Heinrich Welcomes Biden-Harris Administration’s Action To Support Wildland Firefighter Workforce

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement welcoming an announcement by the Biden-Harris Administration to increase pay for wildland firefighters. The announcement today includes unprecedented actions Senator Heinrich has advocated for on behalf of the wildland firefighter workforce that is funded by $600 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“For months, I’ve been pushing to implement a pay raise and more support for our wildland firefighter workforce. These brave men and women are battling historic fires in New Mexico and are on the frontlines of the climate crisis across the West. This is admirable, strenuous work and also hard on firefighters’ families. I’m pleased that today the Biden-Harris Administration announced it will increase pay, create new mental wellness and health supports, and establish a new wildland fire management job series for federal firefighters. This is progress.”