The Harder Amendment #6: Assistance To Firefighters And The Families Of Firefighters Who Were Critically Injured, Ill, Or Killed In The Line-Of-Duty.
An amendment has been added to the Fix Our Forests Act and will be voted on in the House of Representatives later today. Known as Harder Amendment #6, it finally adds an assistance program for wildland firefighters who work for the Department of the Interior. The Forest Service has had this program in place for its firefighters, but individuals working with the DOI and Bureau of Land Management have not.
This was one of the recommendations in the Wildfire Commission report, and they deemed it highly important to bring the wildfire agencies into parity on this vital subject.
“The Commission viewed the national obligation to ill, injured, or deceased firefighters and their families as an important and critical responsibility. This program already exists in the Forest Service but the program has not existed for DOI. This amendment would help create parity in how the nation supports the families of wildland firefighters”
Talking to folks today, it sounds like the amendment needs support. If you would like to support this amendment, which would “Authorize a Department of Interior Casualty Assistance Program to provide assistance to firefighters and the families of firefighters who were critically injured, ill, or killed in the line of duty,” please reach out to your Representatives and ask them to support Harder Amendment #6.
Here is a link to find the Rep in your area: Find My Rep.
If you would like an easy stock email, one is provided below:
Dear ________,
I am writing about today’s vote on Harder Amendment #6 to the Fix Our Forest Act (which I also support). Harder Amendment #6 will authorize a Department of Interior (DOI) Casualty Assistance Program, which already exists for the Forest Service but not for the DOI.
The Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission "viewed the national obligation to ill, injured, or deceased firefighters and their families as an important and critical responsibility." This program already exists in the Forest Service but the program has not existed for the DOI. This amendment would help create parity in how the nation supports the families of wildland firefighters.
Please vote to support all federal wildland firefighters to help fix a significant injustice directly impacting wildland firefighters and their families.
Thank you very much.
It might seem like a long shot, but every call or email will help get our Department of Interior brothers and sisters the appropriate support they and their families deserve if tragedy strikes on the fireline.
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