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(Des Moines, IA) -- A plan to expand disability benefits for retired Iowa firefighters has passed the Iowa Senate. Current law only allows coverage for 14 types of cancer, but House File 969 expands that to all forms. Members of both parties spoke on the bill on Wednesday, including State Sen. Tony Bisignano (D-Des Moines).
"We always appreciate our police, our fire and our military when they're doing our house," Bisignano says. "and when they're arresting someone that's causing a problem. We need to remember them after their service."
Lawmakers say they've heard from many firefighters on the bill. That includes State Sen. Mike Pike (R-Des Moines).
"I think I must have quite a few firefighters who live in my district because I got a whole lot of emails," Pike says. "Even before I ran last year I had questions on where I stood on this."
Because the bill was amended on the Senate floor, it must now be approved a second time by the Iowa House before going to Governor Kim Reynolds' desk.