Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act Implementation
On December 15th, 2004, President Bush signed into law the Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act (S. 459 / H.R. 919), which will expand the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) program to cover public safety officers who die of heart attacks or strokes in the line of duty. Passage of this legislation had been a top priority for the NVFC in the 108th Congress. This legislation is not retroactive and will only cover cases from December 15, 2003 forward.
Status: On July 26, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, who administers the program, issued proposed regulations for implementation of the law. The NVFC, along with nine other national fire service organizations, recently submitted comments on the regulations to the Department of Justice. The NVFC expressed concern that the proposed regulations could make it more difficult for some families to receive benefits by excluding certain EMS providers from PSOB coverage and creating a new set of medical evidence requirements.
Resources
- Political Action Tools
- Why Political Action is Important
- Legislative Victories
- Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act Implementation
- $750 Million Approved for FIRE Act Grant Program in FY 2003
- Congress Approves Funding for AEDs in Rural Communities
- President Signs Bill Honoring Firefighters Lost in the Line
- Congress Passes Bill to Increase PSOB Payment
- Congress Approves $150 Million for FY 2002 FIRE Grant Progra
- NVFC Legislative Victories in the 106th Congress
- NVFC Announces Passage of FIRE Bill
- Clinton Establishes Public Safety Medal of Valor
- NVFC Announces Victory on VFA Funding
- Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act
- Chemical Safety Information, Site Security and Fuels Regulatory Act
- Scanner Legislation Revised
- Length of Service Award Tax Deferral H.R. 1893 & S. 1232
- Volunteer Protection Act
- Fire Service Scores Partial Victory on Children’s Sleepwear
- NVFC Scores Major Victory With Removal of HazMat Provision
- Fire Service Scores Victory with Passage of
- House Passes Bill to Promote the Donation of Equipment to Volunteer Fire Departments
- Congress Passes Homeland Security Appropriations for FY 2007, Increased Funding for AFG, SAFER, and USFA
- NVFC-Backed Volunteer Job Protection Bill Passes House of Representatives
- Congress Passes Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act
- FY 2008 Appropriations Bring Increases in AFG and SAFER Grant Programs
- Legislative Issue Briefs
- Volunteer Fire Service Advocacy Center
- NVFC Congressional Testimony
- State Legislative Information
- Contact Your Member of Congress
- Novelty Lighter Legislation
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