Senate Bill 1511
117th Congress(2021-2022)
Protecting America's First Responders Act of 2021
Became Law
Amendments
Became Public Law 117-61 on Nov 18, 2021
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
1511
Congress
117
Policy Area
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime and Law Enforcement
Primary focus of measure is criminal offenses, investigation and prosecution, procedure and sentencing; corrections and imprisonment; juvenile crime; law enforcement administration. Measures concerning terrorism may fall under Emergency Management or International Affairs policy areas.
Chuck Grassley
grade
Iowa
Connecticut
Delaware
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Minnesota
Montana
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
checkPassed on June 10, 2021
Status
Passed
Type
Unanimous Consent
Unanimous Consent
A senator may request unanimous consent on the floor to set aside a specified rule of procedure so as to expedite proceedings. If no Senator objects, the Senate permits the action, but if any one senator objects, the request is rejected. Unanimous consent requests with only immediate effects are routinely granted, but ones affecting the floor schedule, the conditions of considering a bill or other business, or the rights of other senators, are normally not offered, or a floor leader will object to it, until all senators concerned have had an opportunity to inform the leaders that they find it acceptable.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S4499-4501)
Summary
Protecting America's First Responders Act of 2021
This bill makes changes to the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program. The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers and survivors of public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty or permanently disabled as a result of catastrophic injuries sustained in the line of duty.
Among the changes, the bill
- expands the public safety officers eligible for coverage under the PSOB program to include firefighters whose primary duty during an emergency response is to secure the scene or manage traffic and cadets or trainees in candidate-officer training;
- extends coverage under the PSOB program to certain public safety officers responding outside their jurisdiction;
- increases the interim benefit amount payable on a claim for death benefits and requires the interim amount to be adjusted annually for inflation;
- increases the benefit amount payable on a death or disability claim that has been pending for more than 365 days on the date of the final determination;
- allows the Department of Justice (DOJ) to use investigative tools, including subpoenas, to expedite the processing of claims and obtain information or documentation from third parties (e.g., public agencies);
- specifies that an injury resulting from a neurocognitive disorder qualifies as a catastrophic injury for the purposes of disability benefits;
- requires (currently, authorizes) DOJ to provide retroactive education benefits to qualifying children and spouses;
- specifies that hearing officers appointed to review claims are special government employees (i.e., employees who perform temporary duties for a limited period of time) and are authorized to conduct examinations; and
- allows responders to the World Trade Center or their surviving family members to file claims for death or disability benefits in certain circumstances.
October 27, 2021
June 10, 2021
April 29, 2021
Amendments (1)
Jun 10, 2021
Agreed to in Senate
1
Sponsorship
Senate Amendment 2118
To improve the bill.
Agreed To
Sort by most recent
11/18/2021
Became Public Law No: 117-61.
11/18/2021
Signed by President.
11/16/2021
Presented to President.
11/08/2021
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
11/04/2021
Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 1511 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8054)
11/04/2021
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 1511 by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S8054)
10/28/2021
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
10/27/2021
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
10/27/2021
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 420 - 3 (Roll no. 338). (text: CR H5948-5950)
10/27/2021
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 420 - 3 (Roll no. 338).(text: CR H5948-5950)
10/27/2021
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5954)
10/27/2021
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
10/27/2021
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1511.
10/27/2021
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5948-5953)
10/27/2021
Ms. Jackson Lee moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
06/14/2021
Held at the desk.
06/14/2021
Received in the House.
06/14/2021
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
06/10/2021
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S4499-4501)
06/10/2021
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S4499-4501)
06/10/2021
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4499-4501)
06/10/2021
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
05/13/2021
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
04/29/2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
04/29/2021
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:49:03 PM