Federal Wildland Firefighter Classification Act

FEDERAL WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER CLASSIFICATION ACT -- (House of Representatives - December 07, 2006)

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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

Madam Speaker, last August, the Federal Workforce and Agency Organization Subcommittee held a hearing in Las Vegas on Federal firefighter compensation. In addition to pay, one of the concerns raised at the hearing by the Federal Wildland Fire Service Association was the classification of Federal wildland firefighters.

Federal wildland firefighters are classified as either general schedule or wage-grade employees of the Federal Government. However, many of them are placed in the occupational series called forestry technicians, range technicians, and biological science technicians that do not reference their firefighting duties. These current classifications do not accurately represent the work performed by these wildland firefighters. H.R. 5697 would correct that by redesignating forest and range technicians as Federal wildland firefighters. This bill changes the name but not the pay of those currently called wildland firefighters or technicians. H.R. 5697 is supported by the FWFSA, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I strongly support this bill, and yield back the balance of my time.

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