PSOB Reform Legislation Passes Congress!!!

Bill could be signed into law before the end of National Police Week

Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, welcomed news that S. 419, the “Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Improvements Act,” passed the House yesterday by a voice vote under a suspension of the rules just one day after the Senate approved the same bill by unanimous consent.

“The Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program is very important to law enforcement and the wider public safety community,” Canterbury said. “It gives our members peace of mind because they know their families will be taken care of in the event they are killed or disabled in the line of duty.”

The legislation, authored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-IA) and Kirsten M. Gillibrand (D-NY), addresses existing problems at the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Office with respect to transparency and accountability. The changes to the existing statute will also help reduce the current backlog of claims and make it easier for families, who are grieving after the loss of their loved one, to file claims.

“Just two days ago, the FOP honored 234 officers who lost their lives in service to their country,” Canterbury said. “The PSOB program was established to help and support the families these brave heroes left behind and I am grateful to Senators Grassley and Gillibrand, as well as the House Judiciary Committee and House leadership for working with us to get this bill to the President during National Police Week. We are deeply grateful.”

The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement labor organization in the United States with more than 332,000 members.