Grassley, Gillibrand Work to Ensure Families of Fallen Officers Receive Timely Claims Benefits Decisions

Press Release

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are reintroducing legislation to hold accountable the Justice Department for its handling of the benefits claims of fallen public safety officers.

The Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act was signed into law in 1976 to provide death benefits to survivors of officers who die in the line of duty.  Over the years, the law has been amended to provide disability and education benefits, and to expand the pool of officers who are eligible for these benefits.   The Grassley-Gillibrand Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act would permanently increase the level of transparency surrounding the program.

"Transparency breeds accountability, and the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program could use more of both.  This legislation requires accountability for a program that has left far too many families of fallen officers in limbo for far too long.  People deserve fair and timely consideration of their application for these benefits, instead of the run around from the federal government," Grassley said.  "Last year an Iowan whose claim had lingered for more than three years testified before the Judiciary Committee.  Within two days of the hearing his claim was answered.  This action just goes to show that the department can process other claims in a timely manner if properly motivated.  We're not asking for an automatic yes, just an answer."

"When public safety officers die as a result of their work, we all have a responsibility to help take care of their surviving family members," said Gillibrand. "Yet in too many cases, the families of fallen first responders are not getting the support they deserve and need because of government policies that put an enormous burden on these families to claim their funds. The bipartisan Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act would make the compensation program more transparent and more efficient to ensure that families receive a timely response about their claim.  I look forward to working with Senator Grassley to pass this important bill."

Last year, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to shed light on the length of time it takes the Justice Department to consider death benefits claims from the families of fallen public safety officers.  At the end of the July to December 2016 reporting period, there were 792 active claims with the PSOB Office.  Claims active during the reporting period sat pending for an average of 744 days.  

The bipartisan Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvement Act would:

*    Require the Justice Department to post on its website, weekly status updates for all pending claims.

*    Require the Justice Department to report to Congress other aggregate statistics regarding these claims, twice a year.

*    Allow the Justice Department to rely on other federal regulatory standards.

*    Allow for the Justice Department to give substantial weight to findings of fact of state, local, and other federal agencies.  

Senators Orrin Hatch and Chris Coons are cosponsoring the bill.

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