119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 10001
This bill expands workers' compensation protections for federal wildfire responders by broadening the definition of employees covered under federal worker's compensation law. Currently, the law covers certain fire protection workers, but this legislation adds new job categories including fuels specialists, burn bosses, and prescribed fire crew members to the list of protected employees. The bill also extends coverage to include planned ignition activities and fuels reduction work, not just fire suppression efforts. These changes ensure that a wider range of wildfire management professionals have access to federal workers' compensation benefits when they are injured or become ill as a result of their work. The legislation does not specify new funding amounts or implementation timelines.