S.135 - Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
The Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025 (S.135) aims to improve the compensation and working conditions for federal wildland firefighters. It introduces special base rates of pay, incident response premium pay, and rest and recuperation leave. The bill amends Title 5 of the United States Code to implement these changes, affecting employees of the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior.
Expected Effects
The bill will likely lead to increased pay and improved leave policies for wildland firefighters. This could enhance recruitment and retention of these critical personnel. It also addresses the temporary salary increases previously authorized, making the pay adjustments permanent.
Potential Benefits
- Increased base pay for wildland firefighters, enhancing their financial stability.
- Provision of incident response premium pay for those deployed to qualifying incidents.
- Establishment of rest and recuperation leave to address the demanding nature of their work.
- Potential improvement in morale and job satisfaction among wildland firefighters.
- Could lead to better staffing levels and more effective response to wildfires.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased government spending on wildland firefighter compensation.
- Potential administrative complexities in implementing the new pay and leave policies.
- The premium pay is capped at $9,000 per year, which may not fully compensate for extensive deployments.
- The discretion given to the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior in adjusting premium pay could lead to inconsistencies.
- Possible need for additional oversight to ensure fair and consistent application of the new policies.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the General Welfare Clause (Preamble) by aiming to improve the well-being of wildland firefighters, who provide essential services. Congress has the power to legislate on matters related to federal employees and their compensation, as implied by Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers. The bill does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).