YourVoice.Now Summary
Your MoneyTransparency & AccountabilityFamilies of first responders killed or disabled on duty would get benefit decisions within 270 days — or an early payment.
Your Money
Once the Bureau of Justice Assistance has all the facts it needs, it would have 270 days to decide a death or disability claim. The family or officer could appeal the decision.
If the Bureau misses the 270-day deadline, it must send one early payment. It counts toward the final benefit. If it is unclear who should get it, the money goes into a held account. Today, early payments are optional and can be taken back.
Within 90 days of getting a claim, the Bureau would have to say what is missing. It would tell the family or the agency that holds the records.
The Bureau would approve a death claim when the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund says it qualifies. The same goes when the World Trade Center Health Program finds a 9/11 illness caused the death. Only strong proof otherwise could stop it.
Transparency & Accountability
If a police or fire department or other public agency does not send needed records within 30 days, the Bureau must issue a subpoena (a legal order). It could first allow up to 60 more days. Today, subpoenas are optional.
Every year, Congress's watchdog, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), would audit claims waiting more than a year. It would check where each claim is stuck and why. It would also check if the Bureau used subpoenas.
The Bureau already posts reports on claims delayed more than a year. Those reports would now say if a delay came from the person filing or from an agency that owes records.
In 2024, GAO made a list of fixes for the program, covering openness, help with claims, and how it is run. The Justice Department would have to make sure the Bureau carries them out within 180 days.
More about this bill
Families of police officers, firefighters, and other first responders killed on duty would get faster answers on federal death benefits. So would officers left disabled by an injury on the job. The Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance runs this benefit program. Within 90 days of getting a claim, it would have to say what paperwork is missing. Once it has everything, it would have 270 days to make a final decision that can be appealed. If it misses that deadline, it would have to send one early payment. The payment would go to a family member whose right to the benefit is not in question. If that is still unsettled, the money would go into a held account. The early payment would count toward the final benefit. It would not have to be paid back unless there was fraud or a false claim. Today, early payments of up to $6,000, adjusted for inflation, are optional. They must be paid back if no final benefit comes, unless the Bureau waives it. If a public agency does not send needed records within 30 days, the Bureau would have to subpoena them (order them by law). It could first grant an extension of up to 60 days. Death claims would be approved when the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund finds the death qualifies for its benefits. The same goes when the World Trade Center Health Program finds a 9/11-related illness caused the death. Strong evidence to the contrary could still block approval. The Bureau would also have to keep telling officers and agencies about the program. Public reports would say whether each long delay came from the claimant or an agency. The Government Accountability Office (GAO), Congress's watchdog, would audit claims stuck for over a year, every year. The Bureau would have to carry out GAO's 2024 advice for the program within 180 days. The Senate passed the bill on August 7, 2026. The House has not voted on it.
Congressional Summary
Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program Expansion Act of 2026 This bill establishes processing timelines and expands claims assistance, outreach, and reporting requirements pertaining to claims for benefits under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program. The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers who are killed or injured in the line of duty and their survivors. This bill requires the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to notify a claimant of any missing information required to process a claim within 90 days of receiving the claim and generally requires the BJA to determine eligibility within 270 days of a completed claim. In addition, the bill requires the BJA to use its subpoena authority to obtain information or documentation that is necessary to adjudicate a claim if a public agency fails to provide it 30 days after a request. Under the bill, the BJA must conduct ongoing outreach to promote awareness of the PSOB program. The BJA must also report on whether a delay in processing a claim was due to the inaction of the claimant or the public agency from which information is required. The bill requires the BJA to implement the recommendations of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in the 2024 report, Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program: Transparency, Claims Assistance, and Program Management Improvements Needed. Finally, the GAO must conduct an annual audit of PSOB claims that have been pending for more than one year.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Passed Senate
- Action Date
- 2026-08-07
- Date Added
- 2026-10-15
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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