Tag: firefighter

Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Train and Support Montana’s Wildland Firefighters 

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the bipartisan “Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act of 2025” to support specialized wildland firefighter training. The bill will support Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers and allow the next generation of Montanans receive access to the resources they need to become highly skilled wildland firefighters. “Montana and many states across the west face devastating wildfire seasons year after year. This legislation will invest in our Montana Job Corps Centers so that more students have access to the top-notch training and resources they need to enter the workforce as our next wildland firefighters. I’m proud to

Daines Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Raise Overtime Pay Cap for Wildland Firefighters

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines helped introduce bipartisan legislation to permanently raise the caps on overtime premium pay for federal wildland firefighters. The “Wildland Firefighter Fair Pay Act” would increase these overtime pay caps to appropriately compensate Forest Service and Department of the Interior wildland firefighters for the work they do. Despite risking their lives and traveling cross-country for months at a time to protect American communities and forests from catastrophic wildfires, many of the more than 11,000 wildland firefighters live paycheck to paycheck. This has contributed to a firefighter workforce shortage — already, 20 percent of Forest Service permanent firefighter positions are

Daines Introduces Bill to Protect Montana Communities, Firefighters from Wildfires 

U.S. SENATE –Today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the “Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act” to protect firefighters, communities and property in Montana and throughout the West from the devastating impacts of wildfires. The bill ensures the continued use of fire retardant to manage wildfires and protect communities and firefighters. “In recent years, Montana has suffered catastrophic wildfire seasons. We must do everything we can to cut bureaucratic red tape and put an end to frivolous litigation that’s preventing our brave firefighters from using all means necessary to protect our Montana families and communities from these deadly flames,” said Daines. Daines joined Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho),