Federal Firefighters Families First Act

Bill Number

H.R. 759

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-11-20: ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Walkinshaw asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 759, a bill originally introduced by Representative Connolly, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.

Last Updated

2026-06-25T08:07:44Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Federal Firefighters Families First Act (H.R. 759) aims to address compensation and retirement issues for federal firefighters. Its main goals are to:

• Promote pay equality between federal firefighters, other federal workers, and public sector firefighters at the local level.
• Boost recruitment and retention of skilled firefighters to ensure high-quality federal fire services.
• Include all regularly scheduled hours (including overtime in standard shifts) when calculating retirement benefits.
• Define a standard workweek for federal firefighters to provide clarity and fairness.

Key Provisions

• Pay Computation Adjustment (Section 2): Updates federal law (5 U.S.C. § 5545b) by changing a specific numerical value from 2,756 to 2,087 in formulas used to calculate special pay for firefighters. This adjustment refines how hourly rates are determined for their hazardous duty pay, making it more aligned with actual work patterns.
• Retirement Annuity Calculation (Section 3): Adds a new rule to include, in the "average pay" used for retirement benefits, an extra amount equal to half the firefighter's basic hourly rate multiplied by the overtime hours worked as part of their regular shift schedule. This applies to both Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuities. Conforming changes ensure this integration across relevant retirement statutes.
• Workweek Standards (Section 4): Requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to issue regulations within one year of enactment, setting a maximum average of 60 hours per week for regularly scheduled firefighter hours. This establishes a clear limit on what counts as a standard workweek.
• Effective Date (Section 5): Changes take effect for retirement benefits based on separations from federal service occurring more than 60 days after the bill becomes law.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Pay Formula Refinement: The shift from 2,756 to 2,087 in pay calculations under 5 U.S.C. § 5545b adjusts the baseline for firefighter premium pay, which previously may have undervalued their extended shifts compared to standard federal or local firefighter schedules.
• Inclusion of Scheduled Overtime in Retirement: Previously, retirement "average pay" focused on basic pay; now it explicitly adds compensation for overtime hours that are part of routine duty rosters, providing a more accurate reflection of total earnings over a career.
• New Regulatory Requirement: Introduces a mandatory OPM rulemaking process to cap the regular workweek at 60 hours on average, formalizing what was previously undefined or inconsistent across agencies.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Federal agencies employing firefighters (e.g., U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Department of Defense) may face higher retirement payout costs due to enhanced benefit calculations, but improved recruitment could reduce turnover and training expenses. OPM will need to develop and enforce new regulations, potentially standardizing operations across agencies.
• On Citizens: Federal firefighters and their families benefit from fairer pay and retirement security, which could enhance job satisfaction and public safety services. Taxpayers may see indirect costs through increased federal retirement obligations, though the focus on retention could maintain efficient emergency response.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill addresses domestic federal employment only.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Firefighters: Primary beneficiaries, gaining pay equity, better retirement calculations, and defined work limits to support work-life balance.
• Firefighter Families: Indirectly supported through improved financial stability and benefits, aligning with the bill's "Families First" emphasis.
• Federal Agencies and OPM: Responsible for implementation, including pay adjustments, benefit recalculations, and new rules, which could require administrative updates.
• Other Public Sector Firefighters: Gain indirect equity, as federal standards may influence broader compensation norms without directly affecting local or state workers.
• Taxpayers and Congress: Bear potential fiscal costs and oversee enforcement through committees like Oversight and Government Reform.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: Strengthens compliance with existing federal pay and retirement laws (Title 5, U.S. Code) by closing gaps in how hazardous duty is compensated, potentially reducing future disputes over underpayment. The bill's reliance on OPM regulations ensures administrative flexibility while mandating timelines to avoid delays.
• Constitutional Implications: None significant; it operates within Congress's authority over federal employee compensation (Article I, Section 8) and does not infringe on individual rights or state powers.
• Political Implications: Demonstrates bipartisan support (introduced by a diverse group of House members) for essential workers in public safety, highlighting priorities like equity and retention amid ongoing federal workforce challenges. It could set a precedent for similar reforms in other high-risk federal roles, influencing budget debates on employee benefits.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]

Cosponsors (76)

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10], Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2], Rep. Bynum, Janelle [D-OR-5], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2], Rep. Vindman, Eugene [D-VA-7] and 26 more

Recent Actions

• 2025-11-20: ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Walkinshaw asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 759, a bill originally introduced by Representative Connolly, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
• 2025-01-28: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
• 2025-01-28: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-28: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Federal Firefighters Families First Act — issued 2025-01-28 — PDF (4 pages)