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United States · Law · S

S. 1511 (117th)

Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

29 April 2021

Last action

18 November 2021 · Became law

Status

Became Public Law No: 117-61.

Sponsors

Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT], Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC], Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH], Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]

Subjects

Education

Source updated

10 August 2026

Education

Summary

Protecting America's First Responders Act of 2021 This bill makes changes to the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program. The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers and survivors of public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty or permanently disabled as a result of catastrophic injuries sustained in the line of duty. Among the changes, the bill expands the public safety officers eligible for coverage under the PSOB program to include firefighters whose primary duty during an emergency response is to secure the scene or manage traffic and cadets or trainees in candidate-officer training; extends coverage under the PSOB program to certain public safety officers responding outside their jurisdiction; increases the interim benefit amount payable on a claim for death benefits and requires the interim amount to be adjusted annually for inflation; increases the benefit amount payable on a death or disability claim that has been pending for more than 365 days on the date of the final determination; allows the Department of Justice (DOJ) to use investigative tools, including subpoenas, to expedite the processing of claims and obtain information or documentation from third parties (e.g., public agencies); specifies that an injury resulting from a neurocognitive disorder qualifies as a catastrophic injury for the purposes of disability benefits; requires (currently, authorizes) DOJ to provide retroactive education benefits to qualifying children and spouses; specifies that hearing officers appointed to review claims are special government employees (i.e., employees who perform temporary duties for a limited period of time) and are authorized to conduct examinations; and allows responders to the World Trade Center or their surviving family members to file claims for death or disability benefits in certain circumstances.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 29 April 2021

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 29 April 2021

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 13 May 2021

    Reported

    Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

    Source: Committee

  4. 10 June 2021

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4499-4501)

    Source: Floor

  5. 10 June 2021

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S4499-4501)

    Source: Floor

  6. 10 June 2021

    Discharge

    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Discharge

  7. 10 June 2021

    Committee

    Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Committee

  8. 14 June 2021

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

  9. 14 June 2021

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  10. 14 June 2021

    Floor

    Held at the desk.

    Source: Floor

  11. 27 October 2021

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  12. 27 October 2021

    Vote

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 420 - 3 (Roll no. 338). (text: CR H5948-5950)

    Source: Floor

  13. 27 October 2021

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 420 - 3 (Roll no. 338).(text: CR H5948-5950)

    Source: Floor

  14. 27 October 2021

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5948-5953)

    Source: Floor

  15. 27 October 2021

    Vote

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

    Source: Floor

  16. 27 October 2021

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1511.

    Source: Floor

  17. 27 October 2021

    Floor

    Ms. Jackson Lee moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

    Source: Floor

  18. 28 October 2021

    Floor

    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.

    Source: Floor

  19. 4 November 2021

    Passed

    Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 1511 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8054)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  20. 4 November 2021

    Passed

    Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 1511 by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S8054)

    Source: NotUsed

  21. 8 November 2021

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  22. 16 November 2021

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  23. 16 November 2021

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  24. 18 November 2021

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

  25. 18 November 2021

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 117-61.

    Source: President

  26. 18 November 2021

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

Votes

27 October 2021 · passed · On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended · Passed · Official source

Yes 420 · No 3 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 8

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Documents

15 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)

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  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 19 November 2021

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 19 November 2021

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  • Public Law

    summary · EN · 18 November 2021

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  • Senate agreed to House amendment

    summary · EN · 4 November 2021

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  • Engrossed Amendment House (text)

    Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 27 October 2021

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  • Engrossed Amendment House (PDF)

    Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 27 October 2021

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  • Passed House

    summary · EN · 27 October 2021

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  • Engrossed in Senate (text)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 10 June 2021

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  • Engrossed in Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 10 June 2021

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  • Passed Senate

    summary · EN · 10 June 2021

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 29 April 2021

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  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 29 April 2021

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 29 April 2021

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