S. 3897, the Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program Expansion Act of 2026, passed the Senate on August 7, 2026.
S. 3897 — Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety…
What it does
This bill speeds up and improves how the federal government processes death benefits for families of fallen public safety officers. It requires the Bureau of Justice Assistance to notify families within 90 days if information