Collins, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support the Families of Public Safety Officers

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined a bipartisan group of Senators introducing a bill to support the families of officers who struggle with their mental health or who are lost to trauma-linked suicides. These families are fighting to receive the benefits they deserve because federal law currently limits the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program to only cover physical injuries—completely excluding any support for mental health concerns.

“Every day across the country, public safety officers put their lives on the line, endure enormous pressure, and witness unimaginable tragedies in the line of duty to protect our communities.  Family members of public safety officers experience tremendous worry about the safety of their loved ones when they are in harm’s way,” said Senator Collins. “We owe these brave men and women, along with their families, more than just our gratitude.  This bipartisan bill will provide support for officers suffering from work-related PTSD, as well as provide grieving families with the resources and support they need.”  

The PSOB provides financial support to the families of firefighters, police officers, chaplains, and emergency medical technicians who die in the line of duty or who have been permanently disabled as a result of a physical injury, including physical ailments that result from the stress of the job such as heart attacks. While the U.S. military already recognizes suicides by service members as deaths in the line of duty, the PSOB does not.

The Public Safety Officer Support Act would:

• Create an avenue for officers to seek disability benefits for PTSD by directing the PSOB to designate work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder as a line of duty injury for eligible officers as well as those who are permanently disabled as a result of attempted suicide.

• Allow families of officers who die by trauma-linked suicide to apply for death benefits by directing the PSOB to presume that suicides are a result of job duties in certain traumatic circumstances where there is evidence that PTSD or acute stress disorder would be the cause of the injury.

The Public Safety Officer Support Act was introduced by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Cornyn (R-TX). In addition to Senator Collins, the bill was co-sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

The bill has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, National Association of Police Organizations, Sergeants Benevolent Association, National Sheriffs Association, Blue H.EL.P, the National Border Patrol Council, United States Capitol Police Labor Committee, and American Psychological Association.

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