[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 142 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 142
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to wildland firefighters in
recognition of their strength, resiliency, sacrifice, and service to
protect the forests, grasslands, and communities of the United States,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 16, 2025
Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. Sheehy, Mr. Risch, Ms. Smith, Ms.
Lummis, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Bennet, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr. Crapo)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to wildland firefighters in
recognition of their strength, resiliency, sacrifice, and service to
protect the forests, grasslands, and communities of the United States,
and for other purposes.
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 ``Wildland Firefighters Congressional
Gold Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Wildland fires have increased in intensity and severity
over the 30-year period preceding the date of enactment of this
Act, causing catastrophic destruction to homes, infrastructure,
and valuable Federal, State, and private lands. More than
1,000,000,000 acres of land across the United States are at
risk of wildfire, including approximately 117,000,000 acres of
Federal land that have been identified as high or very high
risk for wildfire potential.
(2) The Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the
National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs collectively employ
more than 18,700 wildland firefighters to combat wildfires
across millions of acres of public and private lands each year,
while thousands more workers and volunteers serve as State,
local, and contract wildland firefighters.
(3) As the wildland-urban interface expands, wildfires
increasingly find their way out of the backcountry and into the
backyards of communities across the United States. Wildland
firefighters are evolving their skillsets, tactics, and
strategies to address the growing threat of wildfire in the
21st century.
(4) While the protection of life and property remains a top
priority, wildland firefighters also have an important role in
responsible forest management and conservation. Wildland
firefighters perform prescribed burns and other forest
management activities, including timber harvests, contribute to
healthy forests, and reduce catastrophic wildfire risk.
(5) Each wildland firefighter is specialized and trained to
work in dynamic and extraordinarily dangerous environments.
Wildland firefighters routinely work long days while on a 2-
week rotation, often sleeping in inhospitable conditions.
(6) According to the Forest Service, firefighters generally
work 16-hour days while fighting a fire, and they typically
exceed 2,500 operational hours in a 6-month period.
(7) Wildland firefighter crews are all-hazards frontline
emergency responders that use any means necessary to protect
life and property while responding to floods, hurricanes,
pandemics, and acts of terrorism.
(8) Engine and hand crews, the primary firefighting
workforce, come in varying sizes and modules that can be
tailored to fit the specific needs and terrain obstacles that
each fire presents.
(9) Interagency hotshot crews are highly skilled mobile
hand crews with elite knowledge about fire suppression tactics.
(10) Pilots and aerial fire suppression crews take to the
skies with air tankers and helicopters to drop water and fire
retardant, supporting decision-makers on the ground.
(11) Aerially delivered firefighters, including helitack
crews and smokejumpers, exit helicopters and jump from planes
into remote and difficult-to-reach areas, providing quick and
targeted fire suppression and emergency medical short-haul
extraction. These fire personnel provide oversight and direct
action on initial and extended attack incidents.
(12) Wildland firefighters in the United States also answer
the call to fight wildfires internationally. During the record-
setting fires in Australia in 2020, the United States sent 362
firefighters to help. During Canada's historic 2023 fire
season, more than 2,000 Federal wildland firefighters answered
the call.
(13) As of the date of enactment of this Act, the United
States maintains mutual assistance and cooperation agreements
for wildland firefighting efforts with Canada, Mexico,
Australia, New Zealand, and Portugal.
(14) The increases in the severity of wildfires and in
annual fire season active months have also increased the demand
for wildland firefighters and associated employees. Recruitment
and retention of wildland firefighters has been a national
issue for many years.
(15) Wildland firefighters put their lives on the line to
keep the people of the United States safe, and some pay the
ultimate sacrifice to do so. Between January 1, 2019, and
January 1, 2025, 98 wildland firefighters have lost their lives
fighting fires. Acute and secondary effects from wildfire, such
as wildfire smoke exposure, are directly linked to tens of
thousands of firefighter and civilian deaths each year.
(16) June 30 to July 6 of each year is recognized as a Week
of Remembrance to honor the fallen wildland firefighters who
sacrificed their lives to protect the wildlands of the United
States.
(17) National Wildland Firefighter Day is held annually on
July 2 to recognize all who are devoted to wildland
firefighting.
(18) The exemplary efforts of wildland firefighters are
deserving of recognition, and it is appropriate and proper to
honor those who have previously served, as well as current and
future firefighters. Wildland firefighters showcase principles
of duty, respect, and integrity in every aspect of service.
Each firefighter exhibits strength, resiliency, and grit to
protect the forests, grasslands, and communities of the United
States. Wildland firefighters do not shy away from dangerous
situations, but instead risk life and limb to help others. The
outstanding accomplishments of these brave individuals continue
an unparalleled legacy of public service.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make
appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of Congress,
of a single gold medal of appropriate design in honor of wildland
firefighters, collectively, in recognition of their strength,
resiliency, sacrifice, and service to protect the forests, grasslands,
and communities of the United States.
(b) Design And Striking.--For purposes of the presentation
described in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to
in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a gold medal with
suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the
Secretary, in consultation with the National Interagency Fire Center.
(c) Disposition of Medal.--
(1) In general.--Following the presentation of the gold
medal under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to
the National Interagency Fire Center, where the gold medal
shall be displayed, as appropriate, and made available for
research.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the National Interagency Fire Center should ensure that the
display and availability of the medal described in paragraph
(1) be at appropriate locations, particularly locations
associated with wildland firefighters.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck under section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs
thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--The medals struck under this Act are national
medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of
title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be
considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be
charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such
amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck
under this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sales.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate
bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the
United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
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