Amendment Offered by Mr. Flake
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. FLAKE
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Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chairman, Michael Childress, Randelman, North Carolina; Roger Armstrong, Atlanta, Illinois; Steven Rosenfeld, Salem, Virginia; Donald Eugene Ward, Columbus, Ohio; Richard Allen Fast, Alum Bridge, West Virginia.
Mr. Chairman, these are just five of the 135 eligible firefighters who have died in the line of duty since this House unanimously approved the Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefit Act and it was signed by the President into law on December 15, 2003.
The Hometown Heroes Act, which had 281 bipartisan cosponsors, made sure that a public service officer, such as a fireman, law enforcement officer, EMT or other public servant, who died of a fatal heart attack or stroke in the line of duty would receive a benefit.
Since the President signed this bill into law on December 15, 2 1/2 years ago, 135 firefighters have suffered a fatal heart attack or stroke while responding to a call. However, in 2 1/2 years, none of these survivors have received one single penny of these congressionally authorized benefits because the U.S. Department of Justice has not approved the regulations.
I have offered this amendment to highlight the Justice Department's foot dragging and delays. The first delay came when they proposed regulations that were in direct contradiction to the legislation that was passed. They then delayed when they quibbled with the words and phrases. The last excuse is that they are waiting for approval from the Office of Management and Budget.
Mr. Chairman, Members and staff spent countless hours while writing this legislation to clarify what it really meant. During the Judiciary Committee markup on this measure, Chairman Sensenbrenner stated, ``I believe this bill provides the Bureau of Justice Assistance with the direction they require in reviewing and granting these benefits to deserving and qualified public safety officers who dedicate themselves to the public interest and pay the ultimate price for the public good.''
Once the President signed the bill into law, we were in constant contact with DOJ, working through the queries.
The brave men and women who serve our cities and towns every day, many of whom are volunteers, do not delay when they are given a call and someone is in distress. They act, and they act immediately.
I call on Attorney General Gonzales to stop making excuses, to end the delays, stop denying these victims and families the benefits they deserve. The brave men and women should not have to wait another day.
Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 1/4 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy), who just lost a fireman in his district.
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