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[Pages H3109-H3110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SAFEGUARDING AMERICA'S FIRST RESPONDERS ACT OF 2020
Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the
Speaker's table the bill (S. 3607) to extend public safety officer
death benefits to public safety officers whose death is caused by
COVID-19, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate
consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Rhode Island?
There was no objection.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 3607
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Safeguarding America's First
Responders Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS; PURPOSE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) an infectious disease pandemic known as COVID-19
exists;
(2) to date, there is much still unknown about COVID-19,
but it is known that
[[Page H3110]]
COVID-19 and related complications may be fatal;
(3) services provided by public safety officers are
nonetheless essential during this pandemic;
(4) due to the COVID-19 pandemic and what is currently
known about how the disease is spread, public safety officers
are uncharacteristically at risk of contracting the disease;
and
(5) although the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program
currently covers deaths and permanent and total disabilities
resulting from infectious disease sustained by public safety
officers in carrying out their duties, the determination of
claims involving personal injuries believed to have resulted
from COVID-19 or its complications may be uniquely
challenging or delayed given the lack of--
(A) definitive testing and medical records at this time;
and
(B) a definitive uniform body of medical information about
how the disease is spread or its effects.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish a
carefully drawn framework wherein claims under the Public
Safety Officers' Benefits program, arising under the unique
circumstances described in subsection (a), can be processed
expeditiously and under fair and clear standards.
SEC. 3. PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER BENEFITS.
(a) Death Benefits.--As determined by the Bureau of Justice
Assistance, unless competent medical evidence establishes
that the death of a public safety officer (as defined in
section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10284)) was directly and
proximately caused by something other than COVID-19, COVID-19
(or complications therefrom) suffered by the public safety
officer shall be presumed to constitute a personal injury
within the meaning of section 1201(a) of title I of the
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C.
10281(a)), sustained in the line of duty by the officer and
directly and proximately resulting in death, if--
(1) the officer engaged in a line of duty action or
activity between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021;
(2) the officer was diagnosed with COVID-19 (or evidence
indicates that the officer had COVID-19) during the 45-day
period beginning on the last day of duty of the officer; and
(3) evidence indicates that the officer had COVID-19 (or
complications therefrom) at the time of the officer's death.
(b) Disability Benefits.--As determined by the Bureau of
Justice Assistance, COVID-19 (or complications therefrom)
suffered by a public safety officer shall be presumed to
constitute a personal injury within the meaning of section
1201(b) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10281(b)), sustained in the
line of duty by the officer, if--
(1) the officer engaged in a line of duty action or
activity between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021; and
(2) the officer was diagnosed with COVID-19 (or evidence
indicates that the officer had COVID-19) during the 45-day
period beginning on the last day of duty of the officer.
The bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the third
time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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