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Search Results for: wildland firefighter pay – Page 2

KTVH: Daines proposes legislation to help wildland firefighters

December 16, 2016

(MTN NEWS-HELENA) U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) unveiled new legislation to help wildland firefighters and praised the selection of Rep. Ryan Zinke as the next U.S. Secretary of the Interior during a visit to Helena Thursday. Federal firefighters are entitled to retirement after 20 years because of the hazardous nature of their work. But if they get hurt and can’t return to a firefighting job, they’re currently forced to switch to a 30-year retirement track, like other federal workers.  Daines has introduced a bill that would let firefighters injured on the job remain on the 20-year track. It would also

Helena Independent Record: Daines: Reforms needed for ‘unfair’ firefighter retirement, workers comp system

December 16, 2016

Calling the current system “unfair,” U.S. Sen. Steve Daines is proposing legislation reforming retirement and workers compensation payments for federal wildland firefighters and law enforcement injured on the job. The current retirement system allows firefighters working in hazardous conditions retirement after 20 years. However, if they are injured on the job and reassigned to a nonhazardous role, they are subject to a 30-year retirement track. Overtime and bonuses are not factored into workers compensation payments, meaning an injured firefighter receives only a percentage of base pay. The base is typically only a fraction of firefighters’ annual earnings as overtime pay

Daines Announces Legislation to Protect Injured Wildland Firefighters Retirements

December 15, 2016

HELENA, Mont. —U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced legislation to protect wildland firefighters retirement.  Currently, if injured and not able to return to a firefighting position, federal wildland firefighters must switch from the 20-year retirement track authorized for federal employees with certain hazardous jobs to the 30-year retirement track for ordinary federal employees. Daines’ fix will allow wildland firefighters to remain on the 20-year retirement track if they’re injured on the job. Additionally, Daines’ fix requires that overtime pay be considered as income for purposes of calculating worker’s compensation disability benefits since overtime pay constitutes a significant portion of wildland firefighter

Daines Votes to Avoid Government Shutdown

September 30, 2023

Supports Funding to Keep National Parks Open, Continue Pay for Military and Border Patrol U.S. SENATE – U.S.Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement after voting to support the short-term continuing budget resolution, avoid a government shutdown and ensure our military and border patrol agents get paid. “Shutting down the government is not the answer to Congress’ fiscal insanity and it only hurts Montanans,” said Daines.“I voted to keep the government open, keep our National Parks open, pay our military and border patrol agents and continue a much-deserved increase in pay for our Montana wildland firefighters. Montanans should never have to pay the price for Congress’ broken budget process. I will

Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand and Support Forestry Programs, Job Opportunities for Job Corps Students

September 16, 2022

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced a bipartisan bill, the  “Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act,” with Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) to expand and support specialized forestry and wildland firefighter training for Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center students and ensure a pipeline to good-paying jobs for Job Corps graduates.  “Montana Job Corps Centers help train and prepare young Montanans to enter the workforce,” Daines said. “These centers play an irreplaceable role in our communities especially as the threat of wildfires grow and the forestry sector continues to face labor shortages. Expanding the forestry curriculum, supporting these centers, and ensuring students have a

Daines Continues Work to Pass Forest Management Reform to Prevent Deadly Wildfires in Montana

July 22, 2021

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced legislation that would increase active forest management to prevent deadly wildfires in Montana. This legislation is in addition to several other forest management and wildfire prevention measures Daines is working to get signed into law. “Montana is battling yet another catastrophic wildfire season. We must do everything we can to manage our forests to reduce the risk of severe wildfires and protect Montana families and communities from the deadly flames,” Daines said. “This bill would allow Governors to work with the Forest Service on prioritizing areas at the highest risk of wildfire and expediting treatment to reduce this risk. The ‘FIRESHEDS Act’ responds to the crisis

Daines’ Bipartisan Wildfire Prevention Bill Takes Center Stage at Senate Hearing

September 16, 2020

U.S. SENATE – Today at a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Steve Daines stressed the importance of passing his bipartisan wildfire prevention and forest management reform bill which will protect Montana communities from deadly wildfires, promote public safety and health, and create good paying timber jobs. Daines introduced his bipartisan bill with Senator Feinstein of California.  To download a clip of the Senator’s remarks click, HERE To download full remarks click, HERE  “We are at a critical time. The West is burning. People are dying. And our way of life as we know it is in danger… My bill with Senator Feinstein offers

Daines, Feinstein Secure Hearing for Bipartisan Forest Management Bill, Urge Quick Passage

September 9, 2020

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Dianne Feinstein today announced that their bipartisan forest management reform bill has been given a hearing date in the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee next week. This announcement follows Daines’ and Feinstein’s direct request to the committee for a hearing. Daines serves as Montana’s voice on the Committee. “As deadly wildfires continue to spread across Montana and the West, it is important now more than ever that we advance this bipartisan forest management reform bill,” Daines said. “This hearing will demonstrate how our legislation will help protect at-risk communities, create jobs and

Daines Calls for Hearing on Bipartisan Forest Management Reform Bill

August 20, 2020

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee calling for a hearing as soon as possible on his bipartisan forest management reform legislation. This comes on the heels of a meeting in Kalispell where stakeholders voiced their strong support for seeing this bill signed into law. “Our states are currently experiencing severe wildfires, which have only been exacerbated by the challenges of fighting these natural disasters during COVID-19,” Daines wrote. “Given that the National Wildfire Preparedness Level has increased to Level 4, and California and Montana are in the midst

Daines Hosts Roundtable Discussion on Bipartisan Forestry Bill at Flathead National Forest

August 17, 2020

KALISPELL, MONTANA – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today hosted a roundtable discussion with local Montana leaders, conservation groups, leaders in the timber industry, and fire officials on his bipartisan forest management reform bill at Flathead National Forest. Daines’ bipartisan bill will create good paying timber jobs, reduce frivolous litigation, protect air and water quality, and wildlife habitats, and reduce the risk of wildfire in at-risk communities. Daines’ bill is also critical during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic because wildfires could make conditions worse for Montanans with health risks and respiratory illnesses and wildland firefighters are at a greater risk than usual. To