President Bush Signs Hometown Heroes Act

Jan. 13, 2004
President George W. Bush signed the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefit Act, S.459, into law at a White House signing ceremony. The new law, PL 108-182, took effect immediately.

Under the new law, public safety officer benefits (PSOB) will be paid to the families of fire fighters and police officers who die as a result of heart attack or stroke suffered within 24 hours of responding to an emergency call or participating in a training exercise involving "unusual physical exertion." It is now presumed that the death was "a direct and proximate result" of the emergency response.

"The IAFF applauds President Bush for supporting this important legislation," said International Association of Fire Fighters President Harold A. Schaitberger. "We appreciated having the White House as a partner in pushing this initiative."

Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) filed companion legislation in the House and Senate. Combined H.R.909/S.459 attracted broad bi-partisan support, garnering over 300 co-sponsors between both chambers.

The original law authorizing a $50,000 PSOB was passed in 1976. Today, the benefit stands at $267,494.

Sponsored Recommendations

3 Essential Elements for a Strong Safety Culture

March 13, 2024
Organizations globally have increased their attention on safety culture: trying to figure out what it really is and the aspects that are necessary to develop and sustain it. And...

Making the Case for Occupational Health Software

March 13, 2024
Deciding to invest in Occupational Health (OH) software can be a challenging leap for many organizations. This article will equip businesses with insightful strategies for effectively...

Fighting the Flu: Solutions for the Workplace

March 13, 2024
Seasonal flu continues to wreak considerable havoc both on individual wellness, as well as on our business continuity and productivity. Explore these solutions for protecting ...

Preventing SIFs with Digitization: Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities with Technology

March 13, 2024
This eBook discusses the origins of SIF prevention, outlines principles, models and tools available to EHS leaders to better detect and address SIF potential in their business...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!