S. 237 · On the floor · Crime and Law Enforcement

Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025

What it does

Extends Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program death and disability benefits to public safety officers with exposure-related cancer from duty and to their survivors.
Presumes carcinogen exposure is a line-of-duty injury if it occurred on duty, the officer served at least 5 years before diagnosis, and the diagnosis came within 15 years of the last active service.
Requires that the cancer directly and proximately caused the officer's death or permanent and total disability.
Requires the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance to periodically review and update the definition of exposure-related cancer based on medical evidence and a petition process.

Official summary

Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025 This bill extends death and disability benefits under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program (PSOB) to certain public safety officers who suffer from exposure-related cancer while on duty and their survivors. The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers who are killed or injured in the line of duty and their survivors. The bill specifies that exposure to a carcinogen shall be presumed to constitute a personal injury in the line of duty if the exposure occurred while the officer was in the line of duty; the officer began serving as an officer not fewer than 5 years before the date of the diagnosis of an exposure-related cancer and the diagnosis occurred not more than 15 years after the last date of active service; and the exposure-related cancer directly and proximately resulted in the death or permanent and total disability of the officer. The Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance must periodically review the definition of exposure-related cance r and update the definition if appropriate based on medical evidence and in accordance with the requirements of a petition process.

Latest action

May 20, 2025: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 78.

Committee: Senate Judiciary