Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act

This bill would create a federal task force, an advisory panel, and a health and wellbeing program for federal wildland firefighters within the Department of the Interior, working with the Forest Service. The program would provide baseline and annual medical exams, track exposure to smoke and hazardous substances, test respiratory protection equipment, and offer mental health support. It would set up a firefighter health office in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue interim and final safety standards for wildland firefighters. It would also create a special workers' compensation claims unit for firefighters, give paid duty time to shower and decontaminate gear, require decontamination equipment at fire facilities within 2 years, and authorize funding, including $34 million per year for the wellbeing program from 2027 through 2032.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Alex Padilla Democrat sponsor
• 3 cosponsors