Rep. Neguse, Senator Bennet Renew Calls for Tim’s Act, Bipartisan Bill to Improve Working Conditions for Federal Firefighters

Washington, D.C. — As the wildland firefighting workforce continues to face increasing uncertainty as a result of the Trump Administration’s reckless attacks on federal employees, Congressman Joe Neguse, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus, and U.S. Senator Michael Bennet are re-upping calls to overhaul federal wildland firefighter compensation and benefits. Their bill Tim’s Act—named in honor of Tim Hart, a brave smokejumper from Cody, Wyoming who tragically lost his life on May 24, 2021, while battling the Eicks Fire in New Mexico—bolsters recruitment, retention, and well-being within this vital workforce. 

“Federal wildland firefighters are our nation’s unsung heroes. This workforce is underpaid and undervalued, despite putting their lives on the line to protect our homes, families, and communities. Unconscionable. We’re calling on Democrats and Republicans alike to take decisive action to implement much-needed reforms in how we recognize their sacrifices, and join us in championing Tim’s Act,” said Congressman Neguse. “Congress has now finally enacted a permanent pay fix, but the work continues as we now turn to other critical issues—addressing recruitment and retention, housing, mental health benefits, rest, recuperation, and the overall well-being of our nation’s wildland firefighting workforce.” 

“As climate change fuels increasingly frequent and destructive wildfires across the West, we rely more and more on wildland firefighters to protect our homes and communities,” said Senator Bennet. “These brave firefighters deserve support for their mental and physical health and more time to recover. This legislation ensures they receive the benefits they deserve for their life-saving work.”

Neguse has worked tirelessly to spearhead bipartisan, bicameral efforts to permanently increase pay for federal wildland firefighters, first implemented by the Biden-Harris Administration in 2021, including, most recently, championing the reintroduction of the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act. After Congressional Republicans delayed action for over a year—tying this common-sense pay reform to government funding negotiations—the measure has finally been codified into law. However, federal wildland firefighters working for agencies like the Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) now are still at risk of mass layoffs and reduction in force measures initiated under the Trump administration.

Neguse and Bennet are working to build on recent bipartisan actions to increase federal wildland firefighter pay to help address the other challenges facing this workforce through Tim’s Act, including improving hazardous duty  pay, supporting enhanced pay management oversight and retirement benefits, and boosting firefighter physical and mental well-being by ensuring firefighters receive paid rest and recuperation leave.

Federal wildland firefighters are severely overworked and underpaid, often tasked with laborious and grueling conditions to protect communities across the country. Tim’s Act takes a holistic approach to recognizing the immense sacrifices made by this workforce.

Background

Since taking office, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02) has worked tirelessly to bring federal resources home to communities recovering from disaster and to advocate for increased support for wildland firefighters, wildfire prevention, and forest management. 

In 2021, Neguse successfully enacted elements of Tim’s Act through the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which created a new classification series specifically for wildland firefighters, temporarily increased pay, and established new support systems for firefighters through mental health services. In the 118th Congress, he also spearheaded bipartisan, bicameral efforts to address this issue head-on and permanently increase pay, championing both Tim’s Act and the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act. These pay provisions were codified by Congress’s most recent continuing resolution bill, paving the way for additional steps to ensure this workforce receives the compensation and benefits they deserve