PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Congressional Research Service
No official summary is available in the imported record yet.
People & committees
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] · D–OR
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
Source last updated: Oct 9, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2026-09-17 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
This proposal would create a federal health program for wildland firefighters, with medical exams, exposure tracking, and measures to reduce contact with smoke and hazardous substances. It would require workplace health standards, provide paid time for hygiene and equipment decontamination, and establish specialized handling of firefighters’ workers’ compensation claims. The interim standard’s respiratory protection requirement would account for equipment availability and feasibility. These are proposed requirements, not evidence of enacted protections.
The Secretary of Interior, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall establish and maintain a Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program.
develop and implement a system for wildland firefighters and support staff to track their own exposure and document their risk over time;
conduct baseline medical exams, including early indicators of cancer and chronic cardiopulmonary disease, on the hiring of an employee and conduct medical exams annually to track health outcomes;
require the provision of respiratory protection, subject to availability and feasibility, consistent with the interim nature of the standard.
The Secretaries shall each ensure that each covered employee is provided regular duty time during wildfire operations or prescribed fires, without loss of pay or benefits— (1) to shower and perform personal hygiene following shifts involving exposure to smoke, ash, perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, hazardous substances, or other contaminants; (2) to clean, decontaminate, and maintain personal protective equipment and work clothing, including through the use of washing machines or equivalent cleaning and decontamination methods; and (3) to decontaminate vehicles and closed spaces used to transport or support wildland fire personnel during operations.
The Secretary shall establish a special claims handling unit to process and adjudicate claims for workers' compensation claims submitted by any employee in fire protection activities.
The bill calls itself the Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act. Its definition of wildland firefighter covers firefighters employed by the Forest Service or Interior Department, participating under either department’s direction, or working under a contract or compact with a federally recognized Indian Tribe, whose primary duties concern wildland rather than structural fires. “Support staff” means federal employees supporting fire activities outside their primary jobs under the specified federal or Tribal arrangements.
This Act may be cited as the Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act.
The term wildland firefighter means a firefighter— (A) who— (i) is employed by the Forest Service or the Department of the Interior; (ii) participates in wildland firefighting activities under the direction of either of the Secretaries; or (iii) is under a contract or compact with a federally recognized Indian Tribe; and (B) whose duties primarily relate to fires occurring on forest land, range land, or other wildland, as opposed to structural fires.
The term support staff means any Federal employee who supports fire activities outside of their primary job responsibilities— (A) under the direction of either of the Secretaries; or (B) under a contract or compact with a federally recognized Indian Tribe.
Within 90 days after enactment, Interior, coordinating with Agriculture, would have to establish an interagency health task force. The health program’s director would chair it. Required members would represent federal land-management, occupational-health, workplace-safety, and environmental agencies; Defense Department participation would be optional.
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Interior, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall establish within the Department of the Interior an interagency Task Force, to be known as the Wildland Firefighter Health Task Force.
including not fewer than 1 representative from each of the following agencies: (A) The Bureau of Land Management. (B) The National Park Service. (C) The Bureau of Indian Affairs. (D) The United States Fish and Wildlife Service. (E) The Forest Service. (F) Wildland firefighting agencies under the Department of Interior or the Department of Agriculture. (G) The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (H) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (I) The Environmental Protection Agency.
The Secretaries may extend invitations to relevant Department of Defense representatives to participate as Task Force members. (c) Chairperson The Program Director shall be the chair of the Task Force.
An advisory panel would also have to be established within 90 days after enactment. It would include current and former firefighters, unions, researchers, professional and employee organizations, and State, local, and Tribal representatives. Its input would be advisory. Members would serve six-year terms without compensation, although travel expenses could be provided; both bodies would meet at least twice each calendar year.
