Rep. Dan Goldman’s Bipartisan Legislation Supporting Families of Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Passes Senate

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today celebrated the Senate’s passage of his bipartisan ‘Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act,’ which would ensure the families of law enforcement officers who are killed as a result of their work on behalf of their communities are not unjustly denied benefits due to arbitrary retirement status restrictions. Under current law, families of officers who have retired but are later targeted and killed because of their past service are denied death benefits under the Public Safety Officers’ (PSOB) program. The unanimous Senate vote sets the legislation on a glide path to final passage by the House when members come back in session in September. Congressman Goldman introduced the legislation with Congressman Barr (KY-06) in February.  

  

“We have an obligation to care for those who pay the ultimate price while serving in the line of duty, even after they have retired,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “At a time when partisan gridlock is grinding Congress to a halt, I’m encouraged that both parties came together to pass this commonsense legislation honoring our fallen heroes. I urge Republican leadership to bring this bill to the House Floor in September and ensure that any law enforcement officers killed or injured in the line of duty receive the benefits they deserve—regardless of retirement status.” 

 

Chief Herbert D. Proffitt dedicated his life to serving others, first as a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and then as a law enforcement officer for 55 years before retiring in 2009 as Chief of the Tompkinsville, Kentucky Police Department. On August 28, 2012, Chief Proffitt was tragically shot and killed in his driveway by an individual he had arrested a decade earlier. Although his murder was a direct retaliation for his service in uniform, his family was denied benefits under the PSOB program simply because he had retired. 

 

Congressman Dan Goldman has made safeguarding public safety officers and first responders a key priority of his time in office.   

  

In the Winter of 2024, Goldman publicly condemned the House Republican’s rejection of the bipartisan budget bill, which would have fully funded the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP).  

  

In the Summer of 2024, Goldman, alongside other New York lawmakers, introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill to address any funding gap or shortfall for World Trade Center Health Program. The ‘9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024’ intended to secure permanent and mandatory funding for the WTCHP, to prevent any future funding shortfall.   

  

In the Fall of 2023, Goldman joined Congressman Bill Pascrell (NJ-09), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) in introducing the ‘Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act’ (Honor Act). This legislation would recognize occupational cancer deaths as line-of-duty deaths, and ensure fire fighters, police, and EMS personnel receive benefits under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program.