Several federal lawmakers are proposing legislation that would permanently raise pay for federal wildland firefighters, among other measures meant to support and retain them as burdens of the work mount.
Tim鈥檚 Act is named after smokejumper Tim Hart, who died from injuries sustained during a 2021 New Mexico wildfire. It was originally introduced that same year. Elements of Tim's Act 鈥� like job classification reforms and a temporary pay bump 鈥� became law through other means.
Earlier this month the act was reintroduced by Colorado Rep. Joe Neguse and Sen. Michael Bennet, both Democrats. It would provide housing stipends for some firefighters, allow for paid rest, and provide mental health services to permanent and seasonal workers, among other things, . It would also make permanent pay raises that are currently on October 1.
鈥淥ur federal firefighters sacrifice so much, and they deserve fair pay, benefits, and the resources necessary to do their jobs. We must ensure they are paid a wage that reflects the value of their work,鈥� Neguse said in a statement.
Luke Mayfield, president of Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, which supports the bill, shared what he described as the 鈥渨orst case scenario.鈥�
鈥淓verybody takes a cut, and that is what we're calling the federal firefighter fiscal cliff,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd we think that there will be a huge exodus of the federal workforce if that happens.鈥�
鈥淚t cannot happen,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e have made too many steps forward. We need to put the golden spike in this process and take care of the people that are still showing up to work.鈥�
The highly-experienced former hotshot said there鈥檚 support for a permanent fix, and is hopeful that one way or another the pay cliff will be addressed. President Joe Biden鈥檚 proposed 2024 budget also permanent raises.
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