As Wildfire Season Begins, Gallego, Neguse Lead Bipartisan Coalition in Calling for Swift Passage of Wildland Firefighter Pay Fix

June 27, 2024

As Wildfire Season Begins, Gallego, Neguse Lead Bipartisan Coalition in Calling for Swift Passage of Wildland Firefighter Pay Fix

WASHINGTON - Gathering at the Capitol this morning with visiting wildland firefighters, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) and Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02) led a bipartisan coalition of members in calling for swift passage of the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act.

"With wildfire seasons getting longer and more dangerous, wildland firefighters play an increasingly important role in keeping Arizonans safe. We should be supporting these brave men and women, but instead, they are being forced to work with the looming threat of a pay cut," said Rep. Gallego. "It's past time we pass legislation to protect their pay structure, and I am proud to lead this bipartisan group of members in bringing attention to this issue today."

"Our wildland firefighters, who make incredible sacrifices everyday, are severely underpaid. If we do not make the pay raise from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law permanent, countless communities will see fewer first responders. Congress must act now and move the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act across the finish line," said Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse.

"Wildland firefighters are the first line of defense for many across Southwest Washington, but their jobs are tough. They choose to spend their summers felling trees, digging lines, and sleeping in tents in sweltering heat. Their tireless self-sacrifice is an example to all of us, and it should continue to be honored through fair compensation," said Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03). "With pay raises due to sunset in September, we could lose thousands of firefighters as they face a difficult choice of covering rent or continuing to serve their community. Congress needs to pass our bipartisan Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act to support our tireless wildland firefighters and protect the rural communities they help defend."

"Maintaining a strong federal firefighter workforce is critical - and if firefighters can't support themselves and their families financially, we can't expect them to support our communities through the often life-saving services they provide. Workforce retention is particularly important in the First District, as the U.P. and Northern Michigan are home to three National Forests: Ottawa, Hiawatha, and Huron-Manistee. This legislation, H.R. 5169, would effectively codify a higher pay scale, permanently increasing federal firefighter salaries and giving them the appreciation they deserve," said Rep. Jack Bergman (MI-01).

"Federal Wildland Firefighters have been overlooked for too long. This workforce is hanging on by a thread and waiting on Congress to act. The National Federation of Federal Employees would like to thank all our friends in Congress that have signed onto H.R. 5169. Without pay reform we will lose this essential workforce along with natural resources, communities, and lives," said Maximo Alonzo with the National Federation of Federal Employees.

Additional photos can be found HERE.

In 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided a temporary pay raise for federal wildland firefighters, but that raise is set to expire on September 30th. If allowed to expire, wildland firefighters could see their pay cut by as much as 50%. If this happens, it would likely cause thousands of firefighters to leave the federal workforce.

To avoid this devastating pay cliff, the Members are pushing for passage of the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act, which would make the new pay structure permanent.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.