Honoring Fallen Wildland Firefighters Act of 2026

This bill would require the United States to pay a one-time death payment to the survivors of wildland firefighters who die from injuries suffered in the line of duty on or after January 1, 2026. It covers firefighters employed by the Forest Service, Interior Department agencies, or state or local firefighting entities, as well as certain contractors who directly fight fires. The payment would equal the maximum death payment already allowed under an existing federal law for employees killed on duty. The bill sets an order of who receives the money, starting with a spouse, then children, then others, and lets a firefighter name another person to receive part of it. The payment would be in addition to other federal workers' compensation death benefits.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Jeff Merkley Democrat sponsor
• 1 cosponsors