Senator previously urged the Administration to establish a special pay rate for federal wildland firefighters
Sinema’s bipartisan infrastructure law makes historic investments – including pay raises for federal wildland firefighters – without raising taxes on everyday Arizonans
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema applauded the pay raise and classification announcements for federal wildland firefighters through her bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law, which makes historic investments in wildfire mitigation and recovery without raising taxes on everyday Arizonans.
“Raising Arizona’s federal wildland firefighters’ pay will strengthen our wildfire response and readiness to keep Arizona communities safe. We’ll continue working to ensure Arizona’s federal wildland firefighters receive the support they’ve earned,” said Sinema.
“On behalf of our nation’s federal wildland firefighters, we are extremely grateful for Senator Sinema’s leadership and powerful representation in Congress to improve the lives of firefighters and the federal wildland fire services. Senator Sinema met in person with working firefighters many times, and she labored tirelessly with NFFE to get the pay raises done. We look forward to continuing our work with Senator Sinema in the coming months to resolve the recruitment and retention crisis distressing the fire services, and also improve the working conditions and wellness of those who risk their lives every day to preserve life and property,” said Randy Erwin, National President, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE).
Sinema’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law directed the federal government to create a new occupational series for wildland firefighters, and set aside funding for pay increases. This new series, and increases in pay, will enhance the ability of the government to ensure sufficient wildland firefighter staffing.
In May, Sinema, joined by a bipartisan group of senators, urged the administration to establish a special pay rate for federal wildland firefighters to prevent staffing shortages as fire seasons begins and wildfires continue to spread throughout Northern Arizona.
The U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee approved in June Sinema’s Federal Firefighters Fairness Act – bipartisan legislation that fixes current federal workers’ compensation policy, allowing firefighters to receive federal workers’ compensation benefits that include heart disease, lung disease, and select cancers developed by federal firefighters as a direct result of their occupation.