[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 111 (Thursday, September 5, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1518]]
   INTRODUCTION OF THE HOMETOWN HEROES SURVIVORS BENEFIT ACT OF 2002

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                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 5, 2002

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service and 
sacrifice of our nation's public safety officers.
  Each community in America is blessed to have its own unique group of 
hometown heroes; the firefighters, law enforcement officers, and others 
who keep our streets safe, protect our families and possessions from 
fire, and are the first to respond to an emergency. They are dedicated 
and prepared, and when we call on them, they risk their lives for us.
  Last year, Congress improved the Public Safety Officers Benefit, 
which provides a one-time financial benefit to the families of public 
safety officers who die because of an injury sustained in the line of 
duty. However, despite our efforts there are families who are prevented 
from receiving these benefits because of a technicality in the law.
  Heart attack and cardiac related deaths account for almost half of 
all firefighter fatalities (between 45-50 firefighter deaths per year), 
yet the families of these fallen firefighters are rarely eligible to 
receive this benefit. Fighting fires is dangerous, exhausting, and 
stressful work. A firefighter's chances of suffering a heart attack or 
stroke greatly increases when he or she puts on heavy equipment and 
rushes into a building to fight a fire. The families of these hometown 
heroes should receive this benefit when their loved ones die of a heart 
attack or other cardiac related death while they are on duty selflessly 
protecting us from harm.
  Today, along with several of my colleagues, I am introducing a bill 
to correct this unfortunate loophole in the Public Safety Officers 
Benefit. The Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act will allow the 
families of public safety officers who have died from a heart attack or 
stroke while on duty, or within 24-hours after participating in a 
training exercise or responding to an emergency situation, to receive 
this benefit.
  Our hometown heroes put their lives on the line for each of us 
everyday. This legislation shows them our support and appreciation for 
their extraordinary bravery and heroism. I invite every Member to join 
us in this effort by cosponsoring this important legislation.

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