2 days ago
Gov. Reynolds signs bill to extend cancer coverage for first responders
DES MOINES, Iowa — It's been years in the making, and now emergency responders will be getting more cancer benefits.
House File 969 is a bill that has been trying to get passed to expand cancer coverage for firefighters, police officers, and emergency responders to cover all types of cancer, rather than just 14 types of cancer that are currently covered for disabilities and death benefits.
The bill passed in the Senate 46-1 in April with a minor amendment, and then the final unanimous House vote got a standing ovation.
Governor Kim Reynolds signed the bill Friday morning at the Shop Event Center, where many supporters gathered. This included many people who fought for this, and they had a reason behind it all. Three local firefighters recently passed away from cancer.
'Phillip Mike Broaderick, Brian Stoaks, and Malcolm Cortner were the main reason why we fought so hard for this,' the President of Des Moines Professional Firefighters Union, Joe Van Haalen said. 'We are part of a big family, and if you think we can't accomplish something, you're crazy. Because when we get together and take care of this, this is the stuff that we can do.'
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'Their selflessness is inspiring, and it deserves our greatest and deepest gratitude,' Reynolds said. 'This means thanking first responders for their service, but it also means ensuring that they receive the care that they deserve and the care that they've earned through years of selfless sacrifice.'
A big reason this bill is becoming a law is the wives, families, and friends of those firefighters who passed.
'To be able to have this for the men and women that are serving at the end of their day, at the end of their battle and were able to they had every feeling, every option, every health care option accessible,' Sheena Cortner, who lost her firefighter husband to cancer, said. 'They were able to do everything they could in their own fight against cancer.'
'Moving forward to just know that no family is going to have to go through the mental anguish of that piece of the cancer battle,' widow Emily Broderick said. 'It is huge.'
And no doubt, they helped finish the jobs that their husbands started.
'He would be beyond thrilled. He was able to help a little bit in the beginning with the fight, but as time went on and he got sicker, he was not able to,' Broderick said. 'But his message before he passed away was don't quit. And we didn't quit. And here we are.'
'He's so proud of us, of Local 4 Union Des Moines Fire Department,' Cortner added. 'He was really passionate about this, so I know that he is so happy that this day has finally come.
This law will go into effect July 1st, 2025.
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