July 28, 2025
Mr. Gallego (for himself and Mr. Moreno) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for pay equality and the more accurate computation of retirement benefits for certain firefighters employed by the Federal Government, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title; purposes
(a) Short title
This Act may be cited as the Federal Firefighters Families First Act
.
(b) Purposes
The purposes of this Act, and the amendments made by this Act, are—
(1)
to improve pay equality between Federal firefighters, other Federal employees, and municipal and other public sector firefighters;
(2)
to enhance recruitment and retention of firefighters in order to maintain the highest quality of Federal fire service;
(3)
to include the pay of all regularly reoccurring scheduled hours during the firefighter workweek when computing the retirement benefits of firefighters; and
(4)
to establish the regular workweek for Federal firefighters.
Sec. 2. Computation of pay
Section 5545b of title 5, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking 2756
and inserting 2087
; and
(2)
in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking 2756
and inserting 2087
.
Sec. 3. Computation of annuity based on certain firefighter service
(a) In general
Section 5545b of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
(e)
For purposes of any determination of average pay under section 8331(4) or 8401(3), in the case of a firefighter who is subject to subsection (b), the rate of basic pay in effect for that firefighter for a year of creditable service (or, in the case of an annuity under subsection (d) or (e)(1) of section 8341 or under chapter 84 based on less than 3 years of creditable service, for any other period of creditable service) shall, in addition to the amount determined under subsection (b) for that year (or other period), include an amount equal to 1/2 the basic hourly rate of the firefighter (as computed under subsection (b)(1)(A)) for that year (or other period) times the number of overtime hours included as part of the regular tour of duty of the firefighter during that year (or other period).
(b) Conforming amendments
Title 5, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in section 8331(4), by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting , subject to section 5545b(e);
; and
(2)
in section 8401(3), by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting , subject to section 5545b(e);
.
Sec. 4. Establishment of a maximum hours of Federal firefighters’ regular workweek
Section 5545b of title 5, United States Code, as amended by section 3, is amended by adding at the end the following:
(f)
(1)
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations establishing the maximum number of regularly reoccurring hours that comprise a workweek for a firefighter covered by this section.
(2)
The maximum number of hours described in paragraph (1) shall not exceed an average of 60 hours per week.
Sec. 5. Application
The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to any annuity entitlement that is based on a separation from service occurring after the date that is 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.