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Interior, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall establish an Advisory Panel
recommendations and input made by the Advisory Panel shall be considered to be advisory in nature.
including— (A) not fewer than 2 current wildland firefighters at ground operation level; (B) not fewer than 2 former wildland firefighters; (C) representatives of— (i) unions representing current and former wildland firefighters; (ii) unions representing current and former State and local government firefighters who respond to Federal wildfire incidents; (iii) employee groups representing wildland firefighter interests; (iv) professional organizations; (v) nonprofit research foundations; (vi) State and local fire agencies with established or planned respiratory protection programs; and (vii) Tribal Governments or Tribal fire agencies;
(D) academics or researchers with expertise in— (i) cancer and occupational medicine; (ii) industrial hygiene; (iii) occupational epidemiology; (iv) occupational toxicology; (v) dermatology; and (vi) behavioral health;
Each Advisory Panel member appointed shall serve a term of 6 years.
A member of the Advisory Panel shall serve without compensation. (7) Travel expenses The Secretary may provide to any member of the Advisory Panel travel expenses
The Task Force and the Advisory Panel shall meet at the call of the Chair but not less frequently than twice per calendar year.
The task force would identify workplace practices and equipment changes to prevent or substantially reduce harmful inhalation and skin exposure during strenuous firefighting. To the maximum extent practicable, these measures would be ones that could be implemented within 180 days of the task force’s establishment. It would also develop respiratory-equipment testing protocols and recommend workplace standards.
provide for interagency coordination to identify administrative and engineering controls— (A) to be used during arduous wildland fire operations to prevent or significantly reduce inhalation and dermal exposures to toxic and hazardous substances and conditions; and (B) to the maximum extent practicable, that can be implemented within 180 days of the establishment of the Task Force;
develop pilot testing protocols and procedures for the evaluation of respiratory protection technologies during any temporary compliance adjustment period authorized under this Act; (3) provide recommendations to inform the promulgation of any occupational safety and health standards described under section 6;
The task force would publish a health strategy within one year of its establishment and update it at least every three years. It would consider respiratory protection, skin exposure, gear without perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances—known as PFAS—mental health, medical monitoring, reproductive-health research, and risks where wildland and developed areas meet. Vehicle-cleanliness protocols would address the transfer of hazardous contaminants.
not later than 1 year after the establishment of the Task Force, develop and make publicly available the Health Strategy
The Task Force shall develop, and update not less frequently than once every 3 years, a coordinated Wildland Firefighter Health Strategy
the availability and use of the best available respiratory protection technologies for wildland firefighting, and any identified needs for improved technologies;
opportunities to reduce dermal exposure to hazardous substances encountered during wildland firefighting, including— (A) implementation of clean apparatus cab protocols; (B) transitioning to protective equipment that does not contain perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances or other hazardous chemicals;
strategies to recognize and address mental health needs of wildland firefighters; (5) strategies for long-term exposure tracking and medical surveillance
short- and long-term impacts of inhalation and dermal exposures on reproductive health for male and female firefighters, including adverse health outcomes for pregnant firefighters;
the amount of time spent by wildland firefighters working in the wildland-urban interface and specific health concerns associated with working in that environment;
an exposure-reduction protocol for crew transport vehicles and other apparatuses supporting wildland fire operations— (A) to prevent the transfer of hazardous, toxic, and carcinogenic materials and compounds;
Section 3 would authorize $15 million for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2032 for its task-force and related work. An authorization permits future appropriations; this language does not itself provide the money.
There is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to carry out this section.
Interior, in coordination with Agriculture, would establish and maintain the health and wellbeing program, with an initial director appointed within 90 days after enactment. Staffing would include at least one full-time employee at each regional office and at least four nationally, with relevant expertise and additional support. The director would annually report to Congress on staffing and funding adequacy.
The Secretary of Interior, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall establish and maintain a Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program.
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the initial Program Director shall be appointed.
including at least 1 full-time staff at each regional office and at least 4 full-time employees at the national level, with appropriate expertise
The Secretaries shall provide adequate administrative, technical, analytical, and field support
The Program Director shall annually assess and report to Congress whether staffing and funding are sufficient to carry out the Wellbeing Program and identify additional resource needs.
