[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 17, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H4375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        FILLING FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS ON MILITARY INSTALLATIONS

  (Ms. ELFRETH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give voice to an issue that 
has gone unaddressed for far too long, and it is one this body must 
take up before it is too late and lives are lost. We must address the 
alarmingly low staffing levels of firefighters on our military 
installations.
  Recent reports indicate that the military service intends to 
eliminate vacant firefighter positions, restrict the use of overtime, 
and interpret requirements in a manner that could lead to station 
closures.
  Let me be clear. While staffing level shortages have been an ongoing 
challenge, these new actions, coupled with the continued hiring freeze, 
put our servicemembers in harm's way.
  It is why Congresswoman Kiggans and I wrote to the Secretaries of the 
Army, the Navy, and the Air Force to ensure robust emergency services 
that maintain safety and mission readiness across the Force.
  Across the DOD, more than 8,800 civilian firefighters respond to 
structural fires, aircraft emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, 
and other life-threatening events each year.
  Mr. Speaker, I cannot think of a more critical and all-American cause 
or more of a win-win than having the backs of our fire firefighters and 
our servicemembers.

                          ____________________