BURSTTwo Colorado Democrats are urging renewed bipartisan support for legislation that would seek to improve working conditions for federal firefighters.
Rep. Joe Neguse and Sen. Michael Bennet on Thursday called for the advancement of Tim’s Act, a bill that would overhaul wild land firefighter compensation and benefits.
“This workforce is underpaid and undervalued, despite putting their lives on the line to protect our homes, families, and communities. Unconscionable,” said Neguse, co-chair of the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus, in a statement.
“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,” the congressman added.
The bill in question was written in honor of Tim Hart, a smokejumper from Wyoming who died while fighting fire in New Mexico in May 2021. The legislation would seek to bolster recruitment, retention and well-being within this workforce.
The lawmakers first introduced Tim’s Act, as the “Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act,” in October 2021. They then introduced the act again in May 2023, followed by a third try in January.
Portions of Tim’s Act were implemented via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which established a new classification series for wildland firefighters, temporarily increased pay and created new support systems via mental health services.
Provisions for permanent pay increases were also codified in Congress’s most recent continuing resolution bill.
Nonetheless, Neguse and Bennet maintained that federal firefighters remain severely overworked and underpaid, while working under grueling conditions to protect other Americans.
They also stressed that firefighters working for agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management are currently at risk of reduction in force measures instituted by the Trump administration.
In advancing Tim’s Act, Neguse and Bennet said they are promoting a holistic solution that would recognize the sacrifices made by this critical workforce.
Among the challenges that Tim’s Act would address are improvements in hazardous duty pay, support for enhanced pay management oversight and retirement benefits and the inclusions of paid rest and recuperation leave.
“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,” Bennet said in a statement.
“These brave firefighters deserve support for their mental and physical health and more time to recover,” he added. “This legislation ensures they receive the benefits they deserve for their life-saving work.”