The program would assess smoke, chemical, heat, and operational risks; implement measures to reduce inhalation and skin exposure; teach firefighters about smoke and respiratory protection; and expand support for trauma and cumulative stress. It would also implement hearing-protection protocols and accept both anonymous and identified firefighter feedback.
assess occupational health risks faced by wildland firefighters, including risks associated with wildfire smoke, hazardous substances, heat, and other environmental and operational exposures; (2) expand prevention, education, and support services to address trauma and cumulative stress, build coping skills, bolster resiliency, and improve mental preparedness; (3) identify and implement administrative and engineering controls to reduce inhalation hazards and exposure risk;
develop and administer comprehensive training and education for wildland firefighters on smoke exposure health risks and benefits of respiratory protection;
implement dermal exposure reduction strategies and clean apparatus cab protocols;
implement hearing protective protocols in accordance with section 1910.95 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation);
develop a mechanism for wildland firefighters to provide comments or suggestions or ask questions, via a website or another mechanism, which shall allow for anonymous and non-anonymous feedback.
The program would create a system for individual exposure tracking and ongoing medical monitoring, linked with existing health and compensation data. It would conduct exams upon hiring and annually, provide access to cancer screening and lung-function testing, share monitoring data with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and make results available promptly to the affected firefighter.
develop and implement a system for wildland firefighters and support staff to track their own exposure and document their risk over time; (13) develop a medical surveillance protocol, including data integration with existing health and compensation data systems, and share data with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; (14) conduct baseline medical exams, including early indicators of cancer and chronic cardiopulmonary disease, on the hiring of an employee and conduct medical exams annually to track health outcomes; (15) provide access to regular medical screenings for early detection of disease or illness, including cancer screenings and periodic pulmonary function testing;
ensure that the results of any monitoring or medical surveillance are made available to the affected firefighter in a timely manner;
The director could run additional equipment trials and establish grant programs for exposure-reduction research, respiratory-equipment acquisition and distribution, and identified research gaps. These are discretionary authorities. The task force would advise on grant criteria, application selection, and funding decisions.
The Program Director, in consultation with the Task Force, may implement any pilot programs, demonstration projects, or field testing in coordination with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
The Program Director, in consultation with the Task Force, may establish and carry out additional grant programs to support— (A) research, pilot testing, and evaluation of exposure reduction technologies and practices; (B) the acquisition and distribution of respiratory protective equipment; and (C) research and development efforts to address knowledge gaps identified in the Health Strategy.
The Task Force shall advise the Wellbeing Program with respect to the grant program described in paragraph (1) on— (A) standards and criteria for grant award determinations; (B) selection of grant applications; and (C) final funding decisions.
Within 90 days after appointment, the director would arrange recurring information-sharing meetings with the Labor Department’s workers’ compensation director. Starting with the first full fiscal year after enactment, measurable performance plans would be due at least 45 days before fiscal year-end, and progress reports to Congress within 60 days afterward. Reports would include corrective plans for unmet goals.
Not later than 90 days after the date of appointment under subsection (c)(2), the Program Director shall set and coordinate bi-annual meetings with the Director of the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs of the Department of Labor to facilitate information-sharing
Not later than 45 days before the end of the first full fiscal year after the date of enactment of this Act, and not later than 45 days before the end of each fiscal year thereafter
expresses those performance goals in an objective, quantifiable, achievable, and measurable form;
Not later than 60 days after the end of the first full fiscal year after the date of enactment of this Act, and not later than 60 days after the end of each fiscal year thereafter, the Program Director shall submit to Congress a report describing the progress the Wellbeing Program has made toward meeting its performance goals during the prior year, along with— (A) detailed action plans to improve results for any performance goals that were not met;
Section 4 would authorize $34 million for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2032 for the wellbeing program. This is permission for future appropriations, rather than an appropriation of those funds.
There is authorized to be appropriated $34,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to carry out this section.
