NCJ Number
96471
Date Published
1984
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A transcript of a hearing held to consider H.R. 26 and H.R. 622, bills to amend title 5 of the United States Code to provide death benefits to survivors of Federal law enforcement officers and firefighters, is provided.
Abstract
Texts of both bills are included, and a prepared statement by Patricia Thomas, legislative liaison for the National Federation of Federal Employees, is supplied. Thomas explains that Congress has provided additional death benefits for State and local public safety officers working in dangerous positions and emphasizes that fairness dictates that Congress should provide similar benefits to the much smaller group of Federal public safety officers who perform equally dangerous jobs. John Sturdivant, executive vice president of the American Federation of Government Employees, adds that current death benefit coverage under the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) is insufficient and expresses his organization's support for H.R. 622. Thomas W. Doyle, national vice president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, explains that the $50,000 lump sum death benefit would compensate for inequity in the benefits provided by the FECA and would help to protect Federal law enforcement officers' families. Additional statements in favor of the bill are included. Workers' Compensation and Unemployment Insurance and State laws are noted.