Overview
Title
To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for special base rates of pay for wildland firefighters, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The "Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025" is a plan to give wildland firefighters in the U.S. better pay and extra money for tough jobs, like battling forest fires. It also helps them take breaks to rest, making sure they can keep doing their important work safely.
Summary AI
The "Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025" aims to improve compensation for wildland firefighters in the United States. It proposes special pay rates that increase current salaries based on a percentage scale for different job grades. Additionally, it offers premium pay for firefighters deployed to certain incidents and introduces rest and recuperation leave after completing service in a qualifying incident. The bill allows shifting of funds to ensure that salary increases continue without interruption.
Published
Keywords AI
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Bill Statistics
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AnalysisAI
Overview of the Bill
The proposed legislation, titled the “Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025,” seeks to amend existing U.S. laws to enhance compensation structures for wildland firefighters employed by the Forest Service or the Department of the Interior. The bill introduces special base rates of pay, incident response premium pay, rest and recuperation leave, and provisions for transferring funds between departments to ensure continued salary increases for wildland firefighters.
Significant Issues and Concerns
Complexity in Pay Calculation: A significant portion of the bill focuses on adjusting the pay structure for wildland firefighters. It introduces a special base rate that increases with the firefighter's grade. This calculation requires attention to detail and may lead to implementation challenges without clear guidelines or examples. The complexity could result in misinterpretations affecting firefighter compensation.
Discretionary Wage Increases: The bill grants the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior the authority to set wage increases at their discretion. This power, unchecked, could lead to inconsistent application of pay and perceived biases, potentially harming employee morale and trust.
Eligibility and Fairness: The definition of "wildland firefighter" might exclude other agencies or individuals performing similar work. This exclusion raises questions about the fairness and equitable treatment of all firefighters involved in combating wildland fires.
Incident Response Premium Pay Cap: The cap on premium pay linked to incident response activities is set at $9,000 annually. This limit may not reflect the workload or risks associated with wildland firefighting, potentially impacting firefighters' earnings and financial well-being.
Restrictions on Leave: Provisions for rest and recuperation leave do not specify leave duration, which could result in inconsistent application and unclear expectations for firefighters. Additionally, the inability to receive payment for unused leave might discourage personnel from utilizing this essential time for rest.
Public and Stakeholder Impact
General Public
The bill seeks to ensure wildland firefighters are compensated fairly for the dangerous and demanding work they perform. By formalizing pay structures, it aims to attract and retain qualified professionals, which is crucial for public safety during wildfire incidents.
However, with the implementation potentially leading to higher government spending on salaries, there might be public concerns about the efficient use of taxpayer dollars. Thorough oversight and transparency will be key to maintaining public trust.
Specific Stakeholders
Wildland Firefighters: The bill is likely a positive development for firefighters who stand to receive higher pay. Better financial compensation not only honors their service but can also improve job satisfaction and retention rates. Nonetheless, the limitations on pay caps and the complexity of new rules may cause frustration or dissatisfaction.
Government Agencies: Agencies like the Forest Service and Department of the Interior will face increased administrative responsibilities due to these changes. While the potential for increased costs and the need for precise implementation exists, effective management practices can help navigate these challenges.
Other Firefighters and Agencies: Exclusion from the benefits outlined for wildland firefighters may result in discontent among other firefighters handling similar risks and responsibilities, sparking broader discussions around pay equity across firefighting agencies.
Ultimately, while the "Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025" aims to enhance the welfare of those fighting wildland fires, careful calibration, and inclusive policy frameworks are essential to avoid unintended consequences affecting equal opportunity and comprehensive risk management.
Financial Assessment
The "Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025" outlines several financial provisions intended to enhance the compensation of wildland firefighters. These provisions include special base rates of pay, incident response premium pay, and a mechanism for transferring funds to maintain salary increases.
