A bipartisan group of U.S. senators say that’s unfair, and they’ve introduced legislation to automatically declare that first responders who die of COVID-19 gave their lives in the line of duty.
“It’s the least we can do for the people who put their lives on the line to protect us,” Booker said on a conference call with U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.
Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-9th Dist., has introduced similar legislation in the House.
The legislation guarantees federal benefits to families of first responders — police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians — who die due to the virus without first having to prove that the first responder was infected while on the job.
Under the legislation, death benefits would be paid if a first responder is diagnosed with the coronavirus within 45 days of his or her last shift. The benefits go to public employees and volunteers, though lawmakers said they hoped to expand the program to also include those working for private companies.
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