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Ensuring Casualty Assistance for our Firefighters Act

USA119th CongressHR-4671| House 
| Updated: 2/11/2026
Josh Harder

Josh Harder

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (3)
Scott Franklin (Republican)Ami Bera (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)

Federal Lands Subcommittee, Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop a Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program within six months of its enactment. This program is designed to provide comprehensive support to the next-of-kin of wildland firefighters and support personnel who are critically injured, suffer illness, or are killed while in the line of duty. The program will address several critical aspects of casualty assistance. These include initial and subsequent notifications to next-of-kin, reimbursement for their travel expenses to visit injured or deceased personnel, and the establishment of clear guidelines for casualty assistance officers' qualifications, training, and duties. It also mandates centralized case management procedures , ensuring rapid access to expert case managers and counselors for survivors. Furthermore, the program requires the provision of personalized, integrated information on Federal benefits and financial assistance through a website and other means, at no cost to survivors. It also facilitates liaison with agencies like the Department of Justice and Social Security Administration to resolve benefit-related issues promptly. The bill clarifies that this program will not affect existing Line of Duty Death benefits and includes provisions for data collection on the quality of assistance provided.
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Timeline
Jul 23, 2025
Introduced in House
Jul 23, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Nov 25, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Dec 2, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Feb 11, 2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Feb 11, 2026
Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged
Feb 11, 2026
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
  • July 23, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • July 23, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • November 25, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.


  • December 2, 2025
    Subcommittee Hearings Held


  • February 11, 2026
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • February 11, 2026
    Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged


  • February 11, 2026
    Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.

Emergency Management

Related Bills

  • HR 119-743: Tim’s Act
  • HR 119-471: Fix Our Forests Act
  • HR 119-1923: Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025
Disaster relief and insuranceEmployee benefits and pensionsFamily relationshipsFiresFirst responders and emergency personnel

Ensuring Casualty Assistance for our Firefighters Act

USA119th CongressHR-4671| House 
| Updated: 2/11/2026
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop a Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program within six months of its enactment. This program is designed to provide comprehensive support to the next-of-kin of wildland firefighters and support personnel who are critically injured, suffer illness, or are killed while in the line of duty. The program will address several critical aspects of casualty assistance. These include initial and subsequent notifications to next-of-kin, reimbursement for their travel expenses to visit injured or deceased personnel, and the establishment of clear guidelines for casualty assistance officers' qualifications, training, and duties. It also mandates centralized case management procedures , ensuring rapid access to expert case managers and counselors for survivors. Furthermore, the program requires the provision of personalized, integrated information on Federal benefits and financial assistance through a website and other means, at no cost to survivors. It also facilitates liaison with agencies like the Department of Justice and Social Security Administration to resolve benefit-related issues promptly. The bill clarifies that this program will not affect existing Line of Duty Death benefits and includes provisions for data collection on the quality of assistance provided.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 23, 2025
Introduced in House
Jul 23, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Nov 25, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Dec 2, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Feb 11, 2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Feb 11, 2026
Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged
Feb 11, 2026
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
  • July 23, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • July 23, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • November 25, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.


  • December 2, 2025
    Subcommittee Hearings Held


  • February 11, 2026
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • February 11, 2026
    Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged


  • February 11, 2026
    Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
Josh Harder

Josh Harder

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (3)
Scott Franklin (Republican)Ami Bera (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)

Federal Lands Subcommittee, Natural Resources Committee

Emergency Management

Related Bills

  • HR 119-743: Tim’s Act
  • HR 119-471: Fix Our Forests Act
  • HR 119-1923: Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Disaster relief and insuranceEmployee benefits and pensionsFamily relationshipsFiresFirst responders and emergency personnel