Legislation to automatically pay federal death benefits to law enforcement officers and other first responders who die of COVID-19 unanimously passed the U.S. Senate Thursday.
The measure removes the requirement that families of officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians do not have to prove that the first responder was infected while on the job as long as the person was diagnosed with COVID-19 within 45 days of his or her last shift, NJ.com reports.
“Our firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and other emergency services personnel risk their lives to keep us safe, and face significantly increased hazards during this pandemic,” said the bill’s chief Democratic sponsor, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker.
Similar legislation is being sponsored in the U.S. House by Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-9th Dist., and a benefits provision was included in the $3 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill expected to pass the chamber on Friday.
