Representative Joe Neguse (D-CO), along with Representatives Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Katie Porter (D-CA), have unveiled comprehensive legislation to overhaul federal firefighter pay, benefits and classification.
The legislation, Tim’s Act, is named after Tim Hart, a smokejumper from Cody, Wyoming, who lost his life on May 24, 2021, while working on the Eicks Fire in New Mexico.
Currently, wildland firefighters are primarily classified as “forestry technicians,” paid an hourly wage of $13.45 at the GS-3 level, and are often not provided adequate health care benefits or housing while on the job.
According to recent studies, firefighters nationwide commit suicide 30 times as often as the general public and have a 30% increased risk for cardiovascular diseases, and a 43% increase for lung cancer.
The Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act would address wildland firefighter pay, benefits and classification wholesale. The bill would:
- Raise federal wildland firefighter pay to at least $20 an hour, and add compensation “portal-to-portal,” increasing annual pay at least $20,000;
- Create a federal wildland firefighter classification series, so wildland firefighters are appropriately classified for the dangerous work they are doing;
- Provide health care and mental health services to temporary and permanent wildland firefighters, including:
- creating a national “Federal Wildland Firefighter Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Database” to track chronic disease caused by on the job environmental exposure throughout the lives of current and past wildland firefighters, and
- launching a mental health awareness campaign, a mental health education and training program and an extensive peer to peer mental health support network for wildland firefighters and immediate family.
- Ensure all federal wildland firefighters earn retirement benefits for temporary seasonal employment, retroactively applying to the last 10 years of service;
- Establish a mandatory 1 week of mental health leave for wildland firefighters;
- Provide housing stipends for all firefighters on duty more than 50 miles from their primary residence; and
- Provide tuition assistance for all permanent federal employees in the wildland firefighter classification.
“As these wildfires grow larger and last longer, federal firefighters answer the call of duty, leaving behind their lives and families for months at a time, working an average of 16-hour daily shifts, sleeping in the dirt, with incredibly limited time off to reset and reconnect with loved ones. This must change,” said Rep. Neguse.
“The Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act, which we are unveiling today, will overhaul the system as it stands, by raising federal firefighter pay at least $20,000 annually, ensuring health care and mental health services, increased paid leave and retirement benefits and ensuring firefighters are provided appropriate lodging while on duty.”
“I’m proud to join Rep. Neguse in leading this effort to recognize the needs of our brave wildland firefighters who risk their lives to keep our lands and our families safe. I’m also proud that this legislation honors Tim Hart, a Cody native who we tragically lost earlier this year battling the Eicks Fire,” said Rep. Cheney.
