[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 28, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S4496]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JOHNSON:
  S. 2355. A bill to make available hazardous duty incentive pay to 
uniformed service members performing firefighting duties; to the 
Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Fair Pay 
for Military Firefighters Act. This bill authorizes hazardous duty 
incentive pay for our Nation's military firefighters.
  It may come as a surprise to many of my colleagues, as it did to me, 
that military firefighters are not currently eligible to receive 
hazardous duty incentive pay. This issue was first brought to my 
attention in a letter I received several months ago from an Air Force 
Staff Sergeant stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base. The letter 
stated, ``We are in one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. We 
face danger not only when we deploy like other jobs that get this pay 
but we face hazards at our home station.''
  As the Staff Sergeant said, firefighting is in itself a dangerous 
profession, but military firefighters must confront a wide variety of 
threats and are exposed to toxic materials distinctive to the military. 
The fires they fight often involve fuel and propellants, munitions, or 
chemicals which present unique and extremely dangerous situations. 
These servicemembers face risks not only when in combat, but as a part 
of their every day duties. Despite these dangers, most of the 
approximate 5,000 military firefighters serving in the Armed Forces are 
not eligible to receive hazardous duty incentive pay. If these 
servicemembers are willing to take the risk, our nation should be 
willing to provide them the benefits they deserve.
  In addition to being the right thing to do, I believe there are 
broader reasons to support hazardous duty incentive pay for military 
firefighters. First, there is an issue of fairness. Federal civilian 
firefighters, who also face great risk and are critically important to 
protecting our nation, rightly have risk calculated into their 
compensation package. This creates a situation where federal civilian 
and military firefighters, who often work side-by-side, are exposed to 
the same risk but are compensated differently.
  Second, it is my understanding that each of the Services supports 
providing this benefit to our military firefighters because they see it 
as a manning and retention issue. In fact, according to survey results, 
lack of hazardous duty incentive pay was cited by military firefighters 
as one of the top three reasons for morale and retention problems. The 
Air Force has specifically stated that the lack of hazardous duty 
incentive pay is a primary factor in poor retention rates among its 
military firefighters. In my view, providing hazardous duty incentive 
pay is essential to retaining our best firefighters and maintaining 
this crucial capability within our Armed Forces.
  Mr. President, I am pleased the Fair Pay for Military firefighters 
Act has been endorsed by both the Fleet Reserve Association and the Air 
Force Sergeants Association and I thank them for their assistance in 
preparing this legislation. I ask unanimous consent that the full text 
of two letters from these distinguished organizations be printed in the 
Record and the bill be printed in the Record.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the Fair Pay for 
Military Firefighters Act and to extending hazardous duty incentive pay 
benefits to our nation's military firefighters. There can be no doubt 
that firefighting is one of the most dangerous professions. Military 
firefighters understand this threat and deserve the recognition of 
receiving hazardous duty incentive pay for the sacrifices they make and 
the risks they take.
  There being no objection, the two letters and the text of the bill 
were ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:

                                    Fleet Reserve Association,

                                   Alexandria, VA, April 22, 2004.
     Hon. Tim Johnson,
     U.S. Senate, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Johnson: The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) 
     has been advised that you plan to introduce a bill to 
     recognize the regimen that requires military firefighters to 
     put themselves in harm's way by authorizing their eligibility 
     to receive Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay (HDIP). FRA strongly 
     endorses this initiative.
       There is no doubt these firefighters rate special 
     consideration in the performance of their duties. They race 
     to quell fires placing themselves in jeopardy from dangerous 
     traffic conditions. They rush into burning buildings to fight 
     flames and smoke, rescue persons in peril, and face the 
     possibility of structures falling on them at any moment. They 
     rush to stop burning aircraft from exploding, fight toxic 
     chemical spills, rescue victims in danger of losing their 
     lives, resolve hazardous material conditions, and even free 
     kittens caught in tree tops. All are dangerous and can be 
     life threatening at any time.
       It is the Association's understanding that the military 
     services are in favor of authorizing this special pay to 
     their military firefighters. However, there are forces within 
     the Administration that believe military firefighters, all 
     enlisted service members, do not deserve HDIP. But the 
     question arises that if their sacrifices are not worthy of 
     recognition then why do civilian personnel, working side-by-
     side with these uniformed personnel, receive a risk factor 
     incorporated in their federal pay checks?
       FRA applauds your leadership on this proposal, and remains 
     committed to working with you and your staff on its 
     advancement. Please contact our legislative department at 
     (703) 683-1400 if the Association can be of assistance.
                                                 Joseph L. Barnes,
     National Executive Secretary.
                                  ____

                                               Air Force Sergeants


                                                  Association,

                                 Temple Hills, MD, April 23, 2004.
     Hon. Tim Johnson,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Johnson: On behalf of the 135,000 members of 
     this association, thank you for introducing legislation which 
     would provide Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay for military 
     firefighters. Your efforts will undoubtedly pave the way to 
     correct an inequity that senior military leaders have 
     identified as a contributing factor to low retention and 
     morale among enlisted firefighters.
       Military firefighters face hazardous duty every day--not 
     just in wartime. They are confronted with fuel fires and 
     explosive situations on our flightlines and in the 
     environments unique to executing the military missions 
     required to protect this nation. Like you, we are extremely 
     proud of their courage and dedication. We are pleased you 
     have taken the lead to honor them and to provide them 
     equitable compensation for their intrepidity.
       Senator Johnson, thank you again for your leadership and 
     your dedication to enlisted military members. AFSA will 
     continue to inform Airmen of all ranks at our chapters around 
     the world that they have a dedicated champion in Washington 
     thanks to your untiring efforts. We look forward to continue 
     working with you on this and other matters of mutual concern. 
     Please let me know when we can be of further assistance to 
     you.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Richard M. Dean,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____


                                S. 2355

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Fair Pay for Military 
     Firefighters Act of 2004''.

     SEC. 2. AVAILABILITY OF HAZARDOUS DUTY INCENTIVE PAY FOR 
                   MILITARY FIREFIGHTERS.

       (a) Additional Type of Duty Eligible for Pay.--Subsection 
     (a) of section 301 of title 37, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (12), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (13) as paragraph (14); and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (12) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(13) involving regular participation as a firefighting 
     crew member, as determined by the Secretary concerned; or''.
       (b) Monthly Amount of Pay.--Subsection (c) of such section 
     is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(12)'' and inserting 
     ``(13)''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``(13)'' and inserting 
     ``(14)''.
                                 ______