Grassley Public Safety Officers' Benefits Bill Signed Into Law

Press Release

President Trump recently signed into law a Sen. Chuck Grassley-led bill to help families of fallen first responders and police officers get the assistance they've been promised. The bill updates the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act of 1976, which provides death benefits to survivors of officers or first responders 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.

"Transparency brings 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.

At a Judiciary Committee hearing last year, Northwood, Iowa, Sheriff Jay Langenbau testified that his family had waited more than three years to hear back from the Justice Department on an application for survivor benefits following the death of his wife, Shelly, in a 2013 medical helicopter accident. Two days following Langenbau's public testimony, the Justice Department finally approved his benefits application.

During National Police Week in 2017, Grassley and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand reintroduced legislation to hold accountable the Justice Department for its handling of the benefits claims of fallen public safety officers. The bill was passed unanimously in committee and in the full Senate. Grassley's opening committee hearing statement on the need for a more efficient PSOB program is here.

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