Plain Language Summary
# Tim's Act Summary **What the Bill Does:** Tim's Act would increase pay and benefits for federal wildland firefighters employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, or tribal governments. The bill raises base salaries across different pay grades (with larger percentage increases for lower-paid positions), creates premium pay for firefighters deployed to major fire incidents away from their home stations, and establishes new benefits including paid rest and recovery time, mental health support, and disability assistance.
These changes would take effect after current temporary pay increases expire. **Who It Affects:** The legislation directly affects federal wildland firefighters—the men and women who battle large-scale forest and brush fires on public lands. Indirectly, it could impact the agencies that employ them (USDA and Interior Department) through increased budget requirements, and potentially affects the public through any resulting changes to fire suppression capabilities or federal spending. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced by Representative Joe Neguse (D-Colorado) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives. The bill addresses longstanding concerns about wildland firefighter compensation and working conditions, particularly regarding hazard pay and support for the physical and mental health impacts of the job.
CRS Official Summary
Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act or Tim's ActThis bill increases compensation and establishes additional benefits and programs for federal wildland firefighters. (These individuals are employed by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, or tribal governments.) The bill increases the minimum rate of basic pay for wildland firefighters at General Schedule (GS) levels 1 through 15 by percentages specified in the bill, with smaller increases for higher GS levels. The bill also requires comparable increases to the hourly rates paid to prevailing rate employees who are wildland firefighters. It also establishes premium pay for wildland firefighters who respond to certain prolonged fire incidents and are deployed outside of their normal duty stations or to an area adjacent to the incident. These changes take effect after other temporary pay increases for wildland firefighters expire.The bill also (1) establishes paid rest and recuperation leave; (2) allows certain prior service to be credited for retirement purposes; and (3) provides housing allowances, tuition assistance, and other benefits for wildland firefighters.Further, the bill directs the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs within the Department of Labor to ensure that psychological stress-related injuries and illnesses correlated to fire response are compensated and to expedite related claims.The bill also establishes programs to (1) assist the next-of-kin of wildland firefighters and fire support personnel who are critically injured or killed while in the line of duty, and (2) support the mental and physical health of wildland firefighters.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.