Section 5 would permanently establish an Office of Firefighter Health and Safety within the federal occupational-health research institute. Its work would extend to structural firefighting and disaster response as well as wildland firefighting. It could award competitive equipment-development grants and testing contracts, conduct field tests, and study exposure and health over time.
There shall be permanently established within the Institute an Office of Firefighter Health And Safety
The purpose of the Office, with respect to firefighting and disaster response occupations, is to— (A) promote fast identification and prevention of new and emerging hazards; (B) provide a central point for wildland and structural firefighters, fire-service organizations, and other stakeholders to engage with the broad scope of relevant research and services;
award competitive grants to institutions and private entities to encourage the development and manufacture of new and innovative personal protective equipment and safety-enhancing technologies for firefighters; (B) award contracts to educational institutions or private entities for the performance of product testing or related work with respect to new firefighting technology and equipment; (C) support longitudinal surveillance and biomonitoring research program to evaluate exposures and markers of cancer and other disease risk for wildland fire personnel; (D) conduct research on the relationship between work in firefighting and health outcomes over time;
conduct experiments, evaluations, and field tests to assess firefighting technology and equipment in settings that realistically reflect conditions of firefighting;
The research office would prioritize wildland-specific equipment and exposure research, promote awareness of firefighter cancer studies, and coordinate integration of its work into agency purchasing, training, and operations. Reports would be due one year after establishment and every two years afterward, covering tested technologies and medical conditions for Labor to consider under federal workers’ compensation presumptive-coverage rules.
priorities for research, pilot testing, and evaluation of exposure reduction technologies and practices tailored to the conditions of wildland firefighting;
strategies to inform wildland firefighters about the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer established under the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2018 (42 U.S.C. 280e–5) and the national Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study;
ensure that standards and exposure reduction technologies developed by the Office are integrated into agency procurement requirements, training, programs, and other relevant operational guidance for wildland fire personnel.
Not later than 1 year after the establishment of the Office under this subsection, and every 2 years thereafter
describes the new health and safety technologies and practices that have been studied, tested, and certified for use
identifies cancer, respiratory, or other medical conditions warranting consideration by the Secretary of Labor for regulatory updates to presumptive coverage under chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act).
A required respiratory-protection pilot would have to be designed and launched within one year after the task force’s establishment and would run for two years. Testing would examine equipment under real firefighting conditions, including heat, exertion, duration of use, comfort, and firefighter feedback.
Not later than 1 year after the establishment of the Task Force, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Program Director and in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, shall design and carry out a pilot program
The Pilot Program shall be carried out for a 2-year period.
conduct field testing of respiratory protection technologies to assess performance, including heat, exertion, duration of use, and conditions of use; (C) conduct field testing in real-world operational contexts, including line construction, mop-up, and transport; (D) collect data from wildland firefighters on usability, comfort, and compliance with the technology described in subparagraph (A); (E) provide opportunities for wildland firefighter feedback on any aspects of the pilot program;
Within 180 days after the pilot ends, Interior and Agriculture would submit a final report to the specified congressional committees. It would include recommendations for workplace standards, costs, equipment use, and firefighter participation. Submission of this report would start the deadlines for the workplace-safety standards.
Not later than 180 days after the end of the period described in paragraph (3), the Secretaries shall submit to the Committees on Natural Resources and Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, and the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, a final report
(A) recommendations to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for the standards under section 6; (B) the costs associated with carrying out the Pilot Program; (C) the usage of respiratory protection technology under the Pilot Program; (D) the extent of participation in the Pilot Program by wildland firefighters;
Not later than 180 days after submission of the report described in section 5(b)(5)
Not later than 2 years after the submission of the report under section 5(b)(5)
Not later than 5 years after the submission of the final report described in section 5(b)(5)
Section 5 would authorize $10 million for the institute and research office, available through fiscal year 2032. Its pilot subsection also authorizes $1.5 million using the broader wording “to carry out this section.” Neither provision directly appropriates money.
There is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000, to be available through fiscal year 2032 to enable the Institute and the Office to carry out this subsection.
There is authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 to carry out this section.
