FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Matt Dorsey
Phone: 202-550-6987
March 4, 2024
Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) applauds the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations for passing the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which maintains current funding for federal wildland firefighter pay. Specifically, the bill protects the additional pay bonus provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and will sustain current staffing levels.
“This is a significant development for NFFE members and all federal wildland firefighters,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “For months, these selfless men and women have had to live with the possibility of their pay being cut in half overnight. Many NFFE members have traveled to Washington, DC, contacted their representatives, and done everything they can to advocate for the compensation they deserve by protecting the country on the front lines of the wildfire crisis. Today, their efforts have been recognized and Congress has delivered on their obligations for this year’s fire season.”
The FY 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act invests in the country’s wildland firefighting workforce by allocating over $4 billion for wildfire suppression, in addition to another $6 billion for the U.S. Forest Service. The Senate Appropriations Committee also specified that it supports the authorization of a permanent increase to firefighter base pay and is committed to providing the necessary resources to implement compensation reform when enacted by future legislation, such as the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act.
“NFFE is pleased with this outcome, as we can now further focus our attention on passing a permanent base pay increase through supplemental legislation,” continued President Erwin. “Thank you to Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Murry, Ranking Member Bozeman, Interior Appropriations Chairman Merkley, Ranking Member Murkowski, and every member of the Senate Appropriations Committee for your support of the brave men and women who serve our country as federal wildland firefighters. I look forward to working with both the House and Senate to pass additional legislation to enact comprehensive reform to pay and benefits for our wildland firefighters soon.”