Wildland Firefighters Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill Number

S. 142

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-16: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text: CR S231-232)

Last Updated

2026-06-11T12:33:38Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Wildland Firefighters Congressional Gold Medal Act (S. 142) aims to honor wildland firefighters collectively by awarding them a Congressional Gold Medal. This recognizes their strength, resilience, sacrifice, and service in protecting U.S. forests, grasslands, and communities from wildfires and other hazards. The bill highlights the growing wildfire threats and the firefighters' critical roles in suppression, forest management, and emergency response.

Key Provisions

• Findings Section: Congress outlines 18 key facts about wildland firefighters, including the increasing severity of wildfires (affecting over 1 billion acres at risk), the workforce size (over 18,700 federal firefighters plus state, local, and volunteers), their demanding work conditions (e.g., 16-hour days, 2,500+ hours in 6 months), diverse roles (e.g., hand crews, hotshot crews, smokejumpers, aerial support), international aid (e.g., to Australia and Canada), recruitment challenges, and fatalities (98 deaths from 2019–2025). It also notes observances like National Wildland Firefighter Day (July 2) and a Week of Remembrance (June 30–July 6).
• Gold Medal Authorization (Section 3): Directs the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange a presentation of a single gold medal to wildland firefighters as a group. The Secretary of the Treasury designs and strikes the medal, consulting the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). After presentation, the medal goes to the NIFC for display and research, with Congress encouraging appropriate public locations tied to firefighters.
• Duplicate Medals (Section 4): Allows the Secretary to produce and sell bronze duplicates of the gold medal, priced to cover all production costs (e.g., labor, materials).
• Legal Status of Medals (Section 5): Classifies the medals as "national medals" under U.S. law (Chapter 51 of Title 31, U.S. Code, which governs official medals) and as "numismatic items" (collectible coins or medals under sections 5134 and 5136, allowing regulated sales).
• Funding (Section 6): Permits use of the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund to cover medal costs; sales proceeds from bronze duplicates return to this fund.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces no direct amendments to prior laws but establishes a new honorary measure under existing frameworks for Congressional Gold Medals (typically awarded for extraordinary service). It leverages U.S. Code provisions for national medals and numismatics without altering them, creating a one-time recognition rather than ongoing policy changes.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Minor administrative burden on Congress, the Treasury Department (U.S. Mint), and NIFC for medal production, presentation, and display. Could enhance morale and recruitment for agencies like the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs, which employ most federal wildland firefighters.
• On Citizens: Symbolic boost to public appreciation of firefighters' risks and contributions, potentially increasing awareness of wildfire prevention and forest management. Bronze medal sales could make the honor accessible to the public as collectibles, fostering education on wildfire issues.
• On International Relations: Reinforces U.S. commitments to mutual aid agreements with countries like Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and Portugal by highlighting firefighters' global service, though impacts are largely reputational rather than operational.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Wildland Firefighters: Primary beneficiaries, including federal (over 18,700), state, local, contract, and volunteer personnel across various crews (e.g., engine crews, hotshot crews, smokejumpers, pilots). Past, current, and future firefighters are honored collectively.
• Federal Agencies: U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and NIFC, which coordinates interagency efforts and will house the medal.
• U.S. Mint and Treasury Department: Responsible for design, production, and sales, with self-funding through the Public Enterprise Fund.
• Congress and Bipartisan Cosponsors: Introduced by Sen. Barrasso (R-WY) with support from senators across parties (e.g., Sheehy, Risch, Smith, Lummis, Warnock, Bennet, Klobuchar, Crapo), indicating broad political backing.
• Communities and Landowners: Indirectly affected through recognition of firefighters' role in protecting homes, infrastructure, and lands in wildfire-prone areas, including the expanding wildland-urban interface.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Aligns with constitutional congressional powers (Article I, Section 8) to honor public service via medals, without raising funding or rights issues since costs are covered by existing Mint funds and sales. No challenges to free speech, privacy, or due process.
• Constitutional: Fully within Congress's authority to commemorate achievements; the collective award avoids individual entitlement claims.
• Political: Demonstrates bipartisan unity on environmental and public safety issues, potentially aiding recruitment amid ongoing shortages. Could inspire future legislation on firefighter pay, training, or wildfire funding, but remains purely honorary with no mandates. The bill's referral to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs reflects the Mint's involvement rather than policy overhaul.

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

Sponsor

Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]

Cosponsors (29)

Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT], Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY], Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT], Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK], Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ], Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS], Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO], Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA], Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD], Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR], Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE], Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX], Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-16: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text: CR S231-232)
• 2025-01-16: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• Wildland Firefighters Congressional Gold Medal Act — issued 2025-01-16 — PDF (8 pages)