PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Congressional Research Service
No official summary is available in the imported record yet.
People & committees
Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] · D–FL
Legislative record
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Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
Source last updated: Oct 7, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2026-09-16 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
This bill would compensate qualifying firefighters, or representatives of deceased firefighters, for specified health conditions associated with PFAS, a group of substances called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Claimants would not have to prove fault. New taxes on sales of PFAS-containing products and certain PFAS litigation payments would support a compensation fund. Award amounts would depend on the condition and years of service, but payments could be reduced and delayed when funding is insufficient.
The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Program (in this title referred to as the Program), for the purpose of providing compensation for physical injury or death suffered by firefighters in connection with PFAS-related health conditions.
The term PFAS means per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
may not consider negligence or any other theory of liability or defense thereto.
in the case of a deceased firefighter who meets the requirements of subparagraph (A)— (i) is the administrator of the estate of such firefighter
The amount of compensation described in subsection (d)(1)(B)(i) is the base award described in paragraph (2), as multiplied by the service modifier described in paragraph (3), and as modified by any special circumstances (as the Secretary determines appropriate).
shall include a process for prorating payments when funding is deficient and for supplementing the prorated payments as funding becomes available
There are hereby appropriated to the PFAS Trust Fund amounts equivalent to— (1) the taxes received in the Treasury under sections 4191 and 5000E
There is hereby imposed on PFAS products sold by the manufacturer, producer, or importer thereof a tax equal to 10 percent of the price for which so sold.
There is hereby imposed a tax on any taxpayer that pays a qualifying PFAS litigation award during the taxable year in an amount equal to 10 percent of the present value of such award.
Section 1 would name the legislation the Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act of 2026.
This Act may be cited as the Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act of 2026.
Eligibility would require at least two years of firefighting service and a covered health condition suffered during or after that service. The definition includes qualified members of civilian or military fire departments and volunteer fire organizations.
A person is eligible to submit a claim under the Program only if such person— (A) (i) served as a firefighter for 2 or more years; and (ii) during or after such service, suffered a PFAS-related health condition
The term firefighter means a member of a civilian or military fire department or volunteer fire organization who is qualified to respond to and extinguish fires.
Covered conditions would include cancers of the kidney, testicle, liver, prostate, bladder, pancreas, breast, colon and ovary, plus thyroid diseases and ulcerative colitis. The bill defines a covered condition as one for which PFAS exposure is likely to significantly cause, contribute to or worsen the condition, and would allow the Secretary to recognize additional conditions.
The term PFAS-related health condition means an illness or health condition for which exposure to PFAS is likely to be a significant factor in aggravating, contributing to, or causing the illness or health condition, including— (i) cancers of the kidney, testicle, liver, prostate, bladder, pancreas, breast, colon, and ovary; (ii) thyroid diseases; (iii) ulcerative colitis; and (iv) any other illness or health condition, as the Secretary determines appropriate.
For a deceased qualifying firefighter, the estate administrator could file. Before an estate is opened, an adult spouse, parent, child, grandchild or sibling could file if represented by counsel. If multiple adult heirs filed before the estate opened, they would lose eligibility to act as claimants, leaving the estate administrator as the eligible claimant.
in the case of a deceased firefighter who meets the requirements of subparagraph (A)— (i) is the administrator of the estate of such firefighter; or (ii) in the case that the claim is submitted before the date on which the estate of such firefighter is opened— (I) is an adult heir of such firefighter; and (II) is represented by counsel.
The term heir means, in relation to a deceased individual, an individual who, at the time of death of the deceased individual, was a spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling of the deceased individual.
If more than 1 adult heir described in paragraph (1)(B)(ii) submits a claim for the same firefighter before the date on which the estate of such firefighter is opened, all such adult heirs shall cease to be eligible claimants. In such case, the eligible claimant shall be the administrator of the firefighter’s estate under paragraph (1)(B)(i).
Claimants would use a government-developed form requesting proof and date of a physician's diagnosis, years of service and special circumstances supporting a larger award. They could submit supporting documents and witness testimony with the form.
an eligible claimant shall submit to the Secretary a claim— (A) using the claim form developed by the Secretary under paragraph (2); and (B) by presenting any additional evidence, including witness testimony and supporting documents, alongside such claim form.
