[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 63 (Thursday, May 16, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S4486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




MYCHAL JUDGE POLICE AND FIRE CHAPLAINS PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS' BENEFIT 
              ACT OF 2002 AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TRIBUTE ACT

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, yesterday I was honored to attend the 21st 
Annual National Peace Officers Memorial Day Services at the Capitol.
  Sadly, last year was the deadliest year in law enforcement history 
since 1974. In 2001, 230 law enforcement officers were killed in the 
line of duty including 72 fallen heroes who were killed on September 
11.
  These brave public servants risked and sacrificed their own lives so 
that others might live. Each one of us owes these courageous men and 
women, and their families, a debt of gratitude that we can never fully 
repay.
  During Police Memorial Week, I hope that Congress will act on two 
pieces of legislation to appropriately honor the families of brave 
public safety officers who sacrificed their own lives for their fellow 
Americans.
  First, I urge the House of Representatives to take up the Mychal 
Judge Police and Fire Chaplains Public Safety Officers' Benefit Act of 
2002, S. 2431.
  The Senate passed this bipartisan legislation more than a week ago. 
It is needed to amend the Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program to 
permit the families of 10 public safety officers killed on September 11 
to retroactively receive $250,000 each in Federal death benefits.
  Senator Campbell and I introduced this bipartisan measure, 
cosponsored by Senators Schumer, Clinton, Biden and Feingold, to 
retroactively restructure the Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program 
to provide benefits to fallen officers who died without a surviving 
spouse, child, or parent.
  I commend Representatives Manzullo and Nadler for their bipartisan 
leadership on the House version of this bill, H.R. 3297.
  Named for Chaplain Mychal Judge, who was killed while responding with 
the New York City Fire Department to the September 11 terrorist attacks 
on the World Trade Center, our bipartisan legislation recognizes the 
invaluable service of police and fire chaplains in crisis situations by 
allowing for their eligibility in the Public Safety Officers' Benefit 
Program.
  Father Judge, while deemed eligible for public safety officer 
benefits, was survived by his two sisters who, under current law, are 
ineligible to receive death benefits. This is simply wrong and must be 
remedied.
  Indeed, Father Judge is among 10 public safety officers killed on 
September 11 whose survivors are ineligible for Federal death benefits 
because they are not surviving spouses, children, or parents of the 
officers. This bill would retroactively correct this injustice by 
expanding the list of those who may receive public safety officer 
benefits to the beneficiaries named on the most recently executed life 
insurance policy of the deceased officer. This change would go into 
effect on September 11 of last year to make sure the families of Father 
Judge and the nine other fallen heros receive their public safety 
officer benefits.
  By taking up the Senate-passed Mychal Judge Police and Fire Chaplains 
Public Safety Officers' Benefit Act during Police Memorial Week, the 
House of Representatives can provide much-needed relief for 10 families 
of public safety officers who sacrificed their lives on September 11.
  Second, I hope that later today the Senate will consider the Law 
Enforcement Tribute Act, S. 2179, introduced by Senator Carnahan.
  The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved this legislation 
to create a $3 million Department of Justice grant program to help 
States, local governments and Indian tribes establish permanent 
tributes to fallen public safety officers. I am proud to be an original 
cosponsor of Senator Carnahan's bill to honor officers killed in the 
line of duty.
  During Police Memorial Week, the Senate should pass Senator 
Carnahan's legislation to provide Federal resources to our States and 
local communities to pay proper tribute to the brave public safety 
officers.
  I hope Congress will act expeditiously on these two important pieces 
of legislation to salute public safety officers across the country and 
honor the brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice to serve 
and protect us.

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