House Passes Reschenthaler, Trone Public Safety Officer Support Act
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6943, the Public Safety Officer Support Act, introduced by Representatives Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14) and David Trone (MD-06). This bipartisan legislation expands the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program (PSOB) to include coverage for first responders who die as a result of suicide or are disabled as a result of traumatic service-related experiences. The PSOB Program currently only covers physical injuries, excluding coverage for mental health issues.
“I am grateful for my colleagues’ strong bipartisan support in passing the Public Safety Officer Support Act,” said Rep. Reschenthaler. “Police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians risk their lives every day to keep our families and communities safe, and that work does not come without sacrifice. This legislation will ensure our first responders, and their families, are covered for the mental health conditions that can arise from such strenuous service. I urge the Senate to pass this legislation to support the brave men and women who protect us.”
“With the House’s passage of this bill, we are one step closer to ensuring benefits for those suffering from mental injuries and their families. First responders often experience more trauma in one day than many of us will experience in our lifetimes. This takes a significant toll on the officers and sometimes leads to disability or even suicide,” said Rep. Trone. “We need to make sure the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program is there not only for those suffering from physical injuries, but also from mental injuries. Let’s work together to get the job done and pass this legislation into law.”
Background:
The Public Safety Officer Support Act would:
- Allow public safety officers to seek disability benefits for PTSD linked to severe trauma by directing the PSOB to designate work-related PTSD and acute stress disorders as a line of duty injury for eligible officers, as well as those who are permanently disabled as a result of attempted suicide.
- Allow families of public safety officers who die by trauma-linked suicide to apply for death benefits by directing the PSOB to presume that suicides are a result of job duties in certain traumatic circumstances where there is evidence that PTSD or acute stress disorder would be the cause of the injury.
The Public Safety Officer Support Act (H.R. 6943) is cosponsored by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Richard Hudson (NC-08), Angie Craig (MN-02), Don Beyer (VA-08), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Karen Bass (CA-37), Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (Puerto Rico), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Bradley Scott Schneider (IL-10), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Yvette Herrell (NM-02), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), David Cicilline (RI-01), C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-15), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Thomas Suozzi (NY-03), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Don Bacon (NE-02), Tom Cole (OK-04), Susan Wild (PA-07), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), Harold Rogers (KY-05), Dean Phillips (MN-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia), Lori Trahan (MA-03), William Keating (MA-09), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Mike Thompson (CA-05), Katie Porter (CA-45), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), John Rutherford (FL-04), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), William Timmons (SC-04), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), and John Larson (CT-01).
U.S. Senators John Cornyn (TX) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced companion legislation with Sens. Dick Durbin (IL), Thom Tillis (NC), Tim Kaine (VA), Susan Collins (ME), Jim Inhofe (OK), and Cory Booker (NJ).
The following organizations support the Public Safety Officer Support Act: Fraternal Order of Police, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, National Association of Police Organizations, Sergeants Benevolent Association, National Sheriffs Association, Blue H.E.L.P., the National Border Patrol Council, United States Capitol Police Labor Committee, and American Psychological Association.
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