WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) cosponsored the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act to secure a pay raise for Wyoming’s wildland firefighters.
“Wyoming wildland firefighters risk their lives to protect our forests and communities from devastating wildfires. We have a responsibility to make sure these selfless men and women are fairly compensated for their invaluable contributions to Wyoming and the west, and I’m proud to join my colleagues in this bipartisan push to secure this well-deserved pay raise,” said Senator Lummis.
BACKGROUND:
U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), John Barrasso (R-WY), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Steve Daines (R-MT), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act on July 12, 2023 which ensures the federal government can recruit and retain a sufficient wildland firefighting workforce by setting aside funding for much-needed pay increases.
The federal wildland firefighting workforce is made up of approximately 18,700 firefighters. A recent report from the Government Accountability Office suggests the most commonly cited barrier for wildland firefighter recruitment and retention was low pay.
###