May 11, 2023

Duckworth Recognized by the National Association of Police Organizations for Her Bipartisan Law to Support Families of Public Safety Officers

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) received an award from the National Association of Police Organizations for her work to get her bipartisan Public Safety Officer Support Act enacted into law last year. The legislation, which was co-led by U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), honors the public service of police officers, firefighters and emergency responders by supporting the families of public safety officers who are lost to trauma-linked suicides. Photos of today’s event are available here.

“Shift after shift, the work of our firefighters, EMTs and police officers is oftentimes emotionally scarring, physically taxing and permanently traumatizing—which is why I made it a top priority to pass this bill and get it over the finish line last year,” said Duckworth. “To me, this law simply states the obvious: that in America, we look out for those who look out for us. We care for those who care for our communities. I’m grateful for the partnership of the National Association of Police Organizations in getting this done so we can make sure we honor their loved ones’ service in the way they deserve.”

The Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program 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. Duckworth and Cornyn’s Public Safety Officer Support Act improves the PSOB program to reflect the reality that law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency responders face a heightened risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorders that may lead to trauma-induced suicides, and that surviving family members of public safety officers that end their lives also face an elevated risk of self-harm as a result of a loved one’ loss being compounded by severe financial harm and significant emotional distress.

More information about Duckworth’s new law can be found here.

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