LINCOLN, Neb. —

Firefighters in Nebraska are advocating for improved benefits for those diagnosed with cancer, emphasizing the heightened risks they face in their line of work, as the World Health Organization classifies firefighting as a class one carcinogen.

On Friday, union representatives, firefighters, and doctors testified in Lincoln, highlighting the lack of benefits for firefighters diagnosed with cancer.

"Right now is there is no benefit once they receive that cancer diagnosis unless they die, die from it," Trevor Towey, president of the Omaha Professional Firefighters Association, said.

Despite the Nebraska Legislature passing the Firefighter Cancer Benefits Act in 2021, one testifier noted, "not a single firefighter has been has received benefits under this act."

Towey emph

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