The Secretary shall develop a claim form that requests the following information: (A) Information concerning any PFAS-related health condition of the firefighter in relation to whom the eligible claimant seeks compensation, including— (i) proof of the diagnosis of such condition by a physician; and (ii) the date of such diagnosis. (B) The years of service of such firefighter. (C) A description of any special circumstances that may support a more substantial award.
Claims could be filed starting when final program regulations are issued. The filing deadline would be the later of two years after those regulations or two years after the firefighter's death.
An eligible claimant may submit a claim under paragraph (1) during the period beginning on the date on which the regulations are promulgated as final under section 3403 and ending on the later of— (A) the date that is 2 years after the date on which such regulations are promulgated as final; and (B) the date that is 2 years after the date of death of the firefighter in relation to whom the eligible claimant seeks compensation.
The Secretary would determine whether the firefighter had a covered condition and decide the award, if any, with written notice within 120 days after the claim was submitted. For program decisions, a covered condition would be treated as caused by PFAS exposure during firefighting, without deciding negligence or other legal fault. Claimants could have an attorney.
For each claim submitted under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall— (A) determine whether the firefighter suffered a PFAS-related health condition; and (B) not later than 120 days after the date on which the claim is submitted— (i) determine the amount of compensation (if any) to award to the eligible claimant, as described in subsection (e); and (ii) provide to the eligible claimant written notice of such determination.
In reviewing claims under paragraph (1), the Secretary— (A) shall conclude that any PFAS-related health condition of a firefighter was caused by exposure to PFAS during the firefighting activities of such firefighter; and (B) may not consider negligence or any other theory of liability or defense thereto.
An eligible claimant in a review under paragraph (1) shall have the right to be represented by an attorney.
The starting award would be $250,000 for a covered cancer and $50,000 for a covered noncancer condition. It would be multiplied by one for two to fewer than five years of service, two for five to fewer than seven years, three for seven to fewer than ten years, and four for ten or more years.
The amount of compensation described in subsection (d)(1)(B)(i) is the base award described in paragraph (2), as multiplied by the service modifier described in paragraph (3), and as modified by any special circumstances (as the Secretary determines appropriate).
Subject to paragraph (4), the base award described in this paragraph is— (A) $250,000 for a PFAS-related health condition that is a cancer; and (B) $50,000 for a PFAS-related health condition that is not a cancer.
The service modifier described in this paragraph is— (A) 1 for a firefighter with at least 2 and fewer than 5 years of service; (B) 2 for a firefighter with at least 5 and fewer than 7 years of service; (C) 3 for a firefighter with at least 7 and fewer than 10 years of service; and (D) 4 for a firefighter with at least 10 years of service.
The Secretary could modify awards for special circumstances and adjust starting amounts for inflation or deflation after enactment. Award calculations could not include punitive damages, meaning additional money imposed as punishment, or take account of the fund's available balance.
as modified by any special circumstances (as the Secretary determines appropriate).
The Secretary may adjust the base award described in paragraph (2) to account for any inflation or deflation occurring after the date of enactment of the Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act of 2026.
In determining the amount of compensation described in subsection (d)(1)(B)(i), the Secretary— (A) may not include any punitive damages; and (B) may not consider the amounts available in the PFAS Trust Fund under section 9512 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Only one claim could be submitted for each firefighter, although it could include several conditions and could be amended or supplemented. Compensation would be limited to one cancer and one noncancer condition.
An eligible claimant may receive compensation under the Program only with respect to 1 PFAS-related health condition that is a cancer and 1 PFAS-related health condition that is not a cancer.
Only 1 claim may be submitted under the Program with respect to any firefighter, but a single claim may include multiple PFAS-related health conditions, and claims may be amended and supplemented.
A claimant could appeal an adverse decision to the United States Court of Federal Claims. The court would review the decision afresh and could receive evidence that was not submitted with the original claim.
An eligible claimant aggrieved by a determination of the Secretary with respect to a claim of such eligible claimant under the Program may appeal such determination to the United States Court of Federal Claims.
The United States Court of Federal Claims shall review any determination appealed under paragraph (1) using a de novo standard of review.
an eligible claimant may provide additional evidence, including witness testimony and supporting documents, irrespective of whether such evidence was provided in the claim submitted under subsection (b)(1).
Payment would generally be due from the PFAS Trust Fund within 20 days after an award decision, subject to funding limits. Total commitments and spending for compensation could not exceed appropriated fund amounts. When funding was inadequate, payments would be proportionally reduced and supplemented as money became available.
