NEWS: Senate Agriculture Committee Advances Schiff-Curtis Bill to Create First-Ever Respiratory Protection Requirements for Federal Firefighters

Federal firefighters were prohibited from wearing respiratory protections while fighting wildfires, Schiff’s bipartisan proposal with Senator Curtis would create the first-of-its-kind standard to change that Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry advanced language proposed by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) to create the first-ever respiratory protection standards for wildland firefighters. For decades, federal firefighters were prohibited from wearing respiratory protection despite a growing body of evidence warning about long-term health risks of wildfire smoke. The provision included in the Senate’s 2026 Farm Bill will ensure the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) take overdue steps to protect the health of these heroes. “Firefighters are heroes, and it’s critical that we do everything possible to ensure they’re protected from the health risks associated with wildfires. This bipartisan solution will minimize the toxic exposures that firefighters face when they’re defending our communities and public lands. I am proud to see my language was included in the farm bill and is making progress, even if other provisions and omissions in the Farm Bill precluded Democratic support,” said Senator Schiff. “Our wildland firefighters already face some of the most grueling, dangerous conditions imaginable. The least we can do is ensure access to materials that will protect them from the long-term health consequences of breathing toxic smoke. This bill ensures we bring common sense, science, and basic decency to how we equip our firefighters,” said Senator Curtis. The language was included in the 2026 Farm Bill advanced by the committee yesterday. In addition to Schiff and Curtis, this legislation first introduced in November was co-sponsored by Senators Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Steve Daines (D-Mont.). “We’ve spent decades urging the public to protect themselves from the dangers of wildfire smoke, but outdated regulations have prevented wildland firefighters from taking commonsense steps to protect themselves. They put their lives on the line to protect us, and they shouldn’t have to sacrifice their long-term health to do their jobs,” said Senator Padilla . “This bipartisan legislation will help ensure our federal firefighters have the respiratory protection and safety standards they need to stay safe while protecting our communities.” “Wildland firefighters put their lives and health on the line every day to protect our homes, communities, and public lands, and we owe it to them to make sure they have the best protection possible on the front lines. I’m glad this commonsense, bipartisan measure advanced as part of the Farm Bill to better protect our firefighters from the dangerous smoke they breathe while doing one of the toughest jobs in America,” said Senator Sheehy. “Fire season is deadly in Montana, and we need all hands on deck to help mitigate catastrophic disasters and help those who selflessly protect our communities from these threats. I’m thrilled to work with my Senate colleagues to move forward legislation within the Senate Farm Bill for federal firefighters to create respiratory protection requirements. Just like fighting wildfires, ensuring health safety of our firefighters is a top priority,” said Senator Daines. Federal wildland firefighters often work 16-hour shifts in grueling conditions, inhaling toxic smoke. Despite this, federal wildland firefighters were prohibited from wearing respiratory protection despite evidence warning about health risks of wildfire smoke. Studies have shown exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to adverse health impacts, including more than a dozen kinds of cancer. The life expectancy of firefighters is 10 years less than the average adult due to lung damage. In September 2025, USFS posted guidance acknowledging for the first time that respiratory protections can protect firefighters against harmful particles in wildfire smoke and reversing a decades-long rule that banned federal wildland firefighters from wearing respiratory protection while performing wildland firefighting activities. The legislation reinforces this action to ensure the agencies develop respiratory protections for firefighters. The Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act would: Direct USFS and DOI to work with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to develop smoke exposure limits for wildland firefighters Direct USFS, the Department of Interior, National Wildfire Coordinating Group, and other appropriate federal agencies to develop a strategy to make commercially available appropriate respiratory protections that take into account the unique needs of wildland firefighters The bill was endorsed by National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, FireGen Collaborative, and former U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell. ”We strongly support this legislation to modernize and standardize respiratory protection for wildland firefighters. As wildfire seasons grow longer and more dangerous, our federal wildland firefighters deserve safety standards that reflect the extreme conditions they face. Equally important is the bill’s mandate to determine appropriate equipment and regularly review and update all relevant PPE standards. This ensures that respiratory protection keeps pace with evolving science, operational demands, and the realities of modern fire behavior. Wildland firefighters risk their lives to protect our communities. Establishing clear exposure parameters and reliable respiratory protection is the least we owe to those who stand between our nation and catastrophic fire,” said Randy Erwin, National President, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). “Every fire season we send wildland firefighters into smoke that exceeds federal exposure limits without the respiratory protection the science says they need. Yesterday’s committee vote carries the Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act forward and begins to close that gap. I urge the full Senate to finish the job.”, said Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, 11th U.S. Fire Administrator (2021–2025) . “The Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act has taken an important step forward with its inclusion in the Farm Bill and advancement through the Senate Agriculture Committee. Grassroots Wildland Firefighters thanks Senators Schiff, Curtis, Padilla, Sheehy, and Daines for their leadership in recognizing the very real occupational hazards wildland firefighters face from prolonged smoke and toxic exposures. For too long, wildland firefighters have been asked to accept these exposures as simply part of the job. Protecting the long-term health and wellbeing of the men and women who protect our communities and public lands must be treated as a fundamental responsibility. Advancing the Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act through the Farm Bill represents meaningful progress toward establishing respiratory protection standards that reflect the realities of the wildland fire environment. Grassroots Wildland Firefighters remains committed to seeing these protections enacted into law and implemented for the workforce.” Said Riva Duncan, President, Grassroots Wildland Firefighters. “The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) commends Senators Schiff and Curtis for leading the introduction of the ‘Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act’ , and thanks Senators Sheehy and Padilla for their critical support. With two-thirds of fire departments reporting insufficient wildland PPE, many firefighters face dangerous gaps in protection against escalating wildfires. This legislation is a vital step to help ensure every firefighter has the gear they need to stay safe while safeguarding our communities,” said Jim Pauley, NFPA President and CEO. “Wildland firefighters put their health and safety on the line every day to protect our communities, forests, and natural resources. Yet for too long, we have not given these frontline professionals the same basic respiratory protections that are standard in other high-risk occupations. The Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act is an important step toward changing that by establishing stronger protections for the men and women who face smoke and other hazardous exposures as part of their work. FireGen Collaborative is proud to support this legislation and its inclusion in the Senate’s Farm Bill, and we urge Congress to ensure these commonsense protections become law,” said Ryan Reed, Program Director, FireGen Collaborative. ###