WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following press release:
Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) applauded the Senate's unanimous passage of their bipartisan Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program Expansion Act, which would help first responders and their families receive their federal disability and death benefits quicker. Currently, it can take years for applicants to learn whether they qualify for payments.
"This is a major win for our public safety officers, who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities," said Senator Gillibrand. "Today, we are one step closer to fixing a slow and broken process that keeps first re...