Subject to subsection (b), not later than 20 days after the date on which a determination is made by the Secretary regarding the amount of compensation to award an eligible claimant under the Program, the Secretary shall pay to such eligible claimant such amount from the PFAS Trust Fund
shall ensure that total obligations and expenditures in providing compensation for claims do not exceed the amounts appropriated to the PFAS Trust Fund
shall include a process for prorating payments when funding is deficient and for supplementing the prorated payments as funding becomes available consistent with paragraph (3).
When a claimant was notified that payment had been reduced for insufficient funding, the unpaid balance would carry 6 percent annual interest. The balance and interest would be payable in the first fiscal year beginning after sufficient funding became available. The Secretary would determine whether funding was sufficient to compensate all claims.
For any claim for which the Secretary advises the eligible claimant that the amount of compensation to be paid has been reduced on the basis of insufficient funding, the Secretary shall, in the first fiscal year beginning after sufficient funding becomes available, pay to the eligible claimant the unpaid amount plus 6 percent interest per annum on such unpaid amount.
The term sufficient funding means funding that the Secretary determines is sufficient for purposes of compensating all claims under the Program.
The Secretary would establish a payment system and develop funding-control and payment-reduction procedures within 30 days after enactment. Those procedures would have to be reassessed within one year after enactment and annually thereafter, with changes when necessary to meet the requirements.
The Secretary shall establish a system for providing compensation for claims in accordance with this subsection and section 3401.
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of the Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act of 2026, the Secretary shall develop agency policies and procedures that meet the requirements described in clauses (ii) and (iii) for providing compensation for claims.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Act of 2026, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a reassessment of the agency policies and procedures
If the Secretary determines, upon reassessment, that such agency policies or procedures do not achieve the requirements of such clauses, the Secretary shall take additional actions or make such modifications as necessary to achieve such requirements.
Creditors of a deceased firefighter could not claim compensation paid under the program for that firefighter.
Compensation paid under the Program is not subject to a claim of a creditor of any deceased firefighter with respect to whom such compensation was paid.
Attorney fees for obtaining compensation, including appeals, would be capped at the highest percentage allowed by an existing federal statute, regardless of the fee contract. Attorneys seeking or collecting excessive fees when compensation was recovered would face that statute's penalties. The cited statute's percentage and penalties are not reproduced in the bundle.
Notwithstanding any contract, attorneys’ fees for services rendered in obtaining compensation under the Program (including an appeal under section 3401(g)) may not exceed the highest percentage permitted under section 2678 of title 28, United States Code.
Any attorney who charges, demands, receives, or collects for services rendered in connection with obtaining compensation under the Program any amount in excess of that allowed under this subsection, if recovery be had, shall be subject to the penalties provided in such section 2678.
Program regulations would be required within 90 days after enactment of the new title. They would address claim forms, hearings, evidence, assistance with claims and other matters the Secretary considered appropriate.
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this title, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out this title, including regulations with respect to— (1) the claim form developed by the Secretary under section 3401(b)(2); (2) procedures for hearing and the presentation of evidence; (3) procedures to assist a person in submitting and pursuing a claim under this title; and (4) other matters determined appropriate by the Secretary.
An expert advisory panel would advise on additional covered conditions. Its recommendations on individual claims subject to the referral provision would be due within 90 days after submission. The panel would be exempt from the specifically cited advisory-committee termination rule.
The Secretary shall establish an advisory panel of individuals with appropriate expertise to advise the Secretary on which other illnesses or health conditions should be considered PFAS-related health conditions under subparagraph (A)(iv).
For each claim submitted under section 3401(b)(1) with respect to an illness or health condition not listed in clauses (i) through (iii) of subparagraph (A), or previously determined by the Secretary to be a PFAS-related health condition under clause (iv) of such subparagraph, the advisory panel established under clause (i) shall, not later than 90 days after the submission of such claim, submit to the Secretary a recommendation on whether the illness or health condition should be considered a PFAS-related health condition.
Section 1013(a)(2) of title 5, United States Code (relating to the termination of advisory committees), shall not apply to the advisory panel established under clause (i).
Compensation could come only from the PFAS Trust Fund. Separately, the bill would authorize Congress to appropriate whatever amounts were necessary for administration for fiscal years 2027 through 2031; this authorization would not itself provide that administrative funding.
