Federal wildland firefighters would get higher base pay and added pay for some fire assignments. They would also gain new leave, health support, housing help, and retirement benefits.
Modern Action explains what the legislation does, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.
Tim’s Act is a Senate bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Latest action on S. 279: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects federal wildland firefighters and their families. It would change their pay, leave, health care support, and retirement benefits. Some former firefighters could receive retirement credit for past work. Federal structural firefighters would also gain comparable compensation. Federal agencies would have to run the new pay and benefit programs.
Why this matters: Federal wildland firefighters often spend long periods away from home doing dangerous work. This bill could make those jobs easier to enter and stay in by raising pay and adding time to recover. It could also help workers and families deal with cancer, heart disease, toxic smoke, and job-related stress. The changes may strengthen federal fire staffing, but they would also raise government costs and create complex new rules for agencies to manage.
You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.
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Officially: Tim’s Act
Federal wildland firefighters would get higher base pay and added pay for some fire assignments. They would also gain new leave, health support, housing help, and retirement benefits.
Use this page to support, oppose, or ask Congress to amend S279. Modern Action explains what the bill does, helps identify the right senators or representative, and drafts a bill-specific message you can edit and send.
Where it stands
Sitting in Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
No vote scheduled. Constituent contact is what moves bills out of committee.
↓ Why your message matters here
This bill is sitting in committee with no scheduled vote — which means a small number of constituent messages can decide whether it moves forward or quietly dies.
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Where this bill is in the process
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Senate Committee
Under Senate committee consideration
Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (1/28/2025)
Senate Floor Vote
Voted on by Senate
Passed Senate
Approved by Senate
House Review
Sent to House for consideration
Passed Both Chambers
Approved by both House and Senate
Signed into Law
Signed by the President
For more detail
Choose one clear position: support, oppose, or amend. Then pick any reasons or personal context you want included. Modern Action uses that input and the bill context to draft a message you can edit and send.
Congressional offices prioritize messages from their own constituents. Modern Action uses your address to route the drafted message to your senators when that is the most relevant target for this bill.
The draft includes the bill number, your position, the reasons you selected, any personal context you added, and a direct ask such as voting yes, voting no, cosponsoring, opposing, or seeking changes. You stay in control because you can edit the message before sending.
This page gives you an opportunity to support, oppose, or ask for changes to Tim’s Act, then contact the elected officials who can act. Modern Action drafts the message from your position and the reasons you select.
Modern Action keeps the action tied to the bill itself: what it does, where it is in the process (committee), which office can still act, and what ask belongs in the message.
You are not starting from a blank form. Modern Action drafts the message around S279, your stance, and the reasons you choose, then lets you edit and send when ready.
