NCJ Number
75697
Date Published
1980
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A statement in support of legislation that would provide death benefits for certain Federal Law Officers' and firefighters' families in the event of death in the line of duty is provided by the president of the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE).
Abstract
NFFE supports H.R. 5888, since it would allow Federal law enforcement officers and Federal; firefighters who are killed in the line of duty the same $50,000 lump-sum death benefit that Congress provided to State and local public safety officers in 1976. Because of the many changes in compensation death benefits since 1976, an updated comparison is necessary for Congress to consider the merits of H.R. 5888. Federal law enforcement officers and firefighters are most likely to compare their pay and benefits with what they could be earning if they worked as public safety officers in their home States. NFFE has compared the survivor death benefits available to Federal law enforcement officers and firefighters in 1980 with the death benefits under workers' compensation in the 10 States with the largest number of Federal employees. Each State was found to have a program equal to or better than that provided to Federal employees. Aside from restoring benefit equity, H.R. 5888 would also have an impact on recruiting. Public safety officers working for State and local government receive the $50,000 lump-sum death benefit. To recruit and retain qualified Federal law enforcement officers and firefighters, it is essential that there be comparable pay and benefits among the Federal, State, and local officers performing similar jobs. Tabular data show the number of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty from 1972 through 1978 and firefighters killed in the line of duty for 1976 through 1978. Data are also shown for claims by survivors of public safety officers for 1977 through 1980. A table compares survivor death benefits for the 10 States surveyed.