Federal RuleAug 21
62
DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
RuleLabor DepartmentFederal Contract Compliance Programs OfficeSignificant Wallet
HR7718119th CongressWALLET
Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program Expansion Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]
Introduced
Summary
Would speed PSOB decisions and add interim payments for injured or deceased public safety officers. The bill would create new permanent and partial disability benefits, set firm notice and decision deadlines, and add expedited paths tied to the Victim Compensation Fund and the World Trade Center Health Program.
Show full summary
- Public safety officers with work-related disability: Would create a permanent and partial disability benefit starting at 50% of the amount that would have been payable at the time of injury and allow a one-time interim payment not to exceed $6,000 while cases are processed.
- Claimants and families seeking death or related benefits: Would require missing-information notices at 90 days and final determinations at 270 days, authorize interim payments when determinations run late, and allow expedited approvals when the VCF certifies eligibility or the WTCHP implicates the cause of death.
- Program management and oversight: Would require the Bureau of Justice Assistance to implement GAO recommendations within 180 days, expand outreach and backlogged-claims reporting, and mandate Comptroller General reviews to reduce delays.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Faster PSOB claims and interim payments
If enacted, the Bureau would have to notify claimants of missing documents within 90 days. A claim would be "complete" when it has all required documents and a Bureau claim number, which would start a 270-day decision clock. If the Bureau does not decide a complete claim within 270 days, an eligible claimant would get one interim payment up to $6,000 (adjusted for inflation) or funds placed in escrow while beneficiary status is resolved. Interim payments would be credited against any final award and could not be recouped except for fraud or material misrepresentation. The Bureau would be able to subpoena public agencies that do not provide needed records after 30 days (with one allowed extension), and the Attorney General would have 180 days to make the Bureau implement GAO recommendations to reduce backlogs.
New partial disability cash benefit
If enacted, an officer found permanently but not totally disabled from a line-of-duty injury would be able to get a new PSOB partial-disability payment. The payment would equal 50% of the full PSOB amount that would have applied on the injury date, including required adjustments. If the impairment becomes totally disabling within 3 years, the officer could apply for total benefits and earlier partial payments would be subtracted from the total award. If the officer later dies from the same injury, any death benefit would be reduced by amounts already paid under the partial benefit.
Faster PSOB approvals for WTC cases
If enacted, the Bureau would have to approve a PSOB death claim when the Victim Compensation Fund certifies the claim is eligible for its death benefit or the World Trade Center Health Program certifies the death is program-related, unless there is clear and convincing evidence otherwise. This would fast-track some 9/11 and World Trade Center-related survivor claims.
Dependent education benefits stay the same
If enacted, nothing in this bill would expand or change education benefits for dependents under current PSOB law. Dependents would remain subject to the same caps and limits that exist today.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]
TX • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2]
NY • R
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
NY • R
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
MD • D
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
NJ • R
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/30/2026
Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]
TX • R
Sponsored 6/30/2026
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 8/20/2026
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/20/2026
Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22]
TX • R
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]
TX • R
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2]
TX • R
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]
MS • R
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
WA • D
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
NH • D
Sponsored 8/31/2026
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
NY • R
Sponsored 9/21/2026
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 9/21/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov