Providing for Consideration of H.R. Fix Our Forests Act, and Providing for Consideration of S. Laken Riley Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I associate myself with Mr. McGovern's remarks condemning the unconscionable silence we hear across the aisle in the wake of these pardons of violent criminals, seditionist thugs who should never be pardoned or celebrated. Yet, that is exactly what is happening even here in the building that they desecrated.

Turning to the bill at hand, one thing I hope we can agree on, which is clearly missing from this bill, is a permanent pay raise for Federal wildland firefighters. These brave men and women put everything on the line. They deserve to be paid fair wages for the long hours, dedication, and sacrifice they are putting out.

The good news is that under that Democratic leadership, Congress approved a pay raise in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The bad news is the authority to continue paying Federal wildland firefighters the wages they deserve is about to run out because of partisan politics.

Thanks to Republicans, the entire Federal Government is operating under a continuing resolution, a short-term patch that will expire March 23.

Good luck hiring a Federal firefighter right now, being underpaid to start with and having a looming pay cut because of partisan politics just weeks away.

Fixing this should be an unequivocal bipartisan priority, and we have an opportunity to do it right now. That is why two of my Democratic colleagues filed amendments to address these issues. Unfortunately, the Rules Committee is refusing to allow a vote on the amendments from Representative Neguse and Representative Lee. That is a shame.

A permanent pay raise is not merely a matter of fairness. It is a recognition of the invaluable service these frontline heroes provide. It is an investment in their future, ensuring they can provide for their families and have peace of mind knowing their sacrifices are valued.

Instead of rushing this so-called Fix Our Forests Act to the floor to exploit a disaster in Los Angeles, we should be working together to address a real problem and doing right by our wildland firefighters.

In a few moments, Republicans will be moving the previous question to end debate on the rule. I urge my colleagues to vote against the previous question because doing so, voting no, will allow Mr. Neguse's Tim's Act to be brought forward instead of the Fix Our Forests Act, ensuring that Federal wildland firefighters are getting the pay and benefits they deserve.

That is the bill we should be considering instead of a bill that rolls back our environmental laws and does nothing to help Los Angeles.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I, too, am concerned about some of the pardons that were issued. I can't fathom what was going through President Biden's mind when he pardoned his family members and any of his political allies this past week. It is something that I think does merit much more discussion on how someone just gives family members and political allies a blanket pardon when they had not yet been charged for the crimes they had committed.

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