CORREA, VAN DREW INTRODUCE BILL TO PROTECT BENEFITS FOR FAMILIES OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representatives Lou Correa (D-CA) and Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ) introduced the bipartisan Public Safety Officers' Benefits Enhancement Act, which would improve the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program by making it easier for families of public safety officers who suffer from fatal heart attacks or strokes in the line of duty to receive benefits from the program.

"Firefighters and officers put their bodies on the line every single shift, and sometimes that toll shows up hours or days later, not the same afternoon. A 24-hour cutoff doesn't match how a heart attack or stroke actually works. This bill just brings the rule in line with reality, so families aren't punished for paperwork technicalities while they're grieving," said Congressman Lou Correa.

The need for the legislation was brought forth by the family of Stephen Wilson, a California Fire Apparatus Engineer. When Mr. Wilson died, his wife, Annette Wilson, filed for death benefits through the PSOB Program with all the required paperwork. The claim was denied anyway. The government stated the record didn't show his death was "a direct and proximate result of a line of duty injury" under the PSOB Act's rules because he did not see a doctor within 24 hours of leaving work.

"My husband spent his career running toward danger to keep our community safe. He died because of that work, and yet his own claim was denied because of a technicality," said Annette Wilson, wife of Stephen Wilson. "No family should have to fight this hard for benefits their loved one earned. This bill means people do not have to go through what I did."

"When our first responders answer the call, they are willing to put everything on the line for complete strangers," said Congressman Van Drew. "If the stress of that job costs them their life, their loved ones should not have to battle the government for the support they deserve. This is a common-sense fix, and I am proud to work with Congressman Correa to get it done."

"The Public Safety Officers' Benefits Enhancement Act represents a critical step toward ensuring that the families of fallen firefighters and other first responders receive the support they deserve. Too often, survivors face unnecessary barriers when seeking benefits after a line-of-duty heart attack or stroke. By extending the eligibility window and creating a fairer presumption that recognizes the realities of emergency service, this legislation strengthens the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program and honors the sacrifices made by our nation's first responders. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is proud to support this important legislation," said Victor Stagnaro, Chief Executive Officer of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

"Our nation's public safety officers deserve the assurance that if they make the ultimate sacrifice, their families will be treated fairly and receive the benefits they deserve," said Mathew Silverman, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) National President. "The Public Safety Officers' Benefits Enhancement Act is a commonsense, bipartisan measure that better reflects the realities of line-of-duty service and removes unnecessary barriers for surviving families to receive much needed benefits and FLEOA strongly supports its passage."

"Unless there is evidence to the contrary, it should be presumed that a police officer's line-of-duty fatal heart attack or stroke was job related. Requiring police families to offer definitive proof, especially when it's known that cardiovascular disease and strokes are leading causes of illness and mortality, places undue hardship on grieving survivors. It also dishonors the memories of our heroes who sacrifice greatly to protect and serve. The National Police Association is grateful to Reps. J. Luis Correa and Jefferson Van Drew for introducing the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Enhancement Act, a bill that will help ensure law enforcement families are spared from having to navigate these unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles," said Paula Fitzsimmons, Legislative Director, National Police Association

"When a peace officer makes the ultimate sacrifice, their family shouldn't have to fight a second battle just to receive the support they were promised. This legislation honors that sacrifice by removing unnecessary obstacles from the claims process, ensuring survivors can access the benefits they deserve when they need them most." said Brian R. Marvel, President, Peace Officers Research Association of California.

This bill is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Don Bacon (R-NE), Mark Alford (R-MO), Thomas Kean (R-NJ), Adam Gray (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Jared Golden (D-ME), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA).

This bill is endorsed by the Blue Dog Coalition, National Association of Police Organizations, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, National Police Association, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, International Association of Fire Fighters, Major County Sheriffs of America, Peace Officers Research Association of California, and National Narcotic Officers' Associations' Coalition.

View bill text here.

Background

The PSOB Program provides death and education benefits to survivors of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders, and disability benefits to officers catastrophically injured in the line of duty.

The program provides benefits to survivors when first responders suffer from fatal heart attacks or strokes in the line of duty, but current law requires that the heart attack or stroke begin within 24 hours of nonroutine physical activity and requires the survivors to prove that the line of duty action directly resulted in the heart attack or stroke-which leads to claims being excluded where additional risk factors may have been at play.

This bill modifies the PSOB program by: