Washington, DC – This week, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) and Congressman Gerry Connolly (VA-11) joined forces to introduce the Federal Firefighters Families First Act, a bipartisan bill that will ensure federal firefighters receive the full and fair retirement benefits they deserve—on par with their state and local counterparts.

"Every day, firefighters across the nation make extraordinary sacrifices to protect our families, homes, and communities. As we are witnessing in Los Angeles right now, these heroes willingly run into danger, endure exhausting hours of mandatory overtime, and spend countless days away from their loved ones, all to keep us safe,” said Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. “Our Federal Firefighters Families First Act will ensure overtime hours are counted toward retirement, providing the security and respect they have earned. This is not just about fairness—it’s about standing with the heroes who stand for us in our most critical moments, and ensuring their sacrifices are honored, not just in words, but in action."

“As we have witnessed most recently in Los Angeles, these courageous men and women work grueling hours in the most difficult of circumstances,” said Connolly. “It is our absolute responsibility to provide them with a retirement worthy of the sacrifices they have made in service to the United States. Our legislation fulfills that responsibility, and ensures that our retired federal firefighters are compensated fairly and fully.”

Firefighters and labor leaders across the country emphasized the urgent need for this critical, bipartisan reform:

1. Edward A. Kelly, General President, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF):
   "Federal firefighters work exhausting 72-hour weeks while earning a third less than their state and local counterparts. This doesn’t just strain their finances—it threatens their health, well-being, and safety on the job. The bipartisan Federal Firefighters Families First Act will correct this inequity, ensuring that the long, grueling hours they work are reflected in their retirement benefits. I thank Reps. Fitzpatrick and Connolly for their leadership and look forward to getting this bill across the finish line."

2. Everett B. Kelley, National President, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE):
   "AFGE proudly supports the Federal Firefighters Families First Act because federal firefighters deserve nothing less than full and fair retirement benefits. These brave professionals risk their lives daily—whether protecting VA hospitals, military installations, or responding to natural disasters through FEMA. This legislation ensures their mandatory overtime is counted in their retirement calculations, creating a more just system for those who sacrifice so much for our nation."

Under current law, federal firefighters are denied a critical component of their retirement calculations—overtime pay—despite routinely working extraordinary hours to protect military bases, federal facilities, and key infrastructure. Unlike state and local firefighters, federal firefighters do not receive credit for the additional hours they are required to work, leaving them at a severe financial disadvantage upon retirement.

The Federal Firefighters Families First Act would correct this disparity by ensuring mandatory overtime hours are factored into retirement calculations, bringing federal firefighters in line with their state and local colleagues and ensuring they receive the benefits they have earned.

This bipartisan legislation is supported by a broad coalition of labor and firefighter organizations, including:

1. International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
2. American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
3. National Federation for Federal Employees (NFFE)
4. National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU)

Text of the legislation is available here.

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