Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
The "Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act" aims to enhance financial support for the families of federal employees who die from injuries sustained in the line of duty. It establishes a new death gratuity payment of $100,000 for eligible federal employees, which will be adjusted annually based on the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index. This gratuity is paid by the employing agency, provided the death was not due to willful misconduct, intent to self-harm, or intoxication, and the Secretary of Labor determines the employee's status. The bill also significantly increases the federal employee funeral allowance from $800 to $8,800 , with this amount also subject to annual adjustments. Furthermore, the legislation clarifies and amends existing death gratuity provisions, including those for injuries incurred during service with an armed force and for deaths sustained in the line of duty abroad. For deaths abroad, the gratuity will be offset by any payment received under the new $100,000 provision, and a standardized order of precedence for beneficiaries is established across relevant sections. To ensure accountability, the bill mandates that agencies report death gratuity payments to the Comptroller General within 15 business days. The Comptroller General is also required to submit annual aggregate reports and conduct an audit within three years of the Act's enactment to assess its implementation and determine future audit frequency.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Government Operations and Politics
Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act
USA119th CongressS-2078| Senate
| Updated: 6/12/2025
The "Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act" aims to enhance financial support for the families of federal employees who die from injuries sustained in the line of duty. It establishes a new death gratuity payment of $100,000 for eligible federal employees, which will be adjusted annually based on the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index. This gratuity is paid by the employing agency, provided the death was not due to willful misconduct, intent to self-harm, or intoxication, and the Secretary of Labor determines the employee's status. The bill also significantly increases the federal employee funeral allowance from $800 to $8,800 , with this amount also subject to annual adjustments. Furthermore, the legislation clarifies and amends existing death gratuity provisions, including those for injuries incurred during service with an armed force and for deaths sustained in the line of duty abroad. For deaths abroad, the gratuity will be offset by any payment received under the new $100,000 provision, and a standardized order of precedence for beneficiaries is established across relevant sections. To ensure accountability, the bill mandates that agencies report death gratuity payments to the Comptroller General within 15 business days. The Comptroller General is also required to submit annual aggregate reports and conduct an audit within three years of the Act's enactment to assess its implementation and determine future audit frequency.