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Council approves voluntary cancer‑screening program for fire department after members urge adoption
Summary
The City Council approved a two‑year professional services agreement to provide voluntary cancer screening to firefighters, following public testimony from members of the fire service describing cancer experiences and urging adoption of early‑detection testing.
The City Council on June 10 approved a two‑year professional services agreement with a vendor to provide voluntary cancer screening for the Corpus Christi Fire Department. The item followed multiple rounds of public testimony by firefighters and union representatives urging early‑detection testing and describing several cases of firefighter cancers and deaths.
Councilwoman Kaitlyn Paxson moved the resolution and council approved. Fire department representatives and union leaders described bargaining developments that had added a voluntary wellness initiative in the recent collective bargaining agreement; speakers said the 89th Texas Legislature has also passed the Wade Cannon Act addressing firefighter cancer screening. Firefighter speakers urged the council to adopt screening that includes mammograms, colonoscopies, low‑dose CT scans for lung cancer and skin exams.
Council members supported the program, and several members publicly thanked firefighters for their service. The council approved the professional services agreement and the mayor and staff indicated the department and vendor would proceed to implement a voluntary screening program for firefighters.
