Three Bipartisan Klobuchar Bills to Support Law Enforcement and First Responders Advance out of Judiciary Committee

WASHINGTON - During National Police Week, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced that three of her bipartisan bills to bolster safety and resources for first responders and law enforcement officers passed out of the Judiciary Committee.

The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, which Klobuchar leads with Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), passed committee. This legislation would expand access to federal support for the families of firefighters and other first responders who pass away or become permanently disabled from service-related cancers. Currently, firefighters are only eligible for support under the Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program for physical injuries sustained in the line-of-duty, or for deaths from duty-related heart attacks, strokes, mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and 9/11 related illnesses.

"First responders put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. It's unacceptable that first responders who succumb to cancer from work-related exposure or become permanently and totally disabled don't receive the same treatment as others who die in the line of duty," said Klobuchar. "That's why I'm working with Senator Cramer to ensure that firefighters and other first responders get the support they deserve. Our bipartisan legislation will honor the memory and sacrifice of St. Paul Fire Department Captain Mike Paidar and so many others who risk their lives in service of their communities."

"Our first responders epitomize courage and selfless sacrifice, confronting both the immediate perils of their duty and lingering health risks associated with their service," said Cramer. "The exposure to dangerous carcinogens happens on our behalf. I applaud the Senate Judiciary Committee for passing the bill. It's time to pass it on the Senate floor."

Klobuchar and Senator Chuck Grassley's (R-IA) bipartisan Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act also passed the committee. The bill will support law enforcement agencies in hiring retired law enforcement officers to perform civilian law enforcement tasks. This includes helping with carjacking investigations by reviewing camera footage, helping with crime scene analysis, as well as investigations into financial and cyber-crimes, and to train new law enforcement officers.

"Those in law enforcement have dedicated their careers to public service, and many want to continue serving their communities even after they have retired from the force," said Klobuchar. "Our bipartisan bill will allow these law enforcement professionals to share the valuable skills they learned throughout their career by training the next generation of law enforcement and working on investigations for carjacking and other crimes."

'"Law enforcement in Iowa and across the nation are struggling with low recruitment and staffing shortages," Grassley said. "Retired officers who are willing and able to continue serving their communities should have Congress' support to do so. I'm glad to see this innovative and commonsense bill move forward."

The bipartisan Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act, which Klobuchar leads with Grassley, would support state and local emergency services with additional training and containment tools to guard against accidental exposure to lethal narcotics like fentanyl also passed.

"As we continue fighting the fentanyl epidemic, we must also protect the health and safety of our first responders who are on the front lines responding to this crisis," Klobuchar said. "Our bipartisan bill does this by giving first responders the resources necessary to prevent secondary exposures with lifesaving containment devices."

"As law enforcement officers and first responders work tirelessly to protect our communities, the federal government must act to ensure these brave individuals are equally protected. I applaud the Senate Judiciary Committee for advancing our bipartisan bill to help safeguard officers and responders from lethal narcotics exposure while on the job," Grassley said.

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