[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 18]
[House]
[Pages 22894-22895]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            FEDERAL WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER CLASSIFICATION ACT

  Mr. SOUDER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5697) to provide for the appropriate designation of certain 
Federal positions involved in wildland fire suppression activities, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 5697

       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 ``Federal Wildland Firefighter 
     Classification Act''.

     SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT.

       (a) In General.--In the administration of chapter 51 of 
     title 5, United States Code, the Director of the Office of 
     Personnel Management shall ensure that the official title 
     assigned under such chapter to any class or other category of 
     positions described in subsection (b) shall include the 
     designation of ``Wildland Firefighter'' or words to that 
     effect.
       (b) Applicability.--This section shall apply in the case of 
     any class or other category of positions that consists 
     primarily or exclusively of forest technician positions, 
     range technician positions, or any other category of 
     positions the duties and responsibilities of which include 
     significant wildland fire suppression activities.
       (c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
       (1) the terms ``class'' and ``position'' shall have the 
     meanings set forth in section 5102 of title 5, United States 
     Code; and

[[Page 22895]]

       (2) the terms ``forest technician position'', ``range 
     technician position'', and ``significant wildland fire 
     suppression activities'' shall have the meanings specified by 
     the Director of the Office of Personnel Management.

     SEC. 3. HAZARDOUS DUTY DIFFERENTIAL NOT AFFECTED.

       Section 5545(d)(1) of title 5, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking all after ``except'' and inserting an em-
     dash and the following:
       ``(A) an employee in an occupational series covering 
     positions for which the primary duties are wildland 
     firefighting, as determined by the Office; and
       ``(B) in such other circumstances as the Office may by 
     regulation prescribe; and''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Souder) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SOUDER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SOUDER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 5697, the Federal Wildland Firefighter Classification Act, was 
introduced in June by Representatives Richard Pombo and Jon Porter to 
ensure that Federal wildland firefighters receive the recognition that 
they deserve in the Federal hiring process. Specifically, the 
legislation would designate employees who engage in firefighting duties 
as having the title ``wildland firefighter'' in Federal job 
classifications. The importance of this legislation is well documented 
in hearings and testimony before several congressional committees. 
Also, we have witnessed the sacrifice these firefighters are willing to 
make to keep communities and their property safe.
  Current wildland firefighter classification standards are far 
outdated and simply do not accurately reflect the all-risk duties 
performed by these brave men and women all year round. This legislation 
is the least we can do for these Federal wildland firefighters who lost 
their lives and those who continue to rehab from serious scarring and 
life-altering burns.
  I urge all Members to join me today in supporting this important 
legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  Madam Speaker, last August, the Federal Workforce and Agency 
Organization Subcommittee held a hearing in Las Vegas on Federal 
firefighter compensation. In addition to pay, one of the concerns 
raised at the hearing by the Federal Wildland Fire Service Association 
was the classification of Federal wildland firefighters.
  Federal wildland firefighters are classified as either general 
schedule or wage-grade employees of the Federal Government. However, 
many of them are placed in the occupational series called forestry 
technicians, range technicians, and biological science technicians that 
do not reference their firefighting duties. These current 
classifications do not accurately represent the work performed by these 
wildland firefighters. H.R. 5697 would correct that by redesignating 
forest and range technicians as Federal wildland firefighters. This 
bill changes the name but not the pay of those currently called 
wildland firefighters or technicians. H.R. 5697 is supported by the 
FWFSA, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly support this bill, and yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. SOUDER. I have no further speakers, and I also yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5697, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds of those voting having 
responded in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as 
amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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