This morning (Wednesday) Senators Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York announced the U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation they had penned on survivor benefits of public safety officers killed in the line of duty. The Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Improvement Act comes just one month after two central Iowa police officers were ambushed and killed while on patrol. The bill now passes to the House of Representatives for consideration. The act expands public oversight by permanently increasing the level of transparency regarding wait times for benefits applications. There will be weekly status updates for pending claims and the Justice Department will report to Congress regarding claims two times per year. “Our nation’s public safety officers bravely run toward danger each day to protect our communities,” Grassley said. “And sadly, as we’ve seen recently in my home state of Iowa, and in communities around the country, these officers too often make the ultimate sacrifice for our safety.”
