Skip to main content
S 1208 116th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement Administrative remedies Assault and harassment offenses Census and government statistics Congressional oversight Department of Justice Disability assistance Emergency medical services and trauma care Employee benefits and pensions Fires First responders and emergency personnel Government information and archives Government studies and investigations Health care costs and insurance Health personnel Higher education Law enforcement officers Student aid and college costs Violent crime Worker safety and health

Protecting America’s First Responders Act

Introduced: April 11, 2019 Introduced by: Grassley, Chuck Republican · Iowa See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 11 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 31, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
May 16, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 16, 2019
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
May 16, 2019
Received in the House.
May 16, 2019
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S2893-2895; text: CR 5/20/2019 S2981-2982)
May 16, 2019
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S2893-2895; text: CR 5/20/2019 S2981-2982)
May 13, 2019
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 83.
May 13, 2019
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Graham with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
May 9, 2019
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Apr 11, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Apr 11, 2019
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Protecting America's First Responders Act

This bill revises the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program. The program provides disability benefits to public safety officers who are injured in the line of duty and provides death and education benefits to survivors of public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty.

Specifically, the bill revises the payment amount of disability benefits for claims pending for more than one year. The amount must be based on the date of the adjudication of such claim rather than the date of the injury. The bill also increases the interim benefit payment amount and adjusts it based on the Consumer Price Index.

Additionally, the payment amount of death benefits must be the greater of (1) the amount payable as of the date of the public safety officer's death, or (2) the amount payable based on the date of the adjudication of the claim. Currently, such amount is based only on the date of death.

Next, the bill includes within the definition of firefighter for purposes of benefits an individual whose primary duty during an emergency response is to secure the scene or manage traffic.

Further, the bill allows applicants who were denied benefits in the previous three years to reapply for benefits.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance of the Department of Justice (DOJ) must use all available investigative tools, including subpoenas, to (1) expedite the processing of a claimant's eligibility for a death, disability, or education benefit; and (2) obtain necessary information from third parties (e.g., public agencies).

DOJ must provide retroactive educational assistance to eligible survivors of public safety officers.

In addition, DOJ must collect data on law enforcement officers who were killed or permanently disabled while on duty.

The Government Accountability Office must report on the average medical costs incurred by a disabled law enforcement officer over the officer's lifetime.

What's happening now May 31, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 2709 Related bill Fire Police Fairness Act
  • HR 2812 Related bill Protecting America’s First Responders Act
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 13
All 13 Democratic 7 Republican 6
R
Crapo, Mike
Idaho · May 14, 2019
 R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · May 13, 2019
 D
Coons, Christopher A.
Delaware · May 13, 2019
 R
Cruz, Ted
Texas · May 13, 2019
 R
Daines, Steve
Montana · May 13, 2019
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · May 13, 2019
 D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · May 13, 2019
 R
Tillis, Thomas
North Carolina · May 13, 2019
 D
Whitehouse, Sheldon
Rhode Island · May 13, 2019
 R
Cramer, Kevin
North Dakota · May 8, 2019
 D
Klobuchar, Amy
Minnesota · May 8, 2019
 D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · May 1, 2019
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Apr 11, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1208: Protecting America’s First Responders Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1208/
MLA
"S. 1208: Protecting America’s First Responders Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1208/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1208, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1208/.
Markdown link
[S. 1208: Protecting America’s First Responders Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1208/)
Report a problem