Historical Incidents

Congress Moves to Expedite Payment of Benefits to Families

Sept. 14, 2001

Source IAFF Press Release

Sept. 14, 2001, 9:30 a.m. -- Responding to the needs of America's Bravest, Congress passed a measure to expedite the payment of Public Safety Officers Benefits (PSOB) to the family of fire fighters and police officers killed in Tuesday's terrorist attacks. Yesterday, General President Schaitberger personally lobbied members of both the House and Senate as well as the administration to take the action. In the Senate, Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) took the lead introducing S.1422. Under normal circumstances, it takes several months to process the application and ultimately pay survivor benefits to the families of fallen fire fighters. Because of the magnitude of this tragedy, the delay in paying benefits would have been extraordinary. This legislation requires the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to pay the current Public Safety Officer Benefit of $151,635 to the beneficiaries of fire fighters killed as a result of the September 11 attacks. The benefit must be paid within 30 days after being notified of the member's death by the appropriate public agencies. The proposal takes the onus of compiling a complicated application off the family, and creates a simple process by which the fire department can notify the federal government of the member's death. This will assure that benefits are paid in a timely fashion. Speaking on the Senate floor, Clinton stated: "More public safety officers lost their lives in the terrorist attack against the United States on September 11 than any other single event in modern history. We know that hundreds of brave men and women have been lost. Their sacrifices, and the sacrifices of their families, should not go unrecognized." In the House, Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY8) sponsored companion legislation, H.R 2282. Nadler, who represents lower Manhattan, spoke of the heroism and courage of responding fire fighters, and urged his colleagues to pass the legislation quickly. Both Houses of Congress unanimously passed the legislation, and it is being sent to White House for the President's signature. In a related matter, President George W. Bush ordered Attorney General John Ashcroft to take all necessary steps to ensure that PSOB payments are made as quickly as possible to the families of fallen fire fighters.