Washington, D.C. - August 9, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Legislation introduced by U.S. Representatives Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Joe Barton (R-TX) was signed into law.
The Wounded Officers Recovery Act (H.R. 3298) amends the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund so that any United States Capitol Police employee who is seriously injured in the line of duty will be eligible for assistance from the fund, which is supported exclusively by private donations. Until now, federal law only allowed the fund to disburse money to families of officers killed in the line of duty.
The two Congressmen introduced the bipartisan Wounded Officers Recovery Act of 2017 (H.R. 3298) with more than 100 Members of Congress as cosponsors on July 19. It was passed by the House on July 24 by voice vote. The bill was amended and passed by Unanimous Consent in the Senate on July 27, and the slightly altered bill was agreed to unanimously by the House the same afternoon and sent to the White House for signature.
“The Wounded Officers Recovery Act was signed into law only 17 days after it was introduced,” Congressman Doyle noted proudly. “Congress and the White House can act swiftly when we all agree that something should be done, and this was clearly one of those cases. Passing the Wounded Officers Recovery Act is an opportunity for Congress to express our appreciation for the bravery of the US Capitol Police, the risks they take, and the sacrifices they make every day to keep the Capitol and the people in it safe. As a result of this bill’s rapid consideration, Officers Griner and Bailey will receive timely assistance with their health care expenses.”
Representatives Barton and Doyle introduced the Wounded Officers Recovery Act after the June 14 attack on the Congressional Republicans’ baseball team, in which two Capitol Police Officers, Crystal Griner and David Bailey, were wounded while bravely working to stop the gunman.
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