Within 180 days after the pilot report is submitted, the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, would issue an interim standard requiring employers to adopt comprehensive long-term health-protection plans. It would also require respiratory protection, subject to availability and feasibility. The standard would draw on the pilot findings and coordination with the task force and advisory panel.
Not later than 180 days after submission of the report described in section 5(b)(5), the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, shall issue an interim final standard
require employers to develop and implement a comprehensive health protection plan that addresses long-term occupational health risks associated with wildland firefighting; and (B) require the provision of respiratory protection, subject to availability and feasibility, consistent with the interim nature of the standard.
The interim final standard shall be developed in coordination with the Task Force and Advisory Panel and shall be informed by the results and findings of the Pilot Program.
Issuance of the interim standard would be exempt from the listed requirements of section 6(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, chapters 5 and 6 of title 5, the specified Paperwork Reduction Act provisions, and Executive Order 12866. Labor would still have to publish notice in the Federal Register and provide 30 days for public comment before issuing it. The referenced requirements are not reproduced, so their full procedural consequences cannot be established from the supplied text.
The following provisions of law and executive orders shall not apply to the issuance of the interim final standard under this subsection: (A) The requirements applicable to occupational safety and health standards under section 6(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655(b)). (B) The requirements of chapters 5 and 6 of title 5, United States Code. (C) Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Paperwork Reduction Act). (D) Executive Order No. 12866 (58 Fed. Reg. 51735; relating to regulatory planning and review), as amended.
The Secretary shall, prior to issuing the interim final standard under this subsection, provide notice in the Federal Register of the interim final standard and a 30-day period for public comment.
The interim standard would take effect within 30 days after issuance, except for reasonable delays based on protective-equipment or technology availability. It would have the legal effect of an occupational-safety standard and remain in force until replaced by the final standard.
The interim final standard shall— (A) take effect on a date that is not later than 30 days after issuance, except that such interim final standard may include reasonable delays due to the availability of personal protective equipment or technology; (B) have the legal effect of an occupational safety and health standard as defined by section 3(8) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 652(8)); and (C) remain in effect until superseded by the final standard promulgated pursuant to subsection (b).
A proposed final standard would be due within two years after the pilot report and would have to protect workers at least as much as the interim standard. A final standard would be due within five years after that report, normally taking effect within 30 days, with equipment- or technology-availability delays allowed. Subject to a feasibility finding based on the best available evidence, it would provide no less protection than approved State-plan wildland firefighter standards and would be enforceable in the same manner and to the same extent as standards issued under section 6(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Not later than 2 years after the submission of the report under section 5(b)(5)
shall provide at least as much protection as the interim final standard promulgated under subsection (a).
Not later than 5 years after the submission of the final report described in section 5(b)(5), the Secretary shall issue a final standard that shall— (A) take effect on a date that is not later than 30 days after issuance, except that such final standard may include reasonable delays due to the availability of personal protective equipment or technology; (B) provide no less protection than any wildland firefighter health standard adopted by a State plan that has been approved by the Secretary under section 18 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 667), provided the Secretary finds that the final standard is feasible on the basis of the best available evidence; (C) be effective and enforceable in the same manner and to the same extent as any standard promulgated under section 6(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655(b));
The final standard would require exposure controls and operational changes when exposure thresholds are exceeded, respiratory-protection strategies and equipment, and training on equipment, smoke, and heat illness. It would also address skin and PFAS exposure, exposure-monitoring guidance, medical monitoring, and decontamination equipment at stations, in vehicles, and in other relevant spaces. Labor would provide compliance assistance to covered employers.
implementation of engineering and administrative controls, exposure minimization strategies, and operational adjustments when exposure thresholds are exceeded; (2) strategies to encourage respiratory protection from smoke and other hazards including providing fire personnel with the appropriate equipment to protect from wildfire smoke and other respiratory hazards;
training and education materials to fire personnel regarding— (A) how to properly use protective equipment; (B) how long and under what conditions the protective equipment is effective; (C) the potential health impacts of breathing wildfire smoke without proper protection; (D) how heat illness happens, how to recognize it, and how to prevent and treat it;
strategies to reduce dermal exposure to toxic and hazardous substances and conditions and exposure to PFAS in firefighter gear; (5) guidance on use of exposure monitoring equipment; (6) medical monitoring and surveillance to identify early indicators of exposure-related illness; and (7) decontamination equipment installed in duty stations, vehicles, and other relevant spaces.
