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EXCLUSIVEFox News reports that President Biden will sign three pieces bipartisan legislation on Thursday to support police officers, law enforcement, and federal officials.
The president, on Thursday morning, will sign into law S. 1511, the “Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021,” S. 1502, the “Confidentiality Opportunities for Peer Support Counseling Act or the COPS Counseling Act,” and S. 921, the “Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act.”
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According to Fox News, the president will sign the bills that were passed almost unanimously and with bipartisan support at a White House ceremony held in the State Dining Room.
The “Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021,” authored by Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and co-sponsored by Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, would better ensure that law enforcement and first responders who are disabled in the line of duty have prompt access to benefits.
The federal program provides death or disability benefits in the form of a lump sum payment. It is adjusted annually to reflect the consumer price index. These benefits may also be available to surviving spouses or children in the form monthly education assistance.
The Grassley Gillibrand bill is not. To account for any increases in the cost-of-living that may occur during long adjudication periods, the amount of the benefit award must be determined on the date the adjudication was made.
This bill was cosponsored more than a dozen Republican as well as Democratic senators.
The president will also sign the Confidentiality Opportunities For Peer Support Counseling Act or the COPS Counseling Act. This Act sets requirements for peer counseling programs to be provided through a law enforcement agency.
The bill, authored jointly by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, D.Nev., and Grassley, would guarantee confidentiality to federal law enforcement officers using peer counseling services. However, it would not allow for admissions of criminal behavior or threats of severe physical harm. The bill would encourage first response agencies to adopt peer counseling programs. It would require the DOJ to make best practice publicly available on its site and to provide a list with training programs for individuals who wish to become peer support mentoring.
The House passed the COPS Act on a 424-3 vote. Three Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York, Rashida Talib of Michigan, and Cori Bus of Missouri voted against it.
Biden will sign the “Jaime Zapata & Victor Avila Federal Officers & Employees Protection Act”, which was cosponsored by Sens. John Cornyn (Republican) and Chris Coons (Democratic). Sens. Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D.I.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) cosponsored the bill. Grassley partnered with his Senate colleagues to support the legislation.
The bill provides that U.S. federal employees and officers serving abroad can be prosecuted and brought to justice in the United States for those who have attempted or killed them.
The bill is named in honor of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Special Agents Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila. They were attacked by Mexican drug gangs in San Luis Potosi on February 15, 2011. Special Agent Zapata was killed in the attack by Mexican drug cartels in San Luis Potosi, Mexico on February 15, 2011.
The legislation would also clarify that federal employees and officers serving overseas are protected and that U.S. courts can try their attackers before a U.S. court.
Source: Fox News
