# Tim's Act: What It Does for Federal Wildland Firefighters

This bill is designed to significantly improve the pay, benefits, and working conditions for federal wildland firefighters—the people who fight wildfires on public lands managed by the Department of Agriculture and Department of the Interior. The changes are substantial and address long-standing complaints that these firefighters have been underpaid and undervalued compared to other federal employees and non-federal firefighters.

**Pay and Basic Benefits**

The bill establishes a minimum salary for wildland firefighters at the level of step 3 of the federal GS-6 pay grade, which is a meaningful raise for many current firefighters. More importantly, their pay will automatically increase each year by at least the rate of inflation, ensuring their wages keep pace with the cost of living. The bill also guarantees hazard pay for dangerous work like prescribed burns, tree climbing, and hazard tree removal. When firefighters are deployed to fight fires away from home, they'll receive a housing allowance if they're sent more than 50 miles from their primary residence. Additionally, the bill creates a recruitment and retention bonus program starting at a minimum of $1,000 per year for firefighters who pass their work capacity tests.

**Work and Deployment**

The bill changes how firefighters are paid when deployed on emergency assignments. Instead of potentially losing pay during travel time or on-call periods, firefighters will now be compensated for every hour during deployment, with some hours paid at overtime rates. The bill also requires the government to create clearer guidelines about work schedules that account for the irregular nature of wildfire work, including standby duties and travel time.

**Health and Mental Health Support**

Recognizing the serious health risks firefighters face, the bill creates a public database to track cancer and cardiovascular disease among current and former wildland firefighters. It requires the government to develop strategies to reduce exposure to hazardous smoke and chemicals. The bill also establishes a comprehensive mental health program including peer support networks, mental health training, and unlimited access to trauma-informed mental health professionals. Every firefighter gets seven days of paid mental health leave per year that doesn't count against their regular vacation time.

**Workers' Compensation and Disease Presumption**

This is a major protection: if a wildland firefighter with at least five years of service develops heart disease, lung disease, or certain cancers (including brain, blood, bladder, kidney, testicular, digestive system, skin, respiratory, or breast cancer) within ten years of leaving the job, it's automatically presumed to be work-related. This means they don't have to prove their illness came from firefighting—the burden shifts to the government to prove otherwise. This presumption makes it much easier for firefighters and their families to receive workers' compensation benefits.

**Retirement Benefits**

The bill improves retirement protections in several ways. If a firefighter becomes permanently disabled from a work-related injury or illness and can no longer do firefighting work, they can move to a supervisory or administrative position while still having that service counted as firefighter service for retirement purposes. This means they can retire with full firefighter benefits even if they can't continue active firefighting. The bill also allows firefighters to count overtime pay toward their retirement calculations, which increases their eventual pension. Additionally, firefighters can now count certain past service periods toward their retirement even if they didn't have deductions taken at the time.

**Education and Career Support**

The bill creates a tuition assistance program for permanent wildland firefighters, providing at least $4,000 per year for education and training programs—whether that's academic skills, vocational training, or college degrees. This helps firefighters transition to other careers if they choose to leave firefighting.

**Family Leave**

Firefighters who aren't covered by the standard Family and Medical Leave Act can now take up to 180 days of unpaid leave per year to care for a family member with a serious health condition.

**Comparison to Other Firefighters**

The bill also requires the government to ensure that federal structural firefighters (those who work at federal buildings and facilities) receive comparable pay and benefits to wildland firefighters, preventing a two-tier system where one group is significantly better compensated than the other.

Overall, this bill represents a substantial investment in recognizing wildland firefighters as skilled federal employees deserving of competitive compensation, comprehensive health protections, and strong retirement security. It acknowledges the unique hazards of wildfire work and attempts to address both immediate financial needs and long-term health and career concerns.

Tim’s Act

Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act or Tim's Act This bill addresses the pay and benefits of federal wildland firefighters and related issues. Federal wildland firefighter is defined as any temporary, seasonal, or permanent position at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) or the Department of the Interior that maintains certain group, emergency incident management, or fire qualifications and primarily engages in or supports wildland fire management activities. Specifically, (1) the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must establish one or more classification series for federal wildland firefighter positions, and (2) USDA and the Department of the Interior shall determine each position within USDA and Interior that qualifies as a federal wildland firefighter position. The bill, among other requirements (1) establishes a pay scale for such positions, with annual adjustments; and (2) provides for hazardous duty pay. The OPM must establish guidelines for work schedules. The bill addresses issues regarding wages, unpaid leave to care for a family member, recruitment and retention bonuses, and housing allowances. USDA and Interior shall (1) establish, maintain, coordinate, and operate a voluntary tuition assistance program; (2) establish and maintain a publicly accessible, searchable Federal Wildland Firefighter Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Database; and (3) establish and carry out a program for mental health awareness and support. Additionally, the bill provides for continuation of firefighters pension coverage in case of disability and pay parity for federal structural firefighters.