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S. 5439

BillFederalSenateIn Committee
A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to improve safety standards for wildland firefighters.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · September 17, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced
September 17, 2026
Cosponsors (0)
None
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Summary

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This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to develop improved safety standards for wildland firefighters, particularly addressing smoke exposure during wildfires. Within one year of enactment, the Secretary must work with the Department of Interior, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, and other federal agencies to create a strategy for providing appropriate respiratory protective equipment to wildland firefighters and support staff when smoke exposure exceeds safe limits established by federal occupational health agencies. The bill also requires the Secretary to convene a task force with occupational safety experts to develop updated interim standards for smoke exposure and personal protective equipment, incorporating industry standards like NFPA 1984 respirator guidelines. The legislation applies to all wildland firefighters working under federal direction, including contract workers, and coordinates efforts between the Agriculture and Interior Departments. No specific funding amount is specified in the bill, though implementation is tied to a one-year deadline from enactment.

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