Political Quotes

“on September 11, 2002, Reverend Mychal Judge responded to the attack on the World Trade Center as a New York City Fire Department chaplain. He braved the fire, falling debris, and chaos on the scene to administer last rites to victims in the lobby. Father Judge paid the ultimate price for his heroic actions; he too lost his life on that tragic day. Under the existing Public Safety Officer Benefit program, chaplains of fire and police departments are not eligible for public safety officer benefits. While no amount of money can replace their fallen brother, Father Judge's two surviving sisters currently cannot receive benefits from this program. This bill, H.R. 3297, will extend Federal death benefits to officially designated chaplains of volunteer and professional police and fire departments that were killed in the line of duty. This will broaden the number of eligible beneficiaries. The bill also addresses the issue of deceased public safety officers without immediate families. Nine public safety officers died on September 11 without spouses, children, or surviving parents. H.R. 3297 will expand the Public Safety Officer program to extend death benefits to the beneficiary named on the deceased officer's life insurance policy. All expanded benefits will be effective as of September 11, 2001. Benefits are intended to pay for burial of the fallen officer and grief counseling services for the family.”