Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act
Sponsored By: Representative Connolly
Introduced
Summary
Expands and standardizes death gratuities and survivor benefits for federal employees and related personnel. It sets a clear payment framework, raises key amounts, and ties future increases to inflation so survivors get faster, predictable support.
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- Families of fallen federal employees get a defined base payment of $100,000 that is adjusted each March 1 by the Consumer Price Index. The law also clarifies tax treatment so gratuities are not included in gross income.
- Eligibility and beneficiary rules are tightened and expanded. The bill covers injuries in the line of duty for armed force‑related agency staff, extends payments to certain Foreign Service personnel abroad, defines an order of beneficiaries, and treats adopted, step, and some foster children as children for benefits.
- Practical payments and agency rules are updated. Burial allowances rise from $800 to $8,800 with annual CPI adjustments, some gratuities may be offset by other U.S. benefits, and an emergency supplemental appropriation authority is provided with a congressional urging to act within 30 days for covered incidents.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Military death payment rises with inflation
If a service member dies, the $100,000 death payment would rise each March 1 with inflation. The payment would be tax-free. This would apply to deaths on or after enactment.
New death and funeral help for federal workers
This bill would set a standard $100,000 death payment for covered federal workers, adjusted each March 1 for inflation. Eligibility would be set by the Labor Secretary; deaths must be work-related or from covered crime, terrorism, or disasters, and would exclude willful misconduct, self-harm, or intoxication. Agencies would pay the named beneficiary, then spouse, children, parents, the estate, or a state-law designee. Payments would be tax-free and would also cover certain FAA, TSA, and VA health staff; for some locally hired embassy staff, State would set the amount by rule. Funeral help would rise to $8,800 with yearly inflation updates, and older authority would be replaced by this new system for deaths on or after enactment.
More help when federal staff die abroad
Agencies could pay a death gratuity when covered employees die abroad while under a chief of mission. The Labor Secretary would first need to find the death came from an on-duty injury. The Secretary of State would set rules on who qualifies and who gets paid first, using the new federal order of precedence. Payments would be reduced by other U.S.-funded program payments and would be tax-free. This would apply to deaths on or after enactment.
Payments for civilian deaths tied to military
For civilian deaths tied to armed-forces service, the payment amount would adjust each March 1 with inflation. Any payment would be reduced by amounts from other U.S.-funded programs, except the new federal employee death gratuity in this bill. If there are no eligible survivors or alternates, the estate’s personal representative would receive it. Payments would be tax-free and would apply to deaths on or after enactment.
Emergency funds to pay death benefits
If disasters or attacks cause many covered deaths, agencies could ask Congress for extra funds to make payments. The agency head and the budget office would first need to agree the costs exceed available money. Congress would need to approve the extra funds, and the bill says Congress should act within 30 days. This authority would start upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Connolly
VA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 5/9/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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