[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 149 (Monday, November 18, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S11246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HOMETOWN HEROES SURVIVORS BENEFITS ACT OF 2002

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I rise to encourage the Senate to pass 
today the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act of 2002, H.R. 5334.
  This multipartisan legislation is to improve the Department of 
Justice's Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program. This bill allows the 
families of public safety officers who suffer fatal heart attacks or 
strokes to qualify for Federal survivor benefits.
  I commend those in the other body, including Congressmen Etheridge, 
Weldon, Hoyer, and Oxley, for their leadership and, I might also say, 
their fortitude on this important legislation. On the last night the 
other body was in session, Congressman Etheridge stood as a sentry on 
the bridge and said nothing else is going forward until this goes 
through. And it did pass in the House. I am proud to be the original 
sponsor of the Senate version of the Hometown Heroes bill, S. 3114. I 
thank Senators Collins, Jeffords, Landrieu, and Durbin for joining me 
as cosponsors.
  This legislation should not be in any way controversial. It is 
supported by the Fraternal Order of Police; National Association of 
Police Organizations; Congressional Fire Services Institute; 
International Association of Arson Investigators; International 
Association of Fire Chiefs; International Association of Fire Fighters; 
National Fire Protection Association; National Volunteer Fire Council; 
North American Fire Training Directors; International Fire Buff 
Association; National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians; 
American Ambulance Association; American Federation of State, County 
Municipal Employees. Actually, I will not list them all, but there are 
50 additional national organizations.
  Public safety officers act with an unwavering commitment to the 
safety and protection of their fellow citizens, and it is always the 
case that they are willing to selflessly sacrifice their lives to 
provide safe and reliable emergency services to their communities. 
Hundreds of public safety officers nationwide lose their lives, and 
thousands more are injured while performing duties that put them at 
great physical risk.
  Although we know that PSOB benefits can never be a substitute for the 
loss of a loved one, the families of all our fallen heroes should be 
eligible to collect these funds.
  The PSOB program authorizes a one-time financial payment to the 
eligible survivors of Federal, State, and local public safety officers 
for all line-of-duty deaths. A number of other things are in the bill. 
We have improved this PSOB program on numerous occasions--we did it in 
the Patriot Act--but, unfortunately, the inclusion of on-duty heart 
attack and stroke victims in the program has not been addressed.
  This bill fixes that loophole to ensure that the survivors of public 
safety officers who die of heart attacks and other cardiac-related 
deaths in the line of duty, or within 24 hours of a triggering effect 
while on duty--regardless of whether or not a traumatic injury occurs 
at the time of the heart attack or stroke--are eligible to receive 
financial assistance. Heart attack and cardiac-related deaths account 
for almost half of all firefighter fatalities and an average of 13 
police officer deaths each year.
  It is time for the Senate to show its support and appreciation for 
these extraordinarily brave and heroic public safety officers by 
joining the House and passing the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits 
Act.
  Mr. President, I understand it has been cleared on this side of the 
aisle. I hope that my friends on the other side of the aisle will let 
this bill pass. We are willing on this side of the aisle to pass it, 
but there has been objection on the other side. I hope that objection 
will be withdrawn and this will pass so that we can join what has been 
already done in the other body.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Leahy). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I rise to speak in favor of the 
legislation just referred to by the distinguished Senator from Vermont. 
I have a particular interest in this legislation because in my former 
governmental capacity as the State treasurer, insurance commissioner, 
and State fire marshal of Florida, I had the occasion to come to a 
great appreciation of the role of the firefighter, the extraordinary 
courage that firefighters display, and the extraordinary amount of 
property and life they save.
  Fortunately, that was etched into the consciousness of America as a 
result of what we saw on September 11--not only the police, the 
firemen, but so many public service personnel who responded under those 
conditions. So I want to add my voice in support of the legislation 
referred to by Senator Leahy and to those on the other side of the 
aisle who might be putting a hold on this legislation.
  There is an extreme risk to the occupation of firefighter. We 
understand that risk more clearly based on what we saw of the bravery 
and the devotion to duty expressed on September 11. But that bravery 
and devotion to duty goes on day in and day out in the firehouses in 
communities across this Nation. These firefighters should be 
appropriately compensated when infirmity and disaster strikes them.
  Mr. President, I wanted to add my name in support of the 
distinguished Senator from Vermont and his bill.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. BINGAMAN). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

                          ____________________