United States 115th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 2 D · 1 R cosponsors

S 950 — Wildland Firefighter Fairness Act

Last action — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2561-2563)

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Wildland Firefighter Fairness Act This bill requires the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to work with states and the Workforce Development Committee of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group to merge the Incident Qualification System and the Incident Qualification and Certification System into a single system by September 30, 2025. The Office of Personnel Management shall establish a pilot program for seasonal or temporary federal employees, whose duties primarily involve being a firefighter. This bill allows wildland firefighters of the Forest Service or Interior who sustained injuries in the performance of their duties that prevent them from performing the physical duties of a firefighter, but who commence an equivalent federal position after receiving compensation for their work injuries, to retain the same retirement benefits that they would have received in their former position had they not been injured or disabled, without requiring them to complete any more years of service. Compensation for disability or death of Forest Service and Interior wildland firefighters must include overtime pay received for wildfire suppression activity.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

5 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends various sections of U.S. law to improve employment provisions for wildland firefighters, including amending definitions, personnel flexibility, and civil service retention rights.

  • 5 U.S.C. 9601

    the term `time-limited appointment' includes-- → the term `time-limited appointment' includes-- ``(A) a temporary appointment and a term appointment, as defined by the Office of Personnel Management; ``(B) an appointment pursuant to section 306(b)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5149(b)(1)); ``(C) an appointment pursuant to subtitle E of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12611 et seq.).''.

    This change expands the definition of 'time-limited appointment' to include specific fire-related appointments.

  • 5 U.S.C. 9602

    Notwithstanding → Appointments to Land Management Agencies.-- Notwithstanding

    This change introduces a classification for appointments related to land management agencies.

  • 5 U.S.C. 9602

    In determining → Waiver of Age Requirements.--In determining

    This change modifies the heading of a provision concerning age requirements for appointments.

  • 5 U.S.C. 8151

    the term `covered employee' means an employee → the term `covered employee' means an employee who-- ``(i) served in a position in the Forest Service or the Department of the Interior as a wildland firefighter; and ``(ii) sustained an injury while in the performance of duty, as determined by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, that prevents the employee from performing the physical duties of a firefighter;

    This change clarifies the definition of 'covered employee' to specifically include wildland firefighters who are injured on duty.

  • 5 U.S.C. 8151

    equivalent position' includes a position for a covered employee that-- → the term `equivalent position' includes a position for a covered employee that-- ``(i) allows the covered employee to receive the same retirement benefits under subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 that the covered employee would have received in the former position had the covered employee not been injured or disabled; and ``(ii) does not require the covered employee to complete any more years of service than the covered employee would have been required to complete to receive the benefits described in clause (i) had the covered employee not been injured or disabled;

    This change expands the definition of 'equivalent position' to include specific retirement benefits for injured firefighters.

Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2561-2563)

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 544 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (544)

544 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does S 950 do?
Wildland Firefighter Fairness Act This bill requires the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to work with states and the Workforce Development Committee of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group to merge the Incident Qualification System and the Incident Qualification and Certification System into a single system by September 30, 2025. The Office of Personnel Management shall establish a pilot program for seasonal or temporary federal employees, whose duties primarily involve being a firefighter. This bill allows wildland firefighters of the Forest Service or Interior who sustained injuries in the performance of their duties that prevent them from performing the physical duties of a firefighter, but who commence an equivalent federal position after receiving compensation for their work injuries, to retain the same retirement benefits that they would have received in their former position had they not been injured or disabled, without requiring them to complete any more years of service. Compensation for disability or death of Forest Service and Interior wildland firefighters must include overtime pay received for wildfire suppression activity.
Who sponsors S 950?
S 950 is sponsored by Cantwell, Maria (Democratic), Wyden, Ron (Democratic), and Daines, Steve (Republican).
What is the current status of S 950?
This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S 950?
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