Rep. Dave Min’s Bill Passes Out of the Senate, Bipartisan Legislation to Address Benefit Claims Backlog for Injured and Fallen Public Safety Officers

Washington, D.C. — Representative Dave Min announced that the bipartisan Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program Expansion Act of 2026 has passed the U.S. Senate.

Originally introduced by Reps. Dave Min and Randy Weber (R-TX-14), alongside companion legislation from Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), the legislation reforms the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program to speed up benefit determinations and reduce claims backlogs.

“This is an incredibly meaningful milestone, and I’m proud that this bill is focused on keeping our promise to the law enforcement officers and first responders who risk their lives to keep our communities safe,” said Rep. Min. “For too long, families and injured officers have been trapped in bureaucratic limbo waiting years for the benefits they earned through extraordinary sacrifice. This bipartisan bill helps ensure that when first responders answer the call without hesitation, the federal government does too. I’m grateful for our partners in the Senate for their work to move this bill forward, and the House must do the same – our law enforcement officers are counting on us.”

Congress established the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program in 1976 to provide death benefits to survivors of officers who have died in the line of duty. Since then, PSOB has been amended several times to provide disability and education benefits and to expand benefit eligibility. 

Despite these amendments, beneficiaries often experience delayed adjudication of death and disability claims.

This legislation is endorsed by over 35 organizations and unions, including: International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), United States Deputy Sheriff's Association (USDSA), National Narcotic Officers' Associations' Coalition (NNOAC), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), California Narcotics Officers’ Association (CNOA), Police Chiefs' Association of Orange County, Riverside Sheriffs' Association, California Association of Highway Patrolmen (CAHP), & Orange County Sheriff’s Department., 

A full list of endorsements and quotes can be found here.

The full text of the legislation can be found here and a summary of the legislation can be found here.

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