DES MOINES, Iowa —

A measure moving through Congress looks to expand benefits for families of firefighters who died from cancer. It's something similar to a law now in place in Iowa, thanks to the efforts of local firefighters' unions.

The National Defense Authorization Act, now moving through Congress, includes a measure that would grant benefits to families of firefighters who die from occupational cancer. Currently, families only receive benefits from the Public Safety Officers Benefits program when a firefighter's death is tied to a specific emergency incident.

This has led to Congressman Zach Nunn and other U.S. lawmakers supporting the bipartisan legislation to make a change.

“Trying to go back through the entire history to identify which chemical is associated with their can

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