Gallego Stands Up for Arizona’s Wildland Firefighters at Press Conference
PHOENIX, AZ – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) met with dozens of Arizona wildland firefighters to discuss his efforts to secure their benefits, which are set to expire on September 30.
Rep. Gallego then held a press conference where he touted the need to not only reauthorize the funding for federal wildland firefighters but to pass gold standard legislation called the Tim’s Act—which would make permanent the pay and benefits wildland firefighters received thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“Wildland firefighters put their lives on the line and spend days to weeks away from their families to keep Arizona safe. They deserve our complete support in return,” said Rep. Gallego. “Congress needs to act fast to avert a devastating pay cut, but that’s just the minimum. We need to pass legislation like Tim’s Act to provide a comprehensive pay and benefits boost for these brave men and women.”
Rep. Gallego backs the Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Pay Parity and Classification Act (Tim’s Act). Tim’s Act would increase base pay, improve deployment pay, support enhanced pay management oversight, and ensure firefighters receive paid rest and recuperation leave. Tim's Act will also address wildland firefighter mental and physical health, and provide housing, retirement, and tuition assistance benefits.
In May, Rep. Gallego held a press conference to discuss his support for the Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act of 2023 (HONOR Act). The HONOR Act would add a presumptive benefit under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program for exposure-related cancers that firefighters are more likely to suffer from because of their profession. The PSOB program provides federal disability and death benefits to first responders and their families.