119-HR-759 Journalist Public Summary
119 · HR 759 Federal Firefighters Families First Act
A bipartisan House bill would change how federal firefighters’ pay and pensions are calculated, cap their regular workweek at no more than 60 hours, and direct OPM to set rules to implement the change—aimed at improving pay equity and retention; it’s currently in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee with administrative sponsorship now led by Rep. James Walkinshaw.
Headline Summary
A bipartisan bill would update how federal firefighters’ pay and retirement benefits are calculated and set a ceiling on their regular workweek, with the goal of improving pay equity and retention across the federal fire service.
What It Does
In plain English: the bill adjusts the math the government uses to figure firefighters’ hourly base rate and pensions, lets a portion of their regular overtime count toward retirement, and tells the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to cap the standard firefighter workweek at no more than an average of 60 hours.
- Changes the pay formula by replacing the 2,756-hours divisor with 2,087 hours when computing firefighters’ basic hourly rate under 5 U.S.C. 5545b. That aligns firefighters’ pay calculations with other federal employees.
- Improves retirement calculations by counting one-half of the regularly scheduled overtime hours in a firefighter’s tour toward the “average pay” used for annuities.
- Directs OPM, within one year of enactment, to issue rules establishing the maximum number of regularly recurring hours in a firefighter’s workweek, not to exceed an average of 60 hours.
- Applies to retirements based on separations that occur 60 days after enactment or later.
Who’s For It
- Sponsors and cosponsors: originally introduced by Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA) with bipartisan cosponsors including Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA); on November 20, 2025, Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA) was designated as the first sponsor for administrative purposes.
- Supportive arguments (from the bill’s stated purposes): improve pay equality with other federal and municipal firefighters; strengthen recruitment and retention; make retirement calculations better reflect regularly scheduled hours firefighters actually work.
Who’s Against It
- No formal opposition is listed in the provided actions. However, typical concerns could include higher personnel costs (pay and pension obligations), budget impacts on agencies that employ firefighters, and questions about setting a workweek ceiling that may limit scheduling flexibility during peak fire seasons.
What’s Next
- Status: Introduced on January 28, 2025 and referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform; on November 20, 2025, the House agreed without objection to designate Rep. Walkinshaw as first sponsor for administrative purposes.
- Next steps: the committee may hold hearings, request a cost estimate, and “mark up” the bill. If approved, it would move to the full House for a vote; if it passes, the Senate would then consider it.
Discussion