Representative Angie Craig's Bipartisan Legislation to Support Law Enforcement Signed into Law

Press Release

Yesterday, President Biden signed the bipartisan Public Safety Officer Support Act, legislation that Representative Craig helped introduce and pass after hearing the story of South St. Paul Police Sergeant Cory Slifko, into law. Craig's legislation will allow officers to access disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health challenges that arise as a result of their service in the line of duty. It will also expand the Public Safety Officers' Benefit (PSOB) program to ensure that families of officers who lost their lives to trauma-linked suicide can apply for the death benefits that they deserve.

"I am proud that the President signed this bill into law -- finally giving our dedicated law enforcement officers and their families access to the very benefits they deserve and rightfully earned," said Representative Craig. "Every day, our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line in order to protect our communities -- but for far too long, they have been left without the resources or benefits needed to care for the mental injuries they endure as they do so. Yesterday, we took decisive action to right this wrong and provide our law enforcement officers and families with access to the benefits they rightfully deserve."

This issue became a priority for Representative Craig after talking with and hearing the story of Katie Slifko, who was deemed ineligible for survivor benefits after the death of her husband Cory, who served for nearly 20 years on the South St. Paul Police force. Earlier this year, Craig hosted a roundtable at the State Capitol with local law enforcement, Ms. Slifko, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers and mental health professionals to discuss ongoing efforts to expand the PSOB program at the state and federal levels.

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