83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Enrolled
House Concurrent Resolution 2
Sponsored by Representative GRAYBER, Senators MANNING JR, SOLLMAN; Representatives
BOICE, BOWMAN, Senators BROADMAN, LIEBER, MEEK, PATTERSON, PHAM K, SMITH
DB (Presession filed.)
Whereas the State of Oregon has long benefited from the heroic, selfless and dedicated service
of its firefighters; and
Whereas the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer con-
cluded in 2024 that firefighting is a Group 1 carcinogen; and
Whereas the Group 1 designation—based on research, data and examination of firefighting
processes, equipment and personal protective gear—concludes that exposure to known carcinogens
is present in every active fire scenario, regardless of the type of gear worn by firefighters; and
Whereas the Group 1 designation indicates that the profession of firefighting is as dangerous to
human life as cigarette smoking; and
Whereas exposure to an increasingly complex array of chemicals over the last 30 years has in-
creased a firefighter’s likelihood of contracting occupational cancer; and
Whereas structural and vehicular firefighting exposes firefighters to complete and incomplete
products of combustion, both of which have long-term and short-term health effects; and
Whereas perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used, long-lasting
chemical compounds, components of which break down very slowly over time; and
Whereas countless studies have shown that PFAS are carcinogens, including as a product of
incomplete combustion when PFAS compounds are present; and
Whereas the State of Oregon has recognized cancer as an occupational presumption for fire-
fighters since 2009, assuming that the occupation and duties predetermine an increased risk of ac-
quiring cancer; and
Whereas in 2023, it was determined that the personal protective gear worn by firefighters con-
tains cancer-causing PFAS; and
Whereas there is no effective current substitute for the cancer-causing PFAS used in the man-
ufacturing process for firefighting personal protective gear; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:
That we, the members of the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly, declare our support for this
state’s heroic and dedicated firefighters, and we declare our commitment to ensuring their health
and safety; and be it further
Resolved, That we support continued research into the effects of PFAS, and we stress the ur-
gency of finding industry solutions for manufacturing firefighting personal protective gear that does
not contain PFAS; and be it further
Resolved, That as soon as suitable non-PFAS firefighting personal protective gear is available,
the Legislative Assembly will enact legislation banning the future use of PFAS in personal protec-
tive gear and ensuring that personal protective gear containing PFAS is quickly replaced through-
out this state.
Enrolled House Concurrent Resolution 2 (HCR 2-INTRO) Page 1 Adopted by House February 18, 2025
Timothy G. Sekerak, Chief Clerk of House
Julie Fahey, Speaker of House
Adopted by Senate April 2, 2025
Rob Wagner, President of Senate
Enrolled House Concurrent Resolution 2 (HCR 2-INTRO) Page 2