,b7 how long and under what conditions the protective equipment is effective2 7,c7 the potential health impacts of breathing wildfire smoke without proper protection2 7,d7 how heat illness happens1 how to recognize it1 and how to prevent and treat it2 and 7,e7 any additional areas deemed critical for the safety and health of wildland firefighters2 7#d7 strategies to reduce dermal exposure to toxic and hazardous substances and conditions and exposure to ,,pfas in firefighter gear2 7#e7 guidance on use of exposure monitoring equipment2 7#f7 medical monitoring and surveillance to identify early indicators of exposure-related illness2 and 7#g7 decontamination equipment installed in duty stations1 vehicles1 and other relevant spaces4 7d7 ,collaboration ,the ,department of ,labor ,secretary shall coordinate with the ,wildland ,firefighter ,health ,task ,force and ,advisory ,panel when promulgating the standards described in subsection 7a7 and 7b74 7e7 ,compliance assistance ,the ,secretary shall provide technical assistance and advice1 consistent with section #ba of the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,act of #aigj 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #fgj7;d77 to employers subject to the standards with respect to compliance with the standard4 #g4 ,office of ,workers' ,compensation ,programs 7a7 ,special claims ,section #hadc;b of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7c7 ,special claims handling unit for employees in fire protection activities 7#a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish a special claims handling unit to process and adjudicate claims under this subchapter of disability or death of employees in fire protection activities4 7#b7 ,training ,personnel assigned to the specialized claims handling unit shall-- 7,a7 receive training and proficiency testing on the duties1 operational conditions1 and occupational exposures associated with firefighting2 and 7,b7 possess or develop expertise in occupational illnesses and injuries associated with smoke exposure1 hazardous substances1 heat1 and other hazards encountered during firefighting operations4 7#c7 ,claims processing ,the ,secretary shall ensure that claims described in paragraph 7#a7 are processed in a timely manner4 7#d7 ,coordination ,the ,secretary of ,labor shall work in coordination with the ,federal ,wildland ,firefighter ,health and ,wellbeing ,program established under section #d of the ,wildland ,firefighter ,health ,act and the ,national ,institute for ,occupational ,safety and ,health to develop training and operational guidance for the special claims unit4 7d7 ,annual ,,owcp report on firefighter claims 7#a7 ,annual reporting requirement ,the ,office of ,workers' ,compensation ,programs 7in this subsection referred to as ,,owcp7 shall prepare and publish an annual report of claims under this subchapter of disability or death of employees in fire protection activities1 including claims for traumatic injury and occupational illness occurring in the performance of duty4 7#b7 ,required contents ,each report shall include1 at a minimum1 aggregate data and summary statistics on-- 7,a7 claims filed1 accepted1 denied1 pending1 and appealed1 including rationale for denials2 7,b7 categories of occupational exposures that were alleged by the claimant 7including smoke or heat7 and what categories ,,owcp accepted as established2 7,c7 diagnoses ,,owcp claimed1 accepted1 and partially accepted2 7,d7 time to decision metrics1 including-- 7i7 claim filing to completion of development1 or the time it takes from when a claim is filed to the time when ,,owcp determines that they can issue an initial determination1 based on factual and medical evidence submitted2 7ii7 claim filing to initial decision1 or the time it takes from when a claim is filed to when the first decision is made to either accept or deny a claim2 and 7iii7 claim filing to initial acceptance1 if applicable1 or the time it takes from when a claim is filed to when the first decision is made1 which occurs when there has been a determination that the claim has met all necessary elements1 and a list of accepted diagnoses is made2 7,e7 data on the use of second opinion physicians1 or physicians selected by the government to issue a medical opinion1 and referee physicians1 or impartial physicians independent from ,,owcp who issues medical opinions1 including-- 7i7 how often these physicians are utilized2 7ii7 the time it takes for each type of physician to issue their opinions2 7iii7 a description of the impact of such opinion on claim outcomes2 and 7iv7 total costs paid for such opinions4 7,f7 identification and discussion of any systemic issues affecting timely adjudication or access to benefits for ,federal firefighters4 7#c7 ,coordination and use of data ,the ,director of the ,,owcp shall use the information contained in the report to-- 7,a7 inform updates to the ,wildland ,firefighter ,health ,strategy2 7,b7 identify administrative or regulatory barriers to timely medical care and compensation2 7,c7 recommend legislative1 regulatory1 or policy changes to improve outcomes4 7#d7 ,public availability ,each report under this subsection shall be made publicly available in a searchable and accessible format1 consistent with applicable privacy laws4 4 7b7 ,certain ,illnesses and diseases ,section #hadc;b7b77#a7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking 1 if the employee and all that follows through protection activities4 7c7 ,technical amendment ,subsection 7b7 of section #hadc;b of such title1 as amended by subsection 7b71 is further amended in the subsection heading by striking diseased and inserting diseases4 #h4 ,duty time for hygiene and gear decontamination for ,federal wildland firefighters 7a7 ,definition of covered employee ,in this section1 the term covered employee means a wildland firefighter1 including permanent1 seasonal1 temporary1 and emergency appointment personnel1 regardless of pay classification4 7b7 ,duty time ,the ,secretaries shall each ensure that each covered employee is provided regular duty time during wildfire operations or prescribed fires1 without loss of pay or benefits-- 7#a7 to shower and perform personal hygiene following shifts involving exposure to smoke1 ash1 perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances1 hazardous substances1 or other contaminants2 7#b7 to clean1 decontaminate1 and maintain personal protective equipment and work clothing1 including through the use of washing machines or equivalent cleaning and decontamination methods2 and 7#c7 to decontaminate vehicles and closed