Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced that following her work to secure and implement provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, all federal wildland firefighters, including many working throughout Nevada, will see a significant pay raise through 2023.
Senator Cortez Masto fought to provide pay raises for over 16,000 firefighters in last year’s bipartisan infrastructure bill, but the implementation of these vital raises has been significantly delayed. She repeatedly pressed the administration to speed up the process. She will continue to work with her colleagues in the Senate on long-term solutions that support firefighter recruitment and retention across the country.
“I made sure the bipartisan infrastructure law prioritized efforts to combat and prevent wildfires and support the brave firefighters who put their lives on the line to protect us,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This significant pay raise will help wildland firefighters in Nevada and across the country stay on the job and keep our communities safe.”
Senator Cortez Masto is a champion in the Senate for Nevada firefighters and has led federal efforts to combat devastating wildfires. The senator helped secure over $3.4 billion for wildfire prevention, suppression, and restoration activities in the bipartisan infrastructure bill, including $10 million she authored for wildfire detection equipment. Last year, she also introduced her comprehensive Western Wildfire Support Act to help prevent, respond to, and recover from wildfires. Senator Cortez Masto has repeatedly called for the federal government to do more to support Western states affected by fire, and she regularly hosts conversations with local leaders to better understand how she can help Nevada’s fire professionals. During her time in the Senate, Cortez Masto has consistently advocated for and secured federal dollars for Nevada fire departments in every county.
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