Tim’s Act

Tim's Act would increase compensation for federal wildland firefighters across General Schedule pay levels 1 through 15, with the largest increases for lower pay grades. The bill would also establish premium pay for firefighters deployed outside their normal duty stations during prolonged fire incidents and would require similar increases for prevailing rate employees who work as wildland firefighters.

Beyond pay increases, the bill would create new benefits for wildland firefighters including paid rest and recuperation leave, housing allowances, and tuition assistance. It would allow certain prior service to count toward retirement eligibility and would direct the Department of Labor to ensure that psychological stress-related injuries from fire response are properly compensated with expedited claims processing.

The bill also proposes to establish support programs for wildland firefighters and their families, including assistance for next-of-kin of those critically injured or killed in the line of duty, and programs to support the mental and physical health of active firefighters. These changes would take effect after current temporary pay increases for wildland firefighters expire.