The Secretary shall provide technical assistance and advice, consistent with section 21 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 670(d)) to employers subject to the standards with respect to compliance with the standard.
Section 7 would create a specialized unit to decide workers’ compensation claims from employees in fire-protection activities. Its personnel would receive training and proficiency testing on firefighting conditions and possess or develop expertise in related illnesses and injuries. Labor would have to ensure timely processing, but the provision supplies no numerical decision deadline.
The Secretary shall establish a special claims handling unit to process and adjudicate claims for workers' compensation claims submitted by any employee in fire protection activities.
Personnel assigned to the specialized claims handling unit shall— (A) receive training and proficiency testing on the duties, operational conditions, and occupational exposures associated with firefighting; and (B) possess or develop expertise in occupational illnesses and injuries associated with smoke exposure, hazardous substances, heat, and other hazards encountered during firefighting operations.
The Secretary shall ensure that claims submitted by an employee described in paragraph (1) are processed in a timely manner.
The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs would publish annual firefighter-claims reports covering outcomes and denial reasons, exposures and diagnoses, decision times, second-opinion and referee physicians and their costs, and systemic barriers. Reports would use aggregate statistics and be searchable and accessible, consistent with privacy laws. The office would use the information to inform the health strategy and recommend changes.
shall prepare and publish an annual report of workers’ compensation claims submitted by employees in fire protection activities
aggregate data and summary statistics on— (A) claims filed, accepted, denied, pending, and appealed, including rationale for denials; (B) categories of occupational exposures that were alleged by the claimant (including smoke or heat) and what categories OWCP accepted as established; (C) diagnoses OWCP claimed, accepted, and partially accepted; (D) time to decision metrics
data on the use of second opinion physicians, or physicians selected by the government to issue a medical opinion, and referee physicians, or impartial physicians independent from OWCP who issues medical opinions, including— (i) how often these physicians are utilized; (ii) the time it takes for each type of physician to issue their opinions; (iii) a description of the impact of such opinion on claim outcomes; and (iv) total costs paid for such opinions.
identification and discussion of any systemic issues affecting timely adjudication or access to benefits for Federal firefighters.
inform updates to the Wildland Firefighter Health Strategy; (B) identify administrative or regulatory barriers to timely medical care and compensation; (C) recommend legislative, regulatory, or policy changes to improve outcomes.
Each report under this subsection shall be made publicly available in a searchable and accessible format, consistent with applicable privacy laws.
Section 7 would delete a passage in 5 U.S.C. 8143b(b)(1) beginning with “, if the employee” and ending with “protection activities.” Because the existing passage is not reproduced, the precise eligibility effect cannot be determined from this bundle. It would also correct “diseased” to “diseases” in a heading.
Section 8143b(b)(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking , if the employee and all that follows through protection activities.
Subsection (b) of section 8143b of such title, as amended by subsection (b), is further amended in the subsection heading by striking diseased and inserting diseases.
Covered wildland firefighters—including permanent, seasonal, temporary, and emergency personnel regardless of pay classification—would receive regular paid duty time during wildfire operations or prescribed fires for hygiene after contaminated shifts, cleaning gear and work clothes, and cleaning vehicles and enclosed support spaces. This time would count as work for pay, leave, and other employment benefits.
the term covered employee means a wildland firefighter, including permanent, seasonal, temporary, and emergency appointment personnel, regardless of pay classification.
