A bipartisan bill proposed in the U.S. House would help firefighters and their families receive financial support after suffering line-of-duty injuries.
The Protecting America's First Responders Act—a measure introduced last week by Reps. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ), Peter King (R-NY), Joe Courtney (D-CT), John Rutherford (R-FL), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ) and Brian Fitzpatrick—updates regulations in the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program to reduce delays in receiving for those who suffering disabling injuries and also closes a loop in that program to allow fire police to receive support. A companion Senate bill introduced by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) was passed last week.
“The brave men and women who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe and their families must have the utmost support from the federal government—especially those who have made drastic sacrifices in the line of duty,” said Pascrell, who co-chairs the Congressional Law Enforcement and Fire Services Caucuses. “First responders constitute both our first and last lines of defense. This much we know. What many don’t know, however, are the struggles many first responders and their families deal with after sustaining serious injuries or loss of life on the job. This legislation will directly assist those brave individuals struggling with lasting impacts of service. I am committed to seeing it fully passed into law.”
The full bill can be seen here.
