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Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-2936| House 
| Updated: 11/9/2021
Bill Pascrell

Bill Pascrell

Democratic Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (24)
Val Butler Demings (Democratic)David Kustoff (Republican)Tom O'Halleran (Democratic)John Katko (Republican)Markwayne Mullin (Republican)Brian Higgins (Democratic)Raul Ruiz (Democratic)Jefferson Van Drew (Republican)Joe Courtney (Democratic)David Scott (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Andrew R. Garbarino (Republican)Don Bacon (Republican)Josh Harder (Democratic)John H. Rutherford (Republican)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Cynthia Axne (Democratic)Pete Stauber (Republican)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican)Nicole Malliotakis (Republican)

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Protecting America's First Responders Act of 2021 This bill makes changes to the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program. The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers and survivors of public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty or permanently disabled as a result of catastrophic injuries sustained in the line of duty. Among the changes, the bill expands the public safety officers eligible for coverage under the PSOB program to include firefighters whose primary duty during an emergency response is to secure the scene or manage traffic and cadets or trainees in candidate-officer training; extends coverage under the PSOB program to certain public safety officers responding outside their jurisdiction; increases the interim benefit amount payable on a claim for death benefits and requires the interim amount to be adjusted annually for inflation; increases the benefit amount payable on a death or disability claim that has been pending for more than 365 days on the date of the final determination; allows the Department of Justice (DOJ) to use investigative tools, including subpoenas, to expedite the processing of claims and obtain information or documentation from third parties (e.g., public agencies); specifies that an injury resulting from a neurocognitive disorder qualifies as a catastrophic injury for the purposes of disability benefits; requires (currently, authorizes) DOJ to provide retroactive education benefits to qualifying children and spouses; specifies that hearing officers appointed to review claims are special government employees (i.e., employees who perform temporary duties for a limited period of time) and are authorized to conduct examinations; and allows responders to the World Trade Center or their surviving family members to file claims for death or disability benefits in certain circumstances.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-2812
Protecting America’s First Responders Act
Apr 30, 2021
Introduced in House
Apr 30, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 9, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Nov 18, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 117-1511
Signed by President.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-2812
    Protecting America’s First Responders Act


  • April 30, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • April 30, 2021
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • November 9, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.


  • November 18, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 117-1511
    Signed by President.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 117-1511: Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021
Administrative remediesCardiovascular and respiratory healthDepartment of JusticeDisability and paralysisDisability assistanceEmergency medical services and trauma careEmployee benefits and pensionsFiresFirst responders and emergency personnelHealth personnelInfectious and parasitic diseasesLaw enforcement officersNeurological disordersNew York CityTerrorismWorker safety and health

Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-2936| House 
| Updated: 11/9/2021
Protecting America's First Responders Act of 2021 This bill makes changes to the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program. The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers and survivors of public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty or permanently disabled as a result of catastrophic injuries sustained in the line of duty. Among the changes, the bill expands the public safety officers eligible for coverage under the PSOB program to include firefighters whose primary duty during an emergency response is to secure the scene or manage traffic and cadets or trainees in candidate-officer training; extends coverage under the PSOB program to certain public safety officers responding outside their jurisdiction; increases the interim benefit amount payable on a claim for death benefits and requires the interim amount to be adjusted annually for inflation; increases the benefit amount payable on a death or disability claim that has been pending for more than 365 days on the date of the final determination; allows the Department of Justice (DOJ) to use investigative tools, including subpoenas, to expedite the processing of claims and obtain information or documentation from third parties (e.g., public agencies); specifies that an injury resulting from a neurocognitive disorder qualifies as a catastrophic injury for the purposes of disability benefits; requires (currently, authorizes) DOJ to provide retroactive education benefits to qualifying children and spouses; specifies that hearing officers appointed to review claims are special government employees (i.e., employees who perform temporary duties for a limited period of time) and are authorized to conduct examinations; and allows responders to the World Trade Center or their surviving family members to file claims for death or disability benefits in certain circumstances.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-2812
Protecting America’s First Responders Act
Apr 30, 2021
Introduced in House
Apr 30, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 9, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Nov 18, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 117-1511
Signed by President.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-2812
    Protecting America’s First Responders Act


  • April 30, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • April 30, 2021
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • November 9, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.


  • November 18, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 117-1511
    Signed by President.
Bill Pascrell

Bill Pascrell

Democratic Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (24)
Val Butler Demings (Democratic)David Kustoff (Republican)Tom O'Halleran (Democratic)John Katko (Republican)Markwayne Mullin (Republican)Brian Higgins (Democratic)Raul Ruiz (Democratic)Jefferson Van Drew (Republican)Joe Courtney (Democratic)David Scott (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Andrew R. Garbarino (Republican)Don Bacon (Republican)Josh Harder (Democratic)John H. Rutherford (Republican)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Cynthia Axne (Democratic)Pete Stauber (Republican)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican)Nicole Malliotakis (Republican)

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 117-1511: Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative remediesCardiovascular and respiratory healthDepartment of JusticeDisability and paralysisDisability assistanceEmergency medical services and trauma careEmployee benefits and pensionsFiresFirst responders and emergency personnelHealth personnelInfectious and parasitic diseasesLaw enforcement officersNeurological disordersNew York CityTerrorismWorker safety and health