[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 15, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2222-S2223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Whitehouse, 
        and Mr. Markey):
  S. 962. A bill to extend the same Federal benefits to law enforcement 
officers serving private institutions of higher education and rail 
carriers that apply to law enforcement officers serving units of State 
and local government; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am reintroducing the Equity in Law 
Enforcement Act to extend Federal benefits to law enforcement officers 
who serve at private institutions of higher education and rail 
carriers. Through this legislation, these individuals would be eligible 
for many of the same benefits provided to public law enforcement 
officers, including line-of-duty death benefits and access to federal 
grant opportunities through the Department of Justice's Bulletproof 
Vest Partnership Grant and Byrne Justice Assistance Grant, JAG, 
programs.
  In 1976, the Public Safety Officers' Benefits PSOB program was 
enacted to aid in the recruitment and retention of public safety 
officers. Recognizing the danger that law enforcement officers, 
firefighters, and first responders face while serving in our 
communities, the PSOB provides a one-time financial benefit to 
survivors of officers who die as a result of injuries sustained in the 
line of duty.
  Although the officers protecting our private universities and 
railways face the same risks, they are currently not included in the 
PSOB program These brave individuals protect our communities every day, 
enforce the law within their jurisdiction, and receive similar training 
to their government counterparts. However, they are currently excluded 
from the line-of-duty federal death benefits available to law 
enforcement officers serving units of State and local governments, and 
from access to federal grant programs for protective body armor and 
other equipment.
  Since 1960, approximately 35 college or university law enforcement 
officers have lost their lives while protecting our communities. While 
some families of officers that have been gravely injured while serving 
at public universities have received PSOB line-of-duty death benefits, 
the families of those who lost their lives while serving at private 
institutions have been ineligible. We should fix this inequity.
  Inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial are the 
names of the heroes who gave their full measure while protecting our 
communities. This memorial includes Patrol Officer Joseph Francis 
Doyle, who was killed in the line of duty at Brown University in 1988, 
as well as the other officers who died while working at private 
universities and colleges and on our railways.
  A recent name on the Memorial is Patrol Officer Sean Collier. Today, 
we mark the second anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings, an act 
of terror that tragically killed three and injured hundreds of others. 
Three days after the bombings, during the manhunt for the attackers, 
Officer Collier of the MIT Police Department was shot and killed by the 
perpetrators on the university's campus. Officer Collier died while not 
only bravely serving the students and faculty of MIT. He was also 
serving the city of Boston, working with others in the law enforcement 
community during an exceptionally difficult time to keep the city and 
our nation safe. However, since he was employed by a private 
university, Officer Collier was not eligible for line-of-duty death 
benefits. To honor Officer Collier's service and sacrifice, this bill 
would be retroactive to April 15, 2013, the day of the Boston bombings.
  I am pleased that Senators Ayotte, Leahy, Whitehouse, and Markey have 
once again joined me in introducing this legislation, which would 
ensure that officers who have lost their lives protecting our 
communities and their families are eligible for the benefits associated 
with law enforcement work as well as access to the protective equipment 
they need. The bill would only apply to officers who are sworn, 
licensed, or certified to enforce the law within their jurisdiction, 
and is supported by the International Association of Campus Law 
Enforcement Administrators.

[[Page S2223]]

  I urge our colleagues to join us in cosponsoring and passing the 
Equity in Law Enforcement Act.
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