News Release
Congressman Bob Etheridge
North Carolina

June 28, 2006

                                       Contact: Joanne Peters
                                       Phone: (202) 225-4531

Etheridge to DoJ: Stop Stalling,
Hometown Heroes Deserve Benefits


Two and a half years after Hometown Heroes bill becomes law,
U.S. Department of Justice refuses to enact provisions

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) today called on the U.S. Department of Justice to implement his Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act, which was signed into law on December 15, 2003. The act extends federal benefits to survivors of public safety officers killed by heart attack or stroke in the line of duty. Because the Department of Justice has not written regulations that would put the law into effect, more than 135 families have been denied benefits in the two and a half years since the bill became law.

"The brave men and women who serve our communities every day - many who volunteer their time - don't delay when they get a call from someone in distress. They act immediately," said Etheridge. "I call on Attorney General Gonzales to stop making excuses, to end the delays and to stop denying these victims' families their benefits. The Hometown Heroes Act became law two years, six months and 12 days ago. The bereaved families should not have to wait another day."

Etheridge offered an amendment to the Departments of Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2007 that would have appropriated funding to pay benefits for the 135 officers who have died of heart attacks or strokes since the act became law. Etheridge withdrew the amendment after the Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee stated that language will be included in the report accompanying the bill as it heads to conference with the Senate stating that the Appropriations Committee "expects the Department of Justice to work swiftly toward full implementation of the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act."

"I offered this amendment to highlight the Department of Justice's foot-dragging and delays. The first delay came when they proposed regulations that were in direct contradiction to clear legislative intent. Then came more delays when they quibbled over words and phrasing. The latest excuse is that they are waiting for approval by the Office of Management and Budget. No more excuses," said Etheridge.

Heart attacks and strokes account for nearly half of firefighter deaths each year. Etheridge's bill was 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.

The act is rooted in North Carolina, born out of a letter written to Etheridge by Mike Williams of Bunnlevel, who worked 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 whose family was denied federal benefits after he died of a heart attack after responding to several calls during his evening shift on January 31, 2002.

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