Grassley on Protecting Our First Responders
Prepared
Floor Remarks by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
On
Protecting Our First Responders
Tuesday,
May 11, 2021
I
recently reintroduced the Protecting America’s First Responders Act, a bipartisan bill cosponsored by 11 of my
colleagues that passed the Senate by unanimous consent last Congress.
In this new Congress, it’s time we once again turn our
attention to the public service officers across our nation who steadfastly
serve and protect their fellow Americans.
These great men and women fulfill some of our most vital and
irreplaceable needs.
Their duties affect every part of our communities.
We’ve seen that clearly over the past year as their services
have been instrumental in keeping our communities safe during this pandemic.
Our firefighters dedicate themselves to braving harrowing
fires.
Our police officers rush headlong into danger to protect the
innocent.
Emergency first responders dutifully come to the aid of the
injured no matter the threat.
Despite these vast responsibilities, their purpose is the same: to
serve and protect their communities.
We know this call to service comes with great risk.
We in Congress will forever be indebted to the Capitol police
officers who suffered substantial injuries and even gave their lives on these
very grounds.
There’s no way for us to truly comprehend or repay the sacrifice
made by any of these officers and their loved ones left behind.
Yet knowing this, our public safety officers willingly accept the
possibility of injury, and if need be, lay down their lives to fulfill their
oaths.
We
owe our firefighters, law enforcement and all our first responders a great
deal.
They
don’t hesitate to take action when we need them to, and we must be equally
steadfast in coming to their aid by ensuring that those officers disabled or
killed in the line of duty receive what they’re due.
They
must receive what we in Congress first promised them four and a half decades
ago through the Public Safety Officers’ Benefit Program.
The
original PSOB program was created in 1976.
Yet
since that time it’s been plagued with unclear and out-of-date regulations,
forcing the families of our fallen heroes to continue suffering through
technical interpretations and drawn-out claims processes.
This
cannot continue.
My
bill, the Protecting America’s First
Responder’s Act, ensures that disability claims are consistent with
Congress’ original intent for the PSOB program.
It
received wide bipartisan support here in the Senate last Congress.
Unfortunately,
the bill stalled in the House.
Over
the last year, I’ve worked closely with Congressman Pascrell to alleviate
opposition and work through amendments that can pass the House.
I’m
confident that, with these changes, it will reach the president’s desk quickly.
The
117th Congress has a fresh opportunity to make this bill law and there are many
waiting for us to do so.
I
introduce this bill with strong support from organizations including the
Fraternal Order of Police, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association and
the National Association of Police Organizations.
I
urge my colleagues to once again vote for the Protecting America’s First Responders Act, thereby fulfilling our
original promise to honor those whose lives were forever altered by their
service.