Compensation under this title may be awarded only from amounts in the PFAS Trust Fund established under section 9512 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
There is authorized to be appropriated for the costs of administering and carrying out this title such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Section 3 would establish the PFAS Trust Fund in the Treasury and appropriate amounts equal to receipts from the two proposed taxes and accepted contributions. The Secretary of Health and Human Services could accept contributions on terms the Secretary considered appropriate.
There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known as the PFAS Trust Fund
There are hereby appropriated to the PFAS Trust Fund amounts equivalent to— (1) the taxes received in the Treasury under sections 4191 and 5000E, and (2) the contributions accepted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under subsection (c).
The Secretary of Health and Human Services may accept contributions to the PFAS Trust Fund under such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate.
Money in the trust fund would be available to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for program compensation without another appropriation. Section 3's amendments would apply to amounts received after enactment.
Amounts in the PFAS Trust Fund shall be available, without further appropriation, to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide compensation through the Firefighter PFAS Injury Compensation Program under title XXXIV of the Public Health Service Act.
The amendments made by this section shall apply to amounts received after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Section 4 would impose a tax equal to 10 percent of the sale price when a manufacturer, producer or importer sold a product containing PFAS. The definition would cover any PFAS-containing product, including firefighter gear, and the tax would apply to products sold after enactment.
There is hereby imposed on PFAS products sold by the manufacturer, producer, or importer thereof a tax equal to 10 percent of the price for which so sold.
The term PFAS products means any product containing PFAS, including firefighter gear containing PFAS.
The amendments made by this section shall apply to products sold after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Section 5 would tax a taxpayer paying a qualifying PFAS litigation award at 10 percent of the award's present value, meaning its value measured in current terms. Covered awards would be payments under final court orders or settlements compensating PFAS-exposure harm, excluding personal-injury claims. The section would apply to payments paid or incurred after its enactment.
There is hereby imposed a tax on any taxpayer that pays a qualifying PFAS litigation award during the taxable year in an amount equal to 10 percent of the present value of such award.
the term qualifying PFAS litigation award means a payment made pursuant to any final court order or settlement to compensate any person for harm suffered as a result of exposure to PFAS (as defined in section 4191) other than a claim for personal injury.
The amendments made by this section shall apply to payments paid or incurred after the date of the enactment of this section.
Section 6 would exclude the bill's budget effects from the specified statutory and Senate pay-as-you-go scorecards—budget records used to track legislation's fiscal effects. This provision does not quantify the bill's costs or revenues.
The budgetary effects of this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall not be entered on either PAYGO scorecard maintained pursuant to section 4(d) of the Statutory Pay As-You-Go Act of 2010.
The budgetary effects of this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall not be entered on any PAYGO scorecard maintained for purposes of section 4106 of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress).
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated October 7, 2026, records introduction in the House on September 16, 2026, and referral that day to Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Budget for provisions within their respective jurisdictions. This snapshot does not establish passage or enactment.
Source snapshot updated 2026-10-07T16:35:12Z.
2026-09-16: Introduced in House
2026-09-16: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2026-09-16. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or separate policy rider was identified in the complete supplied introduced version. This conclusion is limited to that text and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No spending directed to particular named recipients or places outside the general program was identified in the complete supplied introduced version. This text-only conclusion does not establish formal earmark status or absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Findings to examine
The supplied text contains a category-specific tax exclusion. Identifying this treatment does not establish that it is improper or unjustified.
Taxpayers paying PFAS personal-injury awards would be excluded from the proposed litigation tax for those payments, while payers of otherwise qualifying PFAS awards would owe 10 percent of present value. This exception narrows one of the taxes supporting the firefighter compensation fund; it does not establish an exemption from other taxes.
There is hereby imposed a tax on any taxpayer that pays a qualifying PFAS litigation award during the taxable year in an amount equal to 10 percent of the present value of such award.
the term qualifying PFAS litigation award means a payment made pursuant to any final court order or settlement to compensate any person for harm suffered as a result of exposure to PFAS (as defined in section 4191) other than a claim for personal injury.
There are hereby appropriated to the PFAS Trust Fund amounts equivalent to— (1) the taxes received in the Treasury under sections 4191 and 5000E
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Oct 7, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI