FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Matt Dorsey
(202) 550-6987
August 1, 2024
Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) applauds the House of Representatives and the Senate Appropriations Committee for including a permanent pay increase for federal wildland firefighters in their respective Fiscal Year 2025 budgets.
Last week, the House of Representatives passed the FY 2025 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The next day, the Senate Appropriations Committee released its own FY 2025 Interior bill. Both pieces of legislation include the pay provisions from the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act (WFPPA), which will deliver a permanent pay increase for federal wildland firefighters if signed into law.
“For several years, our union and NFFE members from across the country have been relentlessly pressuring lawmakers in Congress for a permanent pay solution for federal wildland firefighters,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “Their efforts are finally paying off. Once a permanent pay fix is enacted into law, we will be able to make further progress on issues like housing, mental health benefits, rest and recuperation, and more.”
“Thank you to Senate Appropriations Chair Murray and Interior Appropriations Chair Merkley and Ranking Member Murkowski for the leadership in making sure wildland firefighter pay was a Senate priority,” continued Erwin. “This would not have been possible without Senator Sinema, who introduced the WFPPA last year along with Senator Barrasso. Likewise, NFFE wishes to thank House Interior Appropriations Chair Simpson and Ranking Member Pingree for their leadership and support of wildland firefighters throughout the appropriations process.”