John,
As climate change makes wildfire season longer and more severe, firefighters on the front lines are experiencing a growing health crisis. New studies are showing athat increased exposure to smoke is leading to more and more cases of cancer or lung disease at young ages, and even deaths.
Our firefighters risk their lives to protect our communities, and they deserve better. Jared is demanding answers and accountability from the Trump Administration. In a hearing earlier this month, he grilled the Forest Service chief about this crisis.
The Forest Service is already severely understaffed and facing disastrous budget cuts spearheaded by Congressional Republicans and the MAGA agenda. If the federal government continues to fail to protect wildland firefighter healath, future recruitment will become near-impossible, and our communities will be left vulnerable.
Thanks to Jared and his fellow Natural Resources Committee Democrats, the Forest Service announced that it will provide protective masks to wildland firefighters – this is an important win, but our commitment to improving firefighter safety and working conditions cannot end here.
With the increasing severity and frequency of wildfires across the country, especially in the West, we must ensure that firefighters have all the support, training, and resources they need to readily respond to wildfire emergencies.
Let Jared know where you stand: Do you think the federal government should act immediately to strengthen protections for wildland firefighters?
– Huffman HQ
