Bi-Weekly Update

• Congress Prepares to Consider DHS Appropriations Conference Report upon Return from August Recess
• House Urges Department of Justice to Expedite Hometown Heroes Claims; Doubles Funding for Staff Processing Claims

Congress Prepares to Consider DHS Appropriations Conference Report upon Return from August Recess

On July 27th, the Senate passed H.R. 2638, the Fiscal Year 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations bill by a vote of 89-4.  The House passed a similar version of the spending measure on June 15th.  While both bills increase funding for critical programs for the nation’s fire and emergency services, they contain differences that will have to be resolved in a conference committee when both chambers return from the August Congressional recess. 

The Senate bill provides $40.6 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, $177 million more than the House bill and $2.3 billion more than the Administration’s request.  The White House earlier had issued a veto threat against any bill that exceeded the Administration’s requested level.  

The Senate bill contains $560 million for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (FIRE Grant), a $13 million increase over Fiscal Year 2007 and a $300 million increase over the Administration’s request.  The measure also provides $145 million for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant, an increase of $30 million over Fiscal Year 2007.  The Administration zeroed out funding for SAFER in the proposed budget. 

The Senate bill also includes an amendment by Senators Joseph Lieberman (CT) and Susan Collins (ME) that would force an across-the-board reduction in proposed spending in the bill in order to add $100 million for an emergency communications grant program.
The House bill would also increase funding for the FIRE and SAFER programs, including $570 million for the FIRE Grant program and $235 million for the SAFER program.  Both the House and Senate measures would fund the United States Fire Administration at $43.3 million for Fiscal Year 2008.   

House Urges Department of Justice to Expedite Hometown Heroes Claims; Doubles Funding for Staff Processing Claims

On July 25th, during consideration of the Fiscal Year 2008 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Act, the House overwhelming approved an amendment offered by Congressmen Bob Etheridge (NC-2) and David Reichert (WA-8) to provide additional staff to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the expressed purpose of expediting outstanding claims for the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) Program.  The amendment, approved by a vote of 421-2, was in response to claims by DOJ that the backlog in determinations was due to the lack of staff to process the claims received following passage of the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act of 2003. 

"I offered this amendment to force the Administration to do right by the widows and orphans of fallen public safety officers,” said Congressman Bob Etheridge, the original author of the Hometown Heroes Act.  “For almost four years, the Department of Justice has dragged its feet and failed to provide the benefits owed under law to the families of the men and women who died in the line of duty.  We owe our first responders no less than to ensure that their loved ones are taken care of, should they fall while protecting our communities.  Their families should not have to jump through hoops to receive what they are owed."

In late 2003, Congress unanimously passed the Hometown Heroes Act.  The legislation created a presumption that a public safety officer who dies in the line of duty from a heart attack or stroke is considered a line of duty fatality allowing their survivors to be eligible for benefits under the PSOB program.  Nearly half of all firefighter line of duty fatalities are the result of heart attacks or strokes. 

Unfortunately, DOJ has been slow to implement the law.  To date only 10 claims have been approved, 47 have been denied, and 199 are still awaiting determinations.  Members of Congress, national public safety organizations, and survivors have all expressed concern that DOJ does not appear to be implementing the law as Congress intended. 

"I didn't have the opportunity to vote for the original Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act,” said Congressman Reichert, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee. “At the time this legislation was moving through the House and signed into law, I was the Sheriff of King County, Washington.  I have seen the tears of these families affected by the federal government's inaction and complacency - and more tears are flowing because of their struggle with the government bureaucracy. Our nation's first responders and their families deserve to know that we truly stand behind them. I will continue to fight for implementation of the Hometown Heroes legislation and proper execution of the Public Safety Officers Benefit Program.”