Health Care for Families of Slain Public Safety Officers
May 21, 2007
The Honorable Bart Stupak
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative Stupak:
On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the tens of thousands of public safety officers that we represent, I am writing in support of your legislation, “Public Safety Officer Family Health Benefits Act”.
Public safety officers put their lives on the line everyday to safeguard our communities. Sadly, some of these dedicated officers lose the battle and are fatally wounded by violent criminals on the street or in our correctional facilities. Congress and our nation recently honored our public safety officers and those killed in the line of duty in May during “National Correctional Officers Week” and “National Police Week” by flying the United States flag at half-mast.
It is appropriate and just that you plan to introduce a bill to ensure that uninsured spouses and children of those officers killed in the line of duty are not themselves put at risk of health problems by providing eligibility for health care coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Public safety officers will be comforted to know that their loved ones will continue to have health care in the event of their untimely death.
AFSCME applauds your leadership in the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus and your work on behalf of our nation’s public safety officers who so richly deserve our support. You have AFSCME’s commitment to work with you in your efforts to pass the “Public Safety Officers Family Health Benefits Act” so that we can honor the sacrifice made by these officers and their families.
Sincerely,
Charles M. Loveless
Director of Legislation