Special Base Rates of Pay
Section 2 introduces special base rates of pay for wildland firefighters, which are derived by increasing their current General Schedule (GS) rates by specific percentages based on their job grade. For example, GS-1 positions would see a 42 percent increase, while GS-15 positions would see a 1.5 percent increase. This specialized pay is designed to enhance the financial well-being of firefighters. However, the complexity of these calculations could lead to errors or misinterpretations, thereby affecting the accurate compensation of firefighters. The need for precise calculations underscores concerns about clarity and fairness in employee compensation.
Additionally, the provision that allows the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to determine wage increases for prevailing rate employees "at their sole and exclusive discretion" risks inconsistent application of these increases. This discretionary power might lead to perceived favoritism, affecting morale among employees.
Incident Response Premium Pay
Section 3 outlines an incident response premium pay for firefighters deployed to certain types of incidents. The formula stipulates that this premium pay is calculated at 450 percent of the firefighter's hourly basic pay for each qualifying day. While intended to financially reward increased risk and workload, this formula may appear excessive compared to standard government pay scales, potentially leading to overly inflated personnel costs and perceptions of overcompensation.
Moreover, the cap on incident response premium pay is set at $9,000 per calendar year. This limit might not reflect the actual demands and extended work periods involved in firefighting, resulting in potential undercompensation for some employees. There is a tension between controlling government spending and ensuring fair compensation for arduous and dangerous work.
Adding further complexity, the exclusion of incident response premium pay from basic pay calculations could confuse employees about their total compensation. This exclusion impacts financial planning and perceptions of earnings, which are crucial for fair wage practices.
Transfer Authority
Section 5 authorizes the transfer of up to $5,000,000 from the unobligated balances of funds intended for "Wildland Fire Management" under the Department of Agriculture. This transfer is aimed at ensuring uninterrupted salary increases for wildland firefighters. While the provision allows for financial flexibility, it raises concerns about the effective use of taxpayer money. The reallocation of these funds may favor certain departments over others without clear justification, which could lead to inefficiencies or ineffective resource utilization in the long term.
Overall, the financial elements of the bill reflect a concerted effort to improve compensation for wildland firefighters. However, they also highlight issues related to the complexity of pay calculations, potential inconsistencies in pay adjustments, and broader budgetary implications. Addressing these concerns is crucial to ensure that financial measures support the intended goals of fair compensation and efficient resource allocation.
Issues
The calculation of the 'special base rate' for wildland firefighters in Section 2 is complex and requires increasing the General Schedule base rate by specific percentages depending on the grade. This could lead to errors or misinterpretations without clear examples or explanations, potentially affecting the accurate compensation of firefighters.
Section 2 allows the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to determine wage increases for prevailing rate employees at their 'sole and exclusive discretion'. This may lead to inconsistent applications or perceived favoritism in setting wage rates, impacting trust and morale among employees.
The definition of 'wildland firefighter' in Section 2 potentially excludes certain individuals or agencies that might also be involved in similar firefighting duties, which could raise questions of equity and fairness.
Section 3 sets a cap on incident response premium pay at $9,000 per calendar year, which might not reflect the actual demand and workload of wildland firefighters, potentially impacting their earnings unfairly.
The formula in Section 3 for computing 'incident response premium pay' as 450 percent of the hourly basic pay seems excessively high, possibly leading to inflated personnel costs and raising concerns about overcompensation in the context of government spending.
Section 4 regarding rest and recuperation leave does not specify a minimum or maximum number of leave days, which could lead to inconsistency and ambiguity in the implementation of rest policies, affecting employee welfare.
The exclusion of incident response premium pay from various compensation calculations in Section 3 might create confusion about the total compensation package offered to wildland firefighters, potentially impacting their financial planning and perceptions of fairness.
In Section 4, the provision prohibiting payments for unused rest and recuperation leave could discourage employees from taking necessary rest, potentially affecting employee health and effectiveness.
Section 5 involves the transfer of funds that may favor specific departments without clear justification for the allocation, raising concerns about the effective use of taxpayer money and potential long-term inefficiency or waste.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this act states that the official name for the bill is the “Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025”.
