To amend section 5545 of title 5, United States Code, to provide hazard pay for carrying out prescribed burns, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5091
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-02: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-03T08:06:38Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 5091
Purpose
This legislation aims to amend federal law to authorize hazard pay for certain federal firefighters performing prescribed burns and for smokejumpers conducting parachute jumps. It recognizes that these duties involve risks similar to those in wildfire suppression.
Key Provisions
- Adds a new subsection to section 5545 of title 5, United States Code, classifying the ignition, control, or suppression of prescribed burns and parachute jumps by smokejumper firefighters as duties eligible for hazard pay.
- Sets the hazard pay differential for these duties at the same rate as that provided for fighting forest and range fires on the fireline.
- Defines a "prescribed burn" as the intentional use of fire on vegetation or landscapes for land or resource management.
- Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to issue implementing regulations within 90 days of enactment.
- Makes the changes applicable to pay periods beginning after the regulations are issued or 90 days after enactment, whichever comes first.
- Includes a rule of construction stating that the amendment does not rescind or replace existing hazard pay determinations except as needed to align with the new provisions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the scope of duties under 5 U.S.C. § 5545(d) that qualify for hazard pay differentials by explicitly including prescribed burns and smokejumper jumps.
- Does not alter the overall structure of hazard pay authority but adds specific qualifying activities with a designated pay rate.
Potential Impacts
- Increases compensation costs for federal agencies employing firefighters and smokejumpers, such as those involved in land management.
- May improve retention and recruitment of personnel performing these duties by providing additional pay for hazardous work.
- No direct effects on citizens, international relations, or non-federal entities are outlined in the bill.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal firefighters and smokejumpers performing prescribed burns or aerial jumps.
- The Office of Personnel Management, responsible for issuing regulations.
- Federal land management agencies that rely on these personnel for fire preparedness and resource management.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill operates within existing federal compensation statutes and includes a rule of construction to limit its effect on prior hazard pay determinations.
- No constitutional issues or political implications are addressed in the legislation itself.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (17)
Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-02: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-09-02: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-02: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend section 5545 of title 5, United States Code, to provide hazard pay for carrying out prescribed burns, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-09-02 — PDF (3 pages)