Texas Line of Duty Death Task Force

04/07/2026

Help Keep the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend Accessible

The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) supports the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) in its effort to ensure access to the National Fire Academy campus for the 2026 Memorial Weekend.

Due to a funding lapse at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, access to the Emmitsburg campus—home to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial—is uncertain. This puts at risk the honoring of 204 fallen firefighters and the opportunity for their families to visit this sacred site.

For these families, Memorial Weekend is more than a ceremony—it may be their only chance to stand where their loved one is permanently honored. Losing access would mean relocating services and losing something deeply irreplaceable.

This moment matters. A permanent place of honor matters. And access to it matters deeply for families who have already sacrificed so much.

How you can help:
Contact your member of Congress and ask them to keep the Memorial open for 2026. You can also participate in the voter voice campaign at https://www.firehero.org

: Make your voice heard & support the Re-Opening of the National Fire Academy! NFSA proudly supports the in its urgent effort to reopen the National Fire Academy campus for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation annual Memorial Weekend. https://nfsa.org/advocacy-2/?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f136246%2fRespond

04/03/2026

When the Nation Pauses—But the Grounds Are Closed: How an Unfunded DHS Impacts the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial
Because of the current lapse in funding affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), access to the campus of the United States Fire Administration (USFA)—the home of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial—is uncertain. The USFA operates under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), within DHS. When DHS is unfunded, even sacred spaces like the National Memorial can be impacted.
The Memorial is not just a backdrop for ceremony, it is the place where the nation’s promise is made tangible. It is where individual loss becomes part of a shared national memory. Without access to that space, families are denied a moment that cannot be recreated elsewhere.
Read the full article here: https://www.firehero.org/2026/04/03/when-the-nation-pauses/

04/03/2026

Attention fallen firefighter families:

We still have a few remaining spots available for our upcoming trip to Emmitsburg, Maryland, June 4–7. During the trip, we will visit Annapolis, tour Gettysburg, and spend time at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. This experience is fully funded thanks to the generous support of the Texas Fire Chiefs Association.

If you are interested in attending, please complete the registration form at the following link:
https://form.jotform.com/252675468063162

Please only register if you are certain that you can arrive on Thursday, June 4, and depart on Sunday, June 7. Unfortunately, due to travel and scheduling logistics, we are unable to accommodate arrivals after Thursday or departures before Sunday afternoon.
Registration will close on Monday, April 6th.

Please click the link to complete this form.

03/13/2026

Attention fallen firefighter families:

I wanted to share that we still have a few remaining spots available for our upcoming trip to Emmitsburg, Maryland, June 4–7. During the trip, we will visit Annapolis, tour Gettysburg, and spend time at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. This experience is fully funded thanks to the generous support of the Texas Fire Chiefs Association.

Due to space and logistical considerations, participation is limited to two family members per fallen firefighter. If you are interested in attending, please complete the registration form at the following link:
https://form.jotform.com/252675468063162

Please only register if you are certain that you can arrive on Thursday, June 4, and depart on Sunday, June 7. Unfortunately, due to travel and scheduling logistics, we are unable to accommodate arrivals after Thursday or departures before Sunday afternoon.
Registration will close on Monday, March 16.

02/17/2026

We are honored to host several virtual and in-person gatherings this year through the Texas Fallen Heroes Family Network.

These events are open to all fire, EMS, and law enforcement survivor families who have experienced line-of-duty loss — including cancer, su***de, cardiac, and traumatic incidents. We are grateful to offer the following opportunities for connection, support, and community:

Virtual-
April 18- Art Journaling
July 18- Book Club
October 18- Grief Writing Class

In Person-
June- Trip to Emmitsburg
September (day TBD)- Lunch at Amarillo Arboretum
December (days TBD)- Weekend Retreat in San Antonio

Please keep your eye out for sign-up links. They will be posted in the coming weeks!

Thank you to the Texas Fire Chiefs Association for their continued support in providing the resources to host these events!

12/19/2025

Congratulations to BJ Wendling for your service to your community as well as your service to the Texas LODD Task Force!

