U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), the co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement and Congressional Fire Services Caucuses, is praising the Senate for passing the bipartisan Protecting America’s First Responders Act (PAFRA).
The bill makes significant improvements to the Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program, providing first responders who die or are permanently disabled in the line of duty with a federal benefit of $370,000 and education assistance of $1,200 a month to their children or spouse.
With Senate approval now secure, Pascrell says work will continue to gain passage in the House and send the bill to President Joe Biden's desk for signing.
“Throughout the pandemic, our first responders have been heroes saving our communities. For their sacrifices, our men and women on the frontlines need to know the government has their back,” said Rep. Pascrell (D-NJ). "When a first responder becomes injured on the job or tragically dies, their family must have peace of mind. This bicameral legislation will give first responders and their loved ones that safety net.”
Under current law, first responders are only eligible for PSOB if they can never again perform compensated work. The PAFRA legislation ensures that disabled responders whose work is for therapeutic purposes, involves simple tasks, or provides special accommodations can still receive PSOB. It also provides retroactive disability benefits to those who responded to the 9/11 terror attacks.
Other features of the bill include:
- Addressing lengthy delays in processing benefit claims.
- Increases interim death benefit amount from $3,000 to $6,000.
- Extends PSOB benefits to certain public safety officers not currently covered, including officers who act outside of their jurisdiction in an emergency situation, trainee officers, and fire-police who handle traffic and crime scene management.
- Closes a loophole in the PSOB program where children born after the death/disability of a public safety officer were not able to receive education benefits.
