Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program Expansion Act of 2026

This bill changes the federal Public Safety Officers' Benefits program, which pays benefits when police, firefighters, and other public safety officers are killed or disabled in the line of duty. It creates a new benefit, equal to half the full amount, for officers who are permanently but not totally disabled and can no longer work as public safety officers. It sets deadlines for the Bureau to notify claimants of missing information and decisions, requires an interim payment if a decision is not made within 270 days of a complete claim, and requires subpoenas to agencies that do not provide needed records within 30 days. It also directs the Bureau to approve death claims certified by the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund or World Trade Center Health Program unless there is clear and convincing evidence otherwise, and it requires outreach, annual audits of delayed claims, and implementation of a 2024 GAO report's recommendations.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Randy K. Weber, Sr. Republican sponsor
• 23 cosponsors