September 29, 2023 9:30 a.m.

Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley and a number of Senate colleagues have called on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to advance permanent, comprehensive pay reform for wildland firefighters in Oregon and nationwide as temporary pay increases are set to end.

The letter said, “Firefighters deserve fair pay, support for their mental and physical health, and time to recover from their dangerous work. In a future with increasingly catastrophic wildfires, Congress cannot delay and deny this critical workforce’s needs”.

A temporary pay increase was authorized in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, but new legislation is required to provide a permanent increase to firefighter pay. Senator Merkley, in his capacity as chair of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, said he ensured that a provision maintaining the IIJA program for more than 20,000 firefighters was included in the Senate’s proposed bipartisan Continuing Resolution to extend government funding through November 17th.

In their letter, Wyden and Merkley noted that the increasing threat posed by wildfires has contributed to firefighter recruitment and retention challenges – including low pay, unaffordable housing and mental health strain.

The senators concluded by saying, “We are grateful for the bravery of our wildland firefighters. We remain committed to delivering permanent, comprehensive pay reform for our wildland firefighters by the end of this current fiscal year”.

The letter was led by Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado. Along with Wyden and Merkley, it was signed by nine other senators.