Untitled Document

News Release
Congressman Bob Etheridge
North Carolina

December 16 , 2003

Contact: Sara Lang
Phone: (202) 225-4531

President Signs Etheridge's Hometown Heroes Legislation for Firefighters, Police

WASHINGTON - Last night President Bush signed into law U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge's (D-Lillington) Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act, S.459. The legislation extends federal benefits to public safety officers, including police officers, firefighters and other first responders, who die of heart attack or stroke while on duty. Heart attacks and strokes represent a significant risk among public safety officers, accounting for nearly half of firefighter deaths each year.

"What a fantastic holiday gift to the hometown heroes who work so bravely and selflessly on behalf of our communities," Etheridge said. "I am so pleased that this legislation is finally law, and I thank all the first responders and their families who inspired this legislation. Now our fire fighters, police officers and emergency workers who work tirelessly to protect our families receive our long overdue promise to protect their families."

This legislation is rooted in North Carolina, born out of a letter written to Etheridge by Mike Williams of Bunnlevel, who works as the assistant chief of Flat Branch Volunteer Fire Department and in the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and inspired by the death of a North Carolina firefighter. Williams wrote to Etheridge about the story of the late Thomas Earl Brooks, a Lumberton firefighter who died of a heart attack on January 31, 2002 whose family was denied federal benefits.

The current federal Public Safety Officers Benefits Program provides financial assistance to families of public safety officers (police, fire and EMS) killed in the line of duty, as well as to officers permanently disabled while on the job. Unfortunately, in almost every incidence of death by heart attack or stroke, the family receives no benefits even though the deaths were clearly triggered by the rigors of the job. The Etheridge bill would correct that deficiency in the law.

Etheridge's bill has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the International Union of Police Associations and the Congressional Fire Services Institute.