Update: Wildland firefighter pay, classification
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Update: Members of Congress recognize need to address wildland firefighter pay during appropriations process
Aug. 10, 2023
A lot of activity has been taking place in Congress around wildland firefighter pay these last few weeks. As you know from the last update, a bipartisan group of senators introduced the “Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2023” (S. 2272) on July 12, which would provide special base rates and premium pay for wildland firefighters. And just this week, on Aug. 8, a bipartisan group in the House introduced the companion bill.
The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee considered S. 2272 during a business meeting held on July 26. The bill was voted favorably out of the committee on a bipartisan basis by a vote of 10-1 and now awaits further consideration by the full Senate.
The appropriations process is also in full swing on Capitol Hill right now. This is the time of year when Appropriations Committees (those that oversee federal agency funding) hold their business meetings regarding the various bills that fund the federal government. During these business meetings (or mark-ups), members of Congress offer and vote on amendments related to these funding bills, committee members vote to accept or reject the amendments and then vote to move the bill forward for consideration before the full Senate or House. These mark-ups are an important step forward in the process to fund the government before the next fiscal year. Both committees that oversee and provide funding for the Forest Service—the House and Senate Appropriations Committees—held their business meetings last month. You can view those meetings here:
House: Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies (118th Congress) | House Committee on Appropriations—Republicans
Senate: Hearing | Hearings | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
During their business meetings, numerous members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees expressed support for averting the pay cliff. The final reports that accompany the final bills that passed out of both the House and Senate committees contained language recognizing the administration’s legislative proposal regarding firefighter compensation and the need for authorization.
- House Report language: "The Committee is aware of the Administration’s legislative proposal regarding firefighter compensation and the request for additional funding to implement the legislation. If authorizing legislation regarding firefighter compensation is enacted, the Committee will consider providing the funding required to implement such Act.”
- Senate Report language: “The President’s budget submission included a package of firefighter pay-related legislative proposals and the Committee awaits authorization committee action to enact those proposals. The Committee is committed to providing the required resources to implement these compensation reforms once they are enacted."
Congress is in recess for the month of August and will return in September to further consider legislation related to firefighter compensation before the end of the fiscal year. We are optimistic that Congress will send legislation regarding a permanent wildland firefighter pay fix to the president’s desk. Further, we remain committed to doing everything we can to ensure all our wildland firefighters are rewarded for the dangerous, grueling work they do to protect communities, infrastructure and natural resources.
We are also beginning to schedule town halls by region to provide information on these proposals and answer your questions. Look for one coming to your region soon.
