Fighterfighter's Cancer Funding Bill Approved By Senate Committee

As promised, a Michigan Senate committee Thursday approved a supplemental spending bill to add $1 million to a fund to cover the cost of cancer treatments for first responders in the state.

State Senator Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell, last week pledged to move the bill out of committee after firefighters converged on the capitol to protest the empty fund.

The First Responder Presumed Coverage Fund was created last year but no money was ever put in it.

State Senator Curtis Hertel, D-East Lansing, introduced a bill recently to add $3 million to the fund.

He says $1 million is a good start but questions if it will be enough.

The full Senate could vote on the bill as soon as today.

The chamber also plans to add more money to the fund in the next budget cycle.