spaces used to transport or support wildland fire personnel during operations4 7c7 ,health and safety purpose ,duty time provided under subsection 7b7 shall be-- 7#a7 considered hours of work for purposes of pay1 leave1 and other employment benefits2 and 7#b7 intended to reduce occupational exposure to carcinogens1 toxic substances1 and other health hazards associated with wildland firefighting4 7d7 ,requirements for decontamination infrastructure and equipment 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretaries shall ensure that each duty station1 fire cache1 or other regularly staffed wildland fire facility is equipped with adequate gear decontamination infrastructure4 7#b7 ,minimum requirements ,infrastructure described in paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 decontamination equipment or equivalent systems dedicated to contaminated gear and clothing2 7,b7 appropriate drying equipment2 7,c7 designated cleaning areas2 7,d7 access to hot and cold showers2 7,e7 appropriate wastewater handling or filtration1 where feasible2 and 7,f7 replacement personal protective equipment4 7#c7 ,capacity ,infrastructure described in paragraph 7#a7 shall be sufficient to serve assigned personnel without unreasonable delay following exposure4 7#d7 ,remote operations ,for remote or temporary operations1 the ,secretaries shall provide mobile decontamination capability or ensure prompt access to cleaning and hygiene upon return4 7#e7 ,maintenance ,the ,secretaries shall ensure routine inspection1 maintenance1 and timely replacement of infrastructure described in paragraph 7#a74 7e7 ,implementation ,the ,secretary may issue guidance or regulations to carry out this section4 #i4 ,government ,accountability ,office study 7a7 ,study ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and every #b years thereafter for #f years1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall conduct a study to evaluate the progress of the ,wellbeing ,program4 7b7 ,areas of focus ,the study required under subsection 7a7 shall-- 7#a7 assess1 at minimum-- 7,a7 the progress of the ,wellbeing ,program with respect to establishing yearly goals and objectives1 and the justification if goals and objectives have not been established2 7,b7 the progress of the ,wellbeing ,program with respect to meeting its stated goals and objectives1 and the justification if goals and objectives have not been met2 7,c7 any challenges or barriers that limit the ,wellbeing ,program's ability to meet its goals and objectives1 and any recommendations for improvements2 7,d7 the extent to which the ,task ,force and the ,advisory ,panel are following leading practices for effective collaboration as identified by the ,government ,accountability ,office1 including the practices identified in the document entitled ,government ,performance ,management3 ,leading ,practices to ,enhance ,interagency ,collaboration and ,address ,crosscutting ,challenges 7,,gao-#bc-ajeebj7 and published in ,may #bjbc2 7,e7 the sustained focus and commitment of the ,secretaries and the leadership within the ,department of the ,interior and the ,forest ,service with respect to addressing and improving the health of wildland firefighters1 by examining-- 7i7 their role in collaborating with key partners through the ,task ,force and the ,advisory ,panel2 7ii7 their role in establishing performance measures1 assessing performance information1 and making program modifications1 as needed1 based on performance results2 and 7iii7 any other actions or steps that leadership have taken to demonstrate their sustained focus and commitment to improving wildland firefighter health outcomes2 7,f7 current availability of respiratory equipment in the marketplace to be procured and used by wildland firefighters1 including the extent to which respirators that meet ,national ,fire ,protection ,association standards are available in the commercial marketplace2 7,g7 the extent to which respiratory equipment that is available for procurement meets ,national ,fire ,protection ,association standards and has been approved by the ,national ,personal ,protective ,technology ,laboratory at the ,national ,institute for ,occupational ,safety and ,health2 7,h7 the barriers1 if any1 that limit the development1 approval1 procurement1 or widespread adoption of respirators that meet ,national ,fire ,protection ,association standards for wildland firefighting2 7,i7 the availability of decontamination and clean apparatus cab protocol supplies and infrastructure2 7,j7 the barriers1 if any1 to implementing clean apparatus cab protocols1 progress towards addressing challenges1 and recommendations for improvements2 7,k7 any progress made in the testing of exposure monitoring technologies1 the results of the testing1 and to the extent that exposure data are available1 a summary of that data1 including any relevant summary statistics1 and observations on data quality2 7,l7 progress of the promulgation of the standards pursuant to section #f2 7,m7 progress that the ,office of ,workers' ,compensation ,programs of the ,department of ,labor has made in establishing a special claims handling unit to process and adjudicate workers' compensation claims submitted by employees in fire protection activities1 as described in the amendments made by section #g2 7,n7 the extent to which funds or full-time positions allocated to the ,wellbeing ,program remain dedicated to the ,wellbeing ,program1 including a summary of any diversions or repurposing of funds or full-time positions that were intended for the ,wellbeing ,program2 and 7,o7 to the extent practicable1 the degree of hazardous exposure1 in toxic exposure type and duration2 and 7#b7 summarize-- 7,a7 steps the ,wellbeing ,program has taken to address the cultural barriers associated with the use of respiratory protection among wildland firefighters1 and any evidence of any progress that has been made in reducing these barriers2 and 7,b7 the status of any changes to ,national ,fire ,protection ,association standards as they apply to wildland firefighting respiratory protection1 as appropriate4 7c7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the conclusion of each study required by subsection 7a71 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to the ,committees on ,natural ,resources and ,education and ,workforce of the ,house of ,representatives1 and the ,committees on ,energy and ,natural ,resources and ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate1 a report on the results of the study1 including any recommendations for legislative or administrative actions4