Rep. Courtney’s Fire Police Fairness Act Signed Into Law by President Biden
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, legislation introduced by Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) to extend public safety officer death and injury benefits to local fire police—the Fire Police Fairness Act—was signed into law by President Biden as part of the Protecting America's First Responders Act of 2021 (S. 1511). Now, the effort begun by Rep. Courtney and Fire Chief Tony Saccone in 2011 at the Gales Ferry Firehouse in Ledyard has finally been completed. The bipartisan Fire Police Fairness Act was officially made law today as part of S. 1511, and Courtney was on hand with Chief Saccone at the White House to watch as their bill was signed by the President.
"I'm so honored to part of America's continued support to first responders throughout this great nation," said Chief Saccone. "These men and women put their lives on the line each and every day, and this bill cements America's commitment to them. Thank you, Mr. President, Congressman Joe Courtney, and our elected officials for their continued support of all first responders."
"Chief Tony Saccone and our local fire police and firefighters in eastern Connecticut deserve all the credit in the world for advancing this effort, and with the President's signature today they officially got the win," said Courtney. "Fire police officers respond to emergencies right alongside police and fire services, and with our bill signed into law they're finally going to be made eligible for the same benefits and assurances that firefighters and police officers have if, God forbid, they are killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. There's no doubt this is the right thing to do, especially at a time when we need to be doing all we can to support our public safety and law enforcement officers. Across the U.S., when fire police officers and their families start to learn about this big win, they'll have our own Ledyard firefighters and Chief Saccone to look to for thanks."
"Bipartisan victories don't often make headlines these days, but we've found success in our corner of Connecticut in bipartisan wins for our manufacturing sector, our servicemembers, our schools, and more," Courtney continued. "I am deeply grateful to have started this effort alongside our firefighters in Ledyard, and I was honored to be joined by Chief Saccone at the White House today as our Fire Police Fairness Act was signed into law."
Gales Ferry Fire Chief Tony Saccone and Rep. Courtney have worked together for years to secure death and injury benefits for fire police officers in eastern Connecticut and across the country. With the stroke of a pen this morning, their work crossed the finish line—as part of S. 1511, Courtney's Fire Police Fairness Act will now make fire police officers across the U.S. eligible for support through the U.S. Department of Justice's Public Safety Officer's Benefit (PSOB) program. The PSOB program 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.
Courtney's Fire Police Fairness Act ensures that eligible beneficiaries of fire police officers can receive benefits retroactive to 2008, and moving forward. The underlying bill, S. 1511, will also provide for retroactive disability benefits for officers who responded to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, address delays in benefit claims, and more. S. 1511 was passed with unanimous support in the Senate on June 10th, and it passed the House in a bipartisan landslide of 420-3 on October 28th. Click here to read more.
Read below for a history of Rep. Courtney and Chief Saccone's work to advance the bipartisan Fire Police Fairness Act. To speak with Chief Saccone or Rep. Courtney about today's bill signing, or to request pictures from today's event, email Rep. Courtney's office.
The 10-Year Effort to Secure Benefits for Fire Police Officers
The PSOB program provides a one-time benefit to survivors of public safety officers whose deaths resulted from injuries sustained in the line of duty. It also provides a one-time benefit to public safety officers who were permanently and totally disabled because of a catastrophic injury sustained in the line of duty. Fire police officers provide invaluable emergency response services in fourteen states, including Connecticut, but because there is no uniform national designation for fire police, many of them face additional and unnecessary hurdles in accessing benefits that other public safety officers receive.
Rep. Courtney learned about the issue in 2011 while working with firefighters at the Gales Ferry Fire Company in Ledyard, CT. Gales Ferry Fire Chief Tony Saccone brought the matter to Courtney's attention, stating that PSOB "doesn't recognize a fire policeman who daily puts his life on the line directing traffic away from emergencies." Click here to read more.
In April of 2011, during the 112th Congress, Courtney authored and introduced the Fire Police Fairness Act to extend public safety officer death benefits to fire police. He joined firefighters, fire police, and other first responders at the Gales Ferry Firehouse to officially announce the start of the new effort.
The bill was bipartisan from the start, and Courtney has continued working to build support for the effort since then. In 2013, during the 113th Congress, Courtney made another push to secure benefits for fire police officers. Courtney reintroduced the Fire Police Fairness Act in May of 2013, and again joined Gales Ferry Fire Chief Saccone, along with fire police from companies in Hebron, Mystic, North Stonington, Waterford, and more to announce the renewed effort.
Rep. Courtney reintroduced the Fire Police Fairness Act again in 2017 and 2019, each time with support from both sides of the aisle. In April of this year, the Protecting America's First Responders Act was introduced to the Senate by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) as S. 1511, and to the House by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ-09) as H.R. 2936. The bill sought to make important improvements to the Department of Justice's PSOB program—in part by incorporating Rep. Courtney's Fire Police Fairness Act.
In addition to accomplishing Rep. Courtney's effort to extend PSOB benefits to fire police, the Protecting America's First Responders Act expands the definition of "covered disabilities", provides retroactive disability benefits for officers who responded to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, addresses delays in benefit claims, and more.
With Rep. Courtney's legislation included, the Senate voted to pass the Protecting America's First Responders Act (S. 1511) by unanimous consent on June 10th. On October 28th, the House voted to pass the bill in a bipartisan landslide, 420–3.
This morning, President Biden signed S. 1511 into law, making the Fire Police Fairness Act the law of the land.
###