Bill seeks to extend benefits of fallen TSA officers

U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA) has introduced the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act, which extends benefits to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers killed in the line of duty.

“Every day, TSA officers put their lives on the line in order to protect millions of Americans in their travels, both domestically and abroad,” Brownley said. “Following the tragic shooting of TSA Officer Gerardo Hernandez at LAX in 2013, I introduced the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act to ensure that the families of fallen TSA officers receive the same benefits made available to other law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. They deserve nothing less.”

Brownley noted the extension would be enabled via the U.S. Department of Justice Public Safety Officer Benefits Program (PSOB).

“It is incredibly unfair and unjust that the service provided to the American people by our TSA officers is not given adequate recognition and compensation,” Brownley concluded. “This bill corrects that wrong.”

Current law does not provide TSA officers with death benefits such as those offered to firefighters, police officers, FBI agents, or state troopers, per bill proponents, adding the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act amends federal law to provide for the eligibility of a TSA officer performing official duties of the Administration if those official duties are related to protecting the nation’s transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce – to receive public safety officers’ death benefits.