[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS' BENEFITS IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. PETER WELCH

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 26, 2012

  Mr. WELCH. Madam Speaker, I submit the attached June 19, 2012 letter 
from Chuck Canterbury, National President of the National Fraternal 
Order of Police, in regards to H.R. 4018, the Public Safety Officers' 
Benefits Improvements Act of 2012.

                            National Fraternal Order of Police

                                    Washington, DC, June 19, 2012.
     Hon. Patrick J. Leahy,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Lamar S. Smith,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairmen: I am writing this letter on behalf of 
     the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of 
     our support for H.R. 4018, the ``Public Safety Officers' 
     Benefits (PSOB) Improvements Act,'' introduced by 
     Representative Michael G. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and S. 1696, 
     the Senate companion bill introduced by Chairman Leahy. It is 
     our understanding that both committees have agreed to 
     compromise language and we are pleased to offer our support 
     for this bipartisan, bicameral bill.
       The legislation, which has received a neutral score from 
     the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), will reduce claims 
     processing delays, reduce administrative costs, and make 
     explicit that beneficiaries of Federal death or disability 
     benefits must offset one award with another. The legislation 
     as crafted and considered by the Judiciary Committees in both 
     chambers is widely supported in the law enforcement and 
     public safety community.
       It was distressing in the extreme to learn that further 
     action on the legislation is being deliberately blocked by 
     Senator Thomas A. Coburn, MD (R-OK), who has taken his anti-
     public safety agenda to new lows by calling for the repeal of 
     the PSOB program or to at least restrict it to Federal 
     officers. The FOP views this not as a politician embracing 
     the principle of federalism, but as a transparently cynical 
     and cowardly ploy to place even greater strain between law 
     enforcement and other public safety officers that serve on 
     the local and State level and their colleagues employed by 
     the Federal government. When a police officer puts himself in 
     harm's way, he does not stop to think about jurisdiction. He 
     does not ask the offender if he is committing a local, State 
     or Federal crime. He acts in the best interest of the safety 
     of those he has sworn to protect. A family that loses a loved 
     one in the line of duty should not just be left adrift, their 
     sacrifice ignored because their loved one was a local 
     firefighter or State Trooper and not a Federal agent.
       Since Senator Coburn was sworn in as a U.S. Senator, 
     seventeen police officers have been killed in the line of 
     duty in Oklahoma. Seventeen families lost a son, father or 
     brother, and I am sure some or all of these families relied 
     on the PSOB program to help them through the financial 
     hardships they faced after the loss of their loved one. 
     Senator Coburn would punish the families of the fallen--the 
     heroes who put their life on the line and paid the ultimate 
     price.
       I know both of you reject Senator Coburn's call for the 
     repeal of the PSOB program, and I commend you both of your 
     constant support of the program and of the rank-and-file 
     officers that protect our homes and neighborhoods. The 
     legislation will improve the ability of the PSOB Office to 
     process death and disability claims more swiftly and 
     efficiently, providing the families of our fallen with the 
     help they need. On behalf of the more than 330,000 members of 
     the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you both for your 
     dedication and outstanding leadership on this issue. If I can 
     be of any further assistance on this matter, please do not 
     hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in my 
     Washington office.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Chuck Canterbury,
     National President.

                          ____________________