2. Special base rates of pay for wildland firefighters Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section establishes special base rates of pay for wildland firefighters, which are higher than the standard General Schedule rates, and details the specific percentage increases for each grade level from GS-1 to GS-15. It also provides guidelines for calculating these special rates and specifies that they will be effective after the end of existing temporary salary increases for wildland firefighters.
Money References
- “(2) COMPUTATION.— “(A) IN GENERAL.—The special base rate for a wildland firefighter shall be derived by increasing the otherwise applicable General Schedule base rate for the wildland firefighter by the following applicable percentage for the grade of the wildland firefighter and rounding the result to the nearest whole dollar: “(i) For GS–1, 42 percent.
5332a. Special base rates of pay for wildland firefighters Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
This section defines the payment structure for wildland firefighters, who work for the Forest Service or the Department of the Interior and focus on wildland fires. These firefighters are entitled to a special base rate of pay, which is higher than the standard General Schedule rate, and is calculated by increasing their applicable pay grade base rate by a specified percentage.
Money References
- (2) COMPUTATION.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The special base rate for a wildland firefighter shall be derived by increasing the otherwise applicable General Schedule base rate for the wildland firefighter by the following applicable percentage for the grade of the wildland firefighter and rounding the result to the nearest whole dollar: (i) For GS–1, 42 percent.
3. Wildland fire incident response premium pay Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section introduces "incident response premium pay" for wildland firefighters working for the Forest Service or Department of the Interior. This pay is provided when they respond to certain fire-related incidents, and it is calculated at 450% of their hourly rate, although there are limits on how much they can receive annually. The section also outlines how this premium pay should be treated for various compensation calculations and establishes regulations for making adjustments and notifying Congress.
Money References
- “(B) LIMITATION.—Premium pay under this subsection— “(i) with respect to a covered employee for whom the annual rate of basic pay is greater than that for step 10 of GS–10, shall be paid at the daily rate established under subparagraph (A) for the applicable rate for step 10 of GS–10 (where the applicable rate is the rate in effect in the same locality that is the basis for a locality-based comparability payment payable to the covered employee under section 5304); and “(ii) may not be paid to a covered employee in a total amount that exceeds $9,000 in any calendar year.
5545c. Incident response premium pay for employees engaged in wildland firefighting Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
Congress has set rules for extra pay for wildland firefighters working on certain fire-related incidents. This extra pay, known as "incident response premium pay," is for when they are working away from their usual location and does not count towards regular pay calculations or benefits.
Money References
- (B) LIMITATION.—Premium pay under this subsection— (i) with respect to a covered employee for whom the annual rate of basic pay is greater than that for step 10 of GS–10, shall be paid at the daily rate established under subparagraph (A) for the applicable rate for step 10 of GS–10 (where the applicable rate is the rate in effect in the same locality that is the basis for a locality-based comparability payment payable to the covered employee under section 5304); and (ii) may not be paid to a covered employee in a total amount that exceeds $9,000 in any calendar year.
4. Rest and recuperation leave for employees engaged in wildland firefighting Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
Congress proposes to amend a law to give employees involved in wildland firefighting paid rest and recuperation leave after responding to certain incidents. This leave must be taken immediately following the incident, is paid like regular leave, and cannot be saved for later, with policies set by the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior.
6329e. Rest and recuperation leave for employees engaged in wildland firefighting Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section defines terms and establishes guidelines for rest and recuperation leave for wildland firefighters employed by the Forest Service or the Department of the Interior. It specifies conditions under which this leave can be taken, including policies about maximum work periods and the requirement for immediate use of the leave after responding to a qualifying incident.
5. Transfer authority Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section allows for up to $5,000,000 from specific funds set aside for "Wildland Fire Management" to be transferred from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of the Interior. This transfer is to ensure that the increase in base salary for federal wildland firefighters can continue without interruption.
Money References
- Notwithstanding section 40803(c)(2) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(2)), not more than $5,000,000 of the unobligated balances of amounts made available under the heading “Wildland Fire Management” under the heading “Forest Service” under the heading “Department of Agriculture” in title VI of division J of that Act (Public Law 117–58; 135 Stat. 1410) pursuant to section 40803(c)(2)(B) of that Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(2)(B))