Congratulations BJ Wendling on 20 years! The Town of Prosper and Prosper Fire Rescue appreciate all you do, day in and day out. Your service and dedication are much appreciated. You set the standard and that inspires those around you to give their very best. Keep up the good work Captain Wendling!

12/19/2025

***Updated*** It's been a long time coming, but the PSOB will now cover firefighters who die in the line of duty due to cancer. A big thank you to all of the individuals and organizations that have worked so hard on this effort!

*******Update*******

The President signed the Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act last night, enabling certain cancers to be considered eligible injuries under the Public Safety Officer’s Benefit.

Here are the key points in the legislation:

• Retroactive for deaths that occurred from Janauy 1, 2020 on
• The public safety officer began serving as a public safety officer not fewer than 5 years before the date of the diagnosis of the public safety officer with an exposure-related cancer
• The public safety officer was diagnosed with the exposure-related cancer not more than 15 years after the public safety officer’s last date of active service as a public safety officer
• Here are the cancers that are covered:
o bladder cancer;
o brain cancer;
o breast cancer;
o cervical cancer;
o colon cancer;
o colorectal cancer;
o esophageal cancer;
o kidney cancer;
o leukemia;
o lung cancer;
o malignant melanoma;
o mesothelioma;
o multiple myeloma;
o non-Hodgkins lymphoma;
o ovarian cancer;
o prostate cancer;
o skin cancer;
o stomach cancer;
o testicular cancer;
o thyroid cancer;
o any form of cancer that is considered a WTC-related health condition under section 3312(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300mm–22(a))
• There is a process in which new cancers can be added

In a historic development, the U.S. Senate has passed the IAFF-endorsed Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act

11/19/2025

YOUR HELP NEEDED!

Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act

S.237/H.R. 1269, the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, is making its way through Congress. The legislation expands the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program to cover certain occupational cancers. We are very close to getting the bill passed, and we need to make one last push.


NFFF ACTION ALERT – ASK CONGRESS TO PASS THE HONORING OUR FALLEN HEROES ACT

On January 23rd, Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN) and Senator Kevin Cramer (ND) introduced S. 237, the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act. The legislation expands the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program to line-of-duty deaths and permanent disabilities that occur because of certain cancers. On February 12th, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5) introduced companion legislation, H.R. 1269.

The PSOB program provides benefits to the survivors of public safety officers who die in the line of duty, as well as disability benefits to officers who become permanently disabled due to injuries sustained in the line of duty. The legislation was included as part of the Senate-passed annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The House and Senate are now resolving differences between the two chambers' versions of the NDAA, and NFFF and our national fire service partners are advocating for the inclusion of S. 237.

Please reach out to your members of Congress and ask them to support the inclusion of the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act in the final version of the NDAA. This is critical legislation that will help support the families of our nation’s firefighters.

Visit this link to contact your members of Congress: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member.

Additionally, our friends at the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) have created a VoterVoice campaign and asked us to share it: https://www.votervoice.net/IAFF/campaigns/106899/respond.

Please reach out to Congress today. Thank you.

11/13/2025

***Families of the Fallen*** Don't forget to register for our annual Christmas luncheon! It will be held on December 6th from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Martha's Bloomers in Navasota. You can register here: https://form.jotform.com/252996927567177

10/28/2025

Registration is now open for our Texas Fallen Heroes Family Christmas luncheon, which will be held on December 6th from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Martha's Bloomers in Navasota.

Because of limited space, we ask that no more than 4 family members per fallen first responder register for this event. Each person, including minor children, will need to RSVP. That way we can have an accurate count.

We would love to see you there! Please RSVP by visiting this link: https://form.jotform.com/252996927567177

For questions, please email Rhonda Chapman at [email protected].

09/24/2025

***Attention family members of fallen firefighters***

If you are interested in volunteering for the Texas LODD Task Force, especially as a peer, or within our Family Care Team, the National Fallen Firefighter's Foundation is offering a peer training:
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation offers a one-day, in-person training class to Fire Hero Family members who are ready to provide support to other families who are newly bereaved or struggling. The class provides information, tools, and skills to help family members fill this important role and is open to spouses, parents, siblings, and adult children of firefighters honored at the National Memorial in Emmitsburg.

If you are interested, please send Wendy Norris an email at: [email protected].