The Secretaries shall each ensure that each covered employee is provided regular duty time during wildfire operations or prescribed fires, without loss of pay or benefits— (1) to shower and perform personal hygiene following shifts involving exposure to smoke, ash, perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, hazardous substances, or other contaminants; (2) to clean, decontaminate, and maintain personal protective equipment and work clothing, including through the use of washing machines or equivalent cleaning and decontamination methods; and (3) to decontaminate vehicles and closed spaces used to transport or support wildland fire personnel during operations.
considered hours of work for purposes of pay, leave, and other employment benefits;
Within two years after enactment, each duty station, fire cache, or other regularly staffed wildland fire facility would need adequate gear-decontamination infrastructure, including cleaning and drying equipment, cleaning areas, hot and cold showers, replacement protective equipment, and wastewater handling or filtration where feasible. Capacity would have to avoid unreasonable delays. Remote or temporary operations would need mobile cleaning capability or prompt access upon return, and infrastructure would require ongoing maintenance.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall ensure that each duty station, fire cache, or other regularly staffed wildland fire facility is equipped with adequate gear decontamination infrastructure.
Infrastructure described in paragraph (1) shall include— (A) decontamination equipment or equivalent systems dedicated to contaminated gear and clothing; (B) appropriate drying equipment; (C) designated cleaning areas; (D) access to hot and cold showers; (E) appropriate wastewater handling or filtration, where feasible; and (F) replacement Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Infrastructure described in paragraph (1) shall be sufficient to serve assigned personnel without unreasonable delay following exposure.
For remote or temporary operations, the Secretaries shall provide mobile decontamination capability or ensure prompt access to cleaning and hygiene upon return.
The Secretaries shall ensure routine inspection, maintenance, and timely replacement of infrastructure described in paragraph (1).
The Government Accountability Office would study program progress within two years after enactment and every two years thereafter for six years, reporting within one year after each study concludes. Reviews would cover goals, collaboration, leadership, equipment availability and approval, exposure monitoring, workplace standards, compensation-claims administration, and whether program funds or staff were diverted.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter for 6 years, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to evaluate the progress of the Wellbeing Program.
the progress of the Wellbeing Program with respect to meeting its stated goals and objectives, and the justification if goals and objectives have not been met;
the extent to which the Task Force and the Advisory Panel are following leading practices for effective collaboration
the sustained focus and commitment of the Secretaries and the leadership within the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service
current availability of respiratory equipment in the marketplace to be procured and used by wildland firefighters, including the extent to which respirators that meet National Fire Protection Association standards are available in the commercial marketplace; (G) the extent to which respiratory equipment that is available for procurement meets National Fire Protection Association standards and has been approved by the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health;
the barriers, if any, that limit the development, approval, procurement, or widespread adoption of respirators that meet National Fire Protection Association standards for wildland firefighting;
any progress made in the testing of exposure monitoring technologies, the results of the testing, and to the extent that exposure data are available, a summary of that data
progress of the promulgation of the standards pursuant to section 6; (M) progress that the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs of the Department of Labor has made in establishing a special claims handling unit
the extent to which funds or full-time positions allocated to the Wellbeing Program remain dedicated to the Wellbeing Program, including a summary of any diversions or repurposing of funds or full-time positions that were intended for the Wellbeing Program;
Not later than 1 year after the conclusion of each study required by subsection (a)
The supplied actions snapshot, updated October 9, 2026, records introduction in the House on September 17, 2026, and referral that day to Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Education and Workforce. This dated snapshot does not establish subsequent legislative action or enactment.
Source snapshot updated 2026-10-09T17:40:00Z.
2026-09-17: Introduced in House
2026-09-17: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2026-09-17. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy rider attached to appropriations was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion applies only to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials. Amendment attachment history is not established.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for a particular recipient or place was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version; formal earmark status in other versions or accompanying materials is not established.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Evidence is limited
Review of the complete supplied introduced text identified no supported materially narrow preferential carve-out. However, the existing statutory passage removed by section 7 is not supplied, preventing a complete assessment of whether that change creates a materially narrow benefit. Ordinary program coverage and claims administration alone do not establish preferential treatment.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Oct 9, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI