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117-s-1511117th CongressWALLET

Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021

Sponsored By: Senator Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

Became Law

Summary

Changes how death and permanent disability payments are calculated and paid. It restructures benefit math, expands who counts as injured or eligible, and gives the Bureau and Justice Department more tools to decide and speed claims.

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  • Officers and survivors: Rewrites the benefit formula to pay the greater of amounts with a new base of $6,000 adjusted for inflation. It also creates a rule that claims pending more than 365 days use the amount that would apply on the final determination.
  • Families and dependents: Strengthens educational assistance by requiring payment to eligible dependents unless prospective assistance has already been provided.
  • Eligibility and claims process: Broadens definitions for catastrophic injury, candidate officer, action outside jurisdiction, and emergency activities. It authorizes stronger investigative tools and subpoenas, appoints hearing examiners as special government employees with Attorney General involvement, bars abandoning claims before information is gathered, and extends a related first-responders program until the earlier of the COVID emergency end or Dec 31, 2023.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Bigger payouts for fallen or disabled officers

The law raises the interim payment to $6,000, adjusted for inflation. For death or total disability claims, the Bureau pays the higher of two amounts. It compares the amount in effect on the date of death or injury with the amount on the final decision date. If the claim has been pending more than 365 days at final decision, the later amount can apply.

New 9/11 responder claim windows and bonuses

Within two years of enactment, 9/11 responders can file or reopen some disability claims, including ones denied for lack of total disability. A death claim can be filed within two years for responders who died before enactment, within 365 days after, or while a claim was pending, if no death claim was decided. If a final decision finds a disability claim would have been payable but for death, the death is presumed tied to the injury only to decide payees. If a claim paid before enactment, you can apply within three years for a bonus equal to the extra amount now due. For payment size, these claims treat the injury date as the enactment date.

When new officer benefits rules apply

The law takes effect on enactment. It applies to claims pending then and to new claims filed later. Two specific changes apply to injuries on or after January 1, 2008. These timing rules do not override the special 9/11 provisions.

Wider line-of-duty coverage for officers

The law broadens who counts as catastrophically injured, including neurocognitive disorders. Small, honorary, or therapy-only work is ignored when judging the ability to work. It defines sedentary work and blindness with clear medical standards and can include some nonprofit volunteer fire departments. For officers, firefighters, and rescue or ambulance members, actions outside your jurisdiction count as on-duty when both the agency head and top lawyer certify them, unless strong evidence shows otherwise.

COVID responder coverage extended through 2023

Coverage that started January 1, 2020 now runs longer. It lasts until the earlier of the COVID public health emergency end or December 31, 2023. This keeps the claim window open for eligible public safety responders.

Stronger tools to speed benefit claims

The Bureau can subpoena records and use other tools to get needed proof. It must try these tools before dropping a claim. The Attorney General and Justice Assistance can appoint hearing examiners, even temporarily, and let them run examinations. These steps help move cases faster and improve fairness.

Education help now guaranteed for dependents

The Bureau must give education assistance to dependents of qualifying public safety officers. Help is required unless the student already has prospective assistance. This change makes aid automatic once eligibility is met.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

IA • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 4/29/2021

  • Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 4/29/2021

  • Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 4/29/2021

  • Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 4/29/2021

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 4/29/2021

  • Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 4/29/2021

  • Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 4/29/2021

  • Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]

    MT • D

    Sponsored 4/29/2021

  • Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 4/29/2021

  • Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 4/29/2021

  • Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 5/10/2021

  • Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 5/11/2021

  • Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 5/12/2021

  • Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 5/13/2021

  • Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 5/13/2021

  • Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 5/17/2021

  • Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 6/9/2021

  • Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 9/13/2021

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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