U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, took to the House floor last night during Police Week to honor the service and sacrifice of our nation’s law enforcement and urge support for H.R. 2936, the Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021 (PAFRA). PAFRA makes significant improvements to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program, which currently provides first responders who die or are permanently disabled in the line of duty with a federal benefit of $370,000 and education assistance of $1,200 a month to their children or spouse. Companion legislation (S. 1511) offered in the Senate by U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) was advanced today during a markup by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“In the past year, we have asked more from our first responders than ever before. They have stood on front lines of a pandemic and defended our nation’s Capitol from a deadly rightwing terrorist attack. These brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day must have the utmost support from the federal government, especially those who have made drastic sacrifices in the line of duty,” said Rep. Pascrell. “First responders constitute both our first and last lines of defense. This much we know. What many don’t know, however, are the struggles many first responders and their families deal with after sustaining serious injuries or loss of life on the job. The Protecting America’s First Responders Act will directly assist those brave individuals struggling with lasting impacts of service. As the United States Senate advances my bill today, I am more committed than ever to getting it fully passed into law.”

Rep. Pascrell has worked tirelessly to provide support for public safety officers under the PSOB program. On April 10, 2020, he led a letter of 159 Members which urged that public safety officers who contract COVID-19 be presumed eligible for PSOB death or disability benefits. Four days later, he introduced the Public Safety Officer Pandemic Response Act (H.R. 6509), legislation to ensure public safety officers who contract COVID-19 in the line of duty are eligible for PSOB benefits should they become disabled or die from the virus.

H.R. 6509 was included in the HEROES Act, which passed the House of Representatives on May 15, 2020. On August 14, 2020, Rep. Pascrell praised the signing into law of the Safeguarding America's First Responders Act (S. 3607), companion legislation led by Senator Grassley and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to provide such a presumptive PSOB benefit for public safety officers who die or become disabled from COVID-19.  

On April 30, 2021, Rep. Pascrell and Sen. Grassley reintroduced the Protecting America’s First Responders Act with a broad coalition of bipartisan cosponsors and the support of a wide array of police and fire services stakeholders. PAFRA expands access to benefits for permanently disabled officers, cuts red tape so families receive their owed benefits sooner, and closes loopholes that leaves some public safety officers and their families out of the program.

A copy of the bill can be viewed here. A section-by-section of the bill can be viewed here.

A copy of Rep. Pascrell’s full prepared floor remarks is included below.

Madam Speaker, during this devastating pandemic, our nation’s law enforcement officers have stood heroically on the frontlines keeping communities across America safe.

Our police have risked their lives and the lives of their families every day they go to work. Many have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve lost 464 officers, including 298 to COVID-19. In New Jersey, 15 officers have perished, including 13 to the virus.

In my own district, we lost Paterson police officer Frank Scorpo, who was only 34 and left behind a wife and two young sons.

And we lost Detective Anthony Lucanto, a 24-year veteran of the Paterson Police Department, who died of cancer tied to his heroic efforts at Ground Zero. Anthony leaves behind his wife and three children.

My heart bleeds for all of our fallen officers and their families.

As Co-Chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, I was proud to champion legislation signed into law to ensure families of officers fallen to COVID-19 are guaranteed public safety officer benefits.  

But more must be done to support families of officers who make the ultimate sacrifice. Earlier this month, I reintroduced the bipartisan Protecting America’s First Responders Act. Our bill will guarantee first responders and their families get their owed benefits without delay or red tape. I urge Congress to pass it with haste.

I wish I could say support of law enforcement is fully bipartisan. But I can’t. Incredibly, when we passed the latest Capitol Police budget, 50 of our colleagues on the other side voted no!

When we voted to certify the presidential election hours after terrorists attacked the Capitol, 138 members on the other side voted to throw out the election! These votes are a slur on the Capitol police and officers across America who have given their lives!

This last year has been difficult for our communities, but unbearable for our men and women in uniform. They’ve protected us at our lowest moment. The least we can do is protect the benefits they’ve earned and stand with them.

Thank you, and I yield back.