H.R.3560 - Veteran Wildland Firefighter Employment Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.3560, the Veteran Wildland Firefighter Employment Act of 2025, directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program in coordination with the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior. The program aims to employ veterans in wildland firefighting activities. The bill outlines reporting requirements and a termination date for the pilot program.
Expected Effects
This bill, if enacted, would create a pilot program to provide employment opportunities for veterans in wildland firefighting. It would also require inter-agency coordination and reporting to Congress on the program's effectiveness. The program is designed to reduce veteran unemployment and leverage veterans' skills in addressing wildland fire management needs.
Potential Benefits
- Provides employment opportunities for veterans, addressing veteran unemployment.
- Leverages veterans' skills and experience in wildland firefighting.
- Enhances wildland fire management capabilities through the addition of trained personnel.
- Promotes inter-agency coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, and Department of the Interior.
- Potentially reduces costs through the application of best practices learned from the Warrior Training Advancement Course.
Potential Disadvantages
- The pilot program is temporary, with a two-year termination date, potentially limiting long-term impact.
- The program's success depends on effective coordination between multiple federal agencies, which can be challenging.
- The scope of the program may be limited by the availability of appropriate positions within the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior.
- There may be administrative overhead associated with establishing and managing the pilot program.
- The bill does not address potential challenges related to veterans' physical or mental health in performing wildland firefighting duties.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution, particularly the General Welfare Clause (Preamble) by aiming to improve the well-being of veterans through employment opportunities. Congress has the power to raise and support armies (Article I, Section 8), and this bill supports veterans who have served in the armed forces. The establishment of a pilot program and reporting requirements falls within Congress's legislative powers.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).