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Protecting America’s First Responders Act

USA116th CongressHR-2812| House 
| Updated: 6/26/2019
Bill Pascrell

Bill Pascrell

Democratic Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (44)
Val Butler Demings (Democratic)David Kustoff (Republican)Tom O'Halleran (Democratic)Tom Cole (Republican)Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)John Garamendi (Democratic)Markwayne Mullin (Republican)Joseph P. Kennedy (Democratic)Tom Malinowski (Democratic)Peter T. King (Republican)Brian Higgins (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Raul Ruiz (Democratic)Joe Courtney (Democratic)Sanford D. Bishop (Democratic)Bobby L. Rush (Democratic)Paul Cook (Republican)Angie Craig (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Peter A. DeFazio (Democratic)Ann M. Kuster (Democratic)Sean Patrick Maloney (Democratic)Katie Hill (Democratic)Harley Rouda (Democratic)Elaine G. Luria (Democratic)Filemon Vela (Democratic)Chris Collins (Republican)Josh Harder (Democratic)John H. Rutherford (Republican)Lucy McBath (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Daniel Lipinski (Democratic)Henry Cuellar (Democratic)Abby Finkenauer (Democratic)Mike Quigley (Democratic)Cynthia Axne (Democratic)Pete Stauber (Republican)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Elissa Slotkin (Democratic)Ed Perlmutter (Democratic)

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Protecting America's First Responders Act This bill revises the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program. That program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers and survivors of public safety officers who are killed or injured in the line of duty. Specifically, it revises the payment amount of disability benefits for claims pending more than one year. The amount must be based on the date of the adjudication of such claim rather than the date of the injury. It also increases the interim benefit payment amount and adjusts it based on the Consumer Price Index. Additionally, the payment amount of death benefits must be the greater of (1) the amount payable as of the date of the public safety officer's death, or (2) the amount payable based on the date of the adjudication of the claim. Currently, such amount is based only on the date of death. Next, the bill includes within the definition of firefighter for purposes of benefits an individual whose primary duty during an emergency response is to secure the scene or manage traffic. Further, the bill allows applicants who were denied benefits in the previous three years to reapply for benefits. The Bureau of Justice Assistance of the Department of Justice (DOJ) must use all available investigative tools, including subpoenas, to (1) expedite the processing of a claimant's eligibility for a death, disability, or education benefit; and (2) obtain necessary information from third parties (e.g., public agencies). Finally, DOJ must provide retroactive educational assistance to eligible survivors of public safety officer.
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Timeline
May 16, 2019
Introduced in House
May 16, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 31, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 116-1208
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Jun 26, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  • May 16, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • May 16, 2019
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • May 31, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 116-1208
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.


  • June 26, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 116-1208: Protecting America’s First Responders Act
  • HR 116-2709: Fire Police Fairness Act
Administrative remediesAssault and harassment offensesCensus and government statisticsCongressional oversightDepartment of JusticeDisability assistanceEmergency medical services and trauma careEmployee benefits and pensionsFiresFirst responders and emergency personnelGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth personnelHigher educationLaw enforcement officersStudent aid and college costsViolent crimeWorker safety and health

Protecting America’s First Responders Act

USA116th CongressHR-2812| House 
| Updated: 6/26/2019
Protecting America's First Responders Act This bill revises the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program. That program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers and survivors of public safety officers who are killed or injured in the line of duty. Specifically, it revises the payment amount of disability benefits for claims pending more than one year. The amount must be based on the date of the adjudication of such claim rather than the date of the injury. It also increases the interim benefit payment amount and adjusts it based on the Consumer Price Index. Additionally, the payment amount of death benefits must be the greater of (1) the amount payable as of the date of the public safety officer's death, or (2) the amount payable based on the date of the adjudication of the claim. Currently, such amount is based only on the date of death. Next, the bill includes within the definition of firefighter for purposes of benefits an individual whose primary duty during an emergency response is to secure the scene or manage traffic. Further, the bill allows applicants who were denied benefits in the previous three years to reapply for benefits. The Bureau of Justice Assistance of the Department of Justice (DOJ) must use all available investigative tools, including subpoenas, to (1) expedite the processing of a claimant's eligibility for a death, disability, or education benefit; and (2) obtain necessary information from third parties (e.g., public agencies). Finally, DOJ must provide retroactive educational assistance to eligible survivors of public safety officer.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 16, 2019
Introduced in House
May 16, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 31, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 116-1208
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Jun 26, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  • May 16, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • May 16, 2019
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • May 31, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 116-1208
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.


  • June 26, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Bill Pascrell

Bill Pascrell

Democratic Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (44)
Val Butler Demings (Democratic)David Kustoff (Republican)Tom O'Halleran (Democratic)Tom Cole (Republican)Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)John Garamendi (Democratic)Markwayne Mullin (Republican)Joseph P. Kennedy (Democratic)Tom Malinowski (Democratic)Peter T. King (Republican)Brian Higgins (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Raul Ruiz (Democratic)Joe Courtney (Democratic)Sanford D. Bishop (Democratic)Bobby L. Rush (Democratic)Paul Cook (Republican)Angie Craig (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Peter A. DeFazio (Democratic)Ann M. Kuster (Democratic)Sean Patrick Maloney (Democratic)Katie Hill (Democratic)Harley Rouda (Democratic)Elaine G. Luria (Democratic)Filemon Vela (Democratic)Chris Collins (Republican)Josh Harder (Democratic)John H. Rutherford (Republican)Lucy McBath (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Daniel Lipinski (Democratic)Henry Cuellar (Democratic)Abby Finkenauer (Democratic)Mike Quigley (Democratic)Cynthia Axne (Democratic)Pete Stauber (Republican)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Elissa Slotkin (Democratic)Ed Perlmutter (Democratic)

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 116-1208: Protecting America’s First Responders Act
  • HR 116-2709: Fire Police Fairness Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative remediesAssault and harassment offensesCensus and government statisticsCongressional oversightDepartment of JusticeDisability assistanceEmergency medical services and trauma careEmployee benefits and pensionsFiresFirst responders and emergency personnelGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth personnelHigher educationLaw enforcement officersStudent aid and college costsViolent crimeWorker safety and health