Before adjourning Aug. 7th for a month-long recess, the Senate passed the Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Expansion Act by voice vote. This bill is a top priority for NAPO as it would make vital changes to the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program to increase transparency and accountability and ensure the Program honors and supports officers and their families. NAPO will pursue every possible path to get this bill to the President’s desk to be signed into law before the end of this Congress.
The Senate narrowly voted 50-49 to confirm Todd Blanche Aug. 8 as the next U.S. Attorney General and he was officially sworn in by President Trump on Aug. 10. Blanche addressed NAPO at our Annual Convention in Detroit pledging to continue his strong support for state and local law enforcement. NAPO endorsed Attorney General Blanche’s nomination for his commitment to the rule of law and a fair and impartial justice system throughout his public service and private sector career.
NAPO pledged our support for the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Enhancement Act (H.R. 9845), working closely with Representatives Lou Correa (D-CA) and Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ). who introduced the legislation. The legislation would improve the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program by making it easier for survivors of public safety officers who suffer from fatal heart attacks or strokes in the line of duty to receive PSOB benefits. The Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act of 2003 allows officers who suffer debilitating or fatal heart attacks or strokes while on, or related to, active duty or training work to be eligible for PSOB death and disability benefits. The Dale Long PSOB Improvements Act, which passed in 2012, expands PSOB coverage to include certain vascular ruptures in addition to heart attacks and strokes. However, PSOB does not truly honor the presumption of injury and causation in many cases. The Public Safety Officers' Benefits Enhancement Act modifies the PSOB program by: extending the time period for heart attacks, strokes, and vascular ruptures to be covered from 24 to 72 hours; and changing the presumption so that qualifying events are covered unless medical evidence says it was unrelated to service — instead of placing the burden of proof on the survivors to show it was directly caused by the activity.
NAPO endorsed Lance Schroyer as the next Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to his distinguished, nearly 30-year career in public service. From his United States Marine Corps service to his time as an Oklahoma state trooper, he intimately understands the various aspects of ICE’s broad mission to keep our nation safe.
The House will return from August recess on Aug. 31 and the Senate will return Sept. 14. Before adjourning, the Senate approved a bipartisan stopgap spending bill that would keep the government funded through Dec. 11. The House passed its own version that would fund the government through Dec. 4. While the two chambers still need to work out a final deal, this significantly reduces the threat of an October government shutdown. Congress will return to a busy Fall schedule, which includes: final passage of a continuing resolution to fund the government; the Fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act; and reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The Senate must also take up and pass the reauthorization of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), which expires in February 2027. The House passed the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act in April.
For complete details, click here for the Aug. 14, 2026 Washington Report.
