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CAUSED THAT CRASH. A MAJOR WIN FOR IOWA’S FIRST RESPONDERS TODAY. GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS SIGNED A BILL INTO LAW EXPANDING CANCER COVERAGE FOR FIREFIGHTERS. AND FOR ONE WOMAN, IT IS THE END OF A PAINFUL JOURNEY THAT BEGAN WITH PERSONAL LOSS. ����vlog CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AMANDA RUCKER JOINS US LIVE FROM THE STATEHOUSE. AND AMANDA, THIS FAMILY HAD AN EMOTIONAL FIGHT TO GET THIS LEGISLATION ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. THAT’S RIGHT. LAURA STACEY, THIS MOMENT WAS YEARS IN THE MAKING, DRIVEN BY THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF IOWANS WHO TURNED THEIR OWN LOSS INTO PURPOSE, MAKING SURE THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS TO FACE THE SAME DEVASTATING GAPS IN HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. AT THE STROKE OF A PEN. YEARS OF HEARTACHE TURNED INTO HOPE. A NEW IOWA LAW NOW GUARANTEES CANCER COVERAGE FOR ALL FIRST RESPONDERS, NO MATTER THE TYPE. THE LONG TERM HEALTH EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE, ESPECIALLY THE ELEVATED RISK OF CANCER, ARE REAL. AND THIS BILL REFLECTS THAT REALITY. THREE BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS SAT QUIETLY NEAR THE SIGNING TABLE, A SILENT TRIBUTE TO THE MEN WHO INSPIRED THE FIGHT. PHILLIP MIKE BRODERICK, BRIAN STOKES AND MALCOLM COURTNEY WERE THE MAIN REASON WHY WE FOUGHT SO HARD FOR THIS. KELLY STOKES CARRIED HER LATE HUSBAND BRIAN’S PHOTO THROUGH THE STATEHOUSE FOR YEARS. IN MARCH OF 22, BRIAN WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PANCREATIC CANCER. HE HAD BEEN ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR 27 YEARS. THERE WERE ONLY 14 CANCERS THAT WERE COVERED IN THE STATE OF IOWA, AND BRIAN’S WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. STOKES TOLD LAWMAKERS THE LACK OF COVERAGE LEFT HER FAMILY SCRAMBLING BECAUSE BRIAN’S CANCER WASN’T COVERED. ALL OF HIS DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS, PROCEDURES, SCANS, CHEMOTHERAPY, RADIATION, MEDICATION. 30 NIGHTS IN THE HOSPITAL, MEDICAL SUPPLIES ALL HAD TO BE COVERED BY OUR INSURANCE. SO WE HAD TO PAY WHAT INSURANCE DID NOT. NOW, THE NEW LAW COVERS EVERY FORM OF CANCER FOR IOWA’S FIRST RESPONDERS. HOUSE FILE 969 EXPANDS THE DEFINITION OF CANCER, PROVIDING BETTER ACCESS TO CARE. EARLY DETECTION, AND PEACE OF MIND TO THOSE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. WITH HER HUSBAND’S PHOTO IN HAND, STOKES SAW THIS FIGHT COME FULL CIRCLE. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME. I WISH THAT HE WAS HERE WITH ME. I WISH THAT HE GOT TO BE A PART OF THIS FIGHT. I KNOW THAT HE WOULD BE PROUD THAT WE STAYED THE COURSE AND NEVER GAVE UP. AND YEAH, HE WOULD JUST BE. HE WOULD BE PROUD. HER MISSION BEGAN WITH LOSS, BUT SHE SAYS IT ENDS WITH PEACE OF MIND, ESPECIALLY FOR HER SON. MY SON IS A CAREER FIREFIGHTER IN FORT DODGE. AND NOW, GOD FORBID, IF HE IS EVER DIAGNOSED, IF ANY OF OUR FRIENDS I KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE COVERED AND THEY WON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE DID. THIS NEW LAW TAKES EFFECT JULY 1ST, AND ADVOCATES SAY THEY WILL KEEP PUSHING TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE PROTECTIONS STAY STRONG, AND THAT NO FIRST RESPONDER HAS TO FACE CANCER ALONE. LIVE FROM THE IOWA STATE HOUSE