News Release - Etheridge's Hometown Heroes Legislation Gets Hearing

News Release
Congressman Bob Etheridge
North Carolina

June 26, 2003

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

Etheridge's Hometown Heroes
Legislation Gets Hearing

Harnett County Fire Fighter Testifies in Support

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge's (D-Lillington) Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefit Act, H.R. 919, received a hearing before the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Mike Williams, of Bunnlevel, and a volunteer with the Flat Branch Fire Department testified in support of H.R. 919 before Chairman Howard Coble's (R-Greensboro) Subcommittee along with two other witnesses. H.R. 919 extends federal benefits to public safety officers, including police officers, firefighters and other first responders, who die of heart attacks or strokes while on duty.

"I am pleased that Mike could be here to testify on behalf of public safety officers across the country," Etheridge said. "We in North Carolina highly value our hometown heroes, but current federal law too often fails to do right by their families. Congress should pass this bill to correct this injustice and to make sure that our first responders are taken care of for the courageous and dangerous work they do every day. "

This legislation is rooted in North Carolina, born out of a letter written to Etheridge by Williams, 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, in the fire station after responding to several calls, participating in a training exercise and performing his daily duties and whose family was denied federal benefits. Heart attacks and strokes represent a significant risk among public safety officers, accounting for nearly half of firefighter deaths each year.

Williams testified to the demands of a fire fighter's job, "After 16 years of fighting fires, I know first hand how physically demanding my profession is. For example, when responding to a building fire we put on approximately 45 pounds of equipment, which is used largely for personal protection. Once we engage the fire, we will encounter heat of about 1200 degrees, coupled with smoke which limits visibility all the while dragging 200 feet of hose."

Craig W. Floyd, Chairman of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, testified regarding the inclusion of law officers killed by heart attack or stroke in the line of duty on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial that, "The guiding principle behind this policy is that the sudden stress that is so prevalent in police work can kill. Boston Sergeant Detective Margot Hill explains it this way, 'You'll be riding around for four to five hours and patrolling and everything will be calm, then you'll get called for a shooting. Think of what that does to all your vital signs. It just can't get worse than that.'"

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, it is ruled that the heart attack or stroke was not a direct result of an injury sustained in the line of duty and 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, which has more than 260 cosponsors, 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 and more that fifty-five other organizations.

Click here to read a legislative outline of H.R. 919.