On Friday, May 8, Governor Chet Culver of Iowa signed a bill requiring the state to accept that some illnesses and infectious diseases may be caused by hazards of the firefighting and police professions. Under this law, firefighters and police officers who develop certain cancers, including multiple myeloma, will no longer need to prove a link between the cancer and their job to collect benefits.

One month ago, the National League of Cities (NLC), a resource and advocate for thousands of cities, towns, and villages across the United States, published a