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Tag: firefighters

Daines Introduces Bill to Make Increased Wildland Firefighters’ Pay Permanent 

January 17, 2025

U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced his bipartisan “Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act” to maintain the pay raise secured for Montana wildland firefighters in Daines’ bipartisan “Wildland Firefighter Fair Pay Act” that was signed into law in 2021. “Montana’s brave wildland firefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect our lands and our communities. I’m proud of this bipartisan, commonsense legislation that will make their well-earned pay raise permanent, and I’ll always be fighting for more ways to support our selfless Montana heroes,” said Daines. Read the bill text HERE. Background: The “Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act” would permanently secure

Daines, Lankford Introduce Bill to Streamline Ability to Hire Wildland Firefighters

November 9, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced the “Direct Hire to Fight Fires Act” that would provide the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior (DOI) permanent Direct Hire Authority to streamline the hiring process for skilled personnel in the firefighting or firefighting support capacity. The bill also directs the Forest Service and DOI to identify policies and propose changes to reduce the time and complexity of hiring wildland firefighters and support personnel. “Year after year, our Montana communities are devastated by wildfires and our brave firefighters’ response to these fires protects lives and our public

Daines Calls for Passage of bipartisan 9th Circuit Cottonwood fix, highlights efforts to support wildland firefighters at Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

June 8, 2023

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today called attention to the serious threat of wildfires as smoke covers East Coast skies and highlighted the importance of passing his full and permanent fix for the 9th Circuit Cottonwood decision. Click HERE to download his remarks. Daines: When you woke up this morning in Washington, you might have opened your windows up and heard the birds coughing outside. It’s no secret that wildfire season is upon us. My guess is that folks on the East Coast are already sick of the smoke. We’re already hearing about ground stops at the Philadelphia airport,

Daines talks wildfire at firefighters conference in Bozeman

May 23, 2023

Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle Republican Sen. Steve Daines addressed expectations on first responders, wildfire and the Cottonwood decision at the Montana Professional Firefighters Convention in Bozeman Monday. The senator opened his remarks to a room full of firefighters from across the state by describing how Bozeman and Gallatin County have changed over the years. Daines said that the area has grown since he grew up in Bozeman — now there are more than 50,000 people in the city and more than 100,000 in Gallatin County. “The expectations of people that we serve together have changed a lot,” Daines said. Daines

Daines Introduces Bill to Protect Montana Communities, Firefighters from Wildfires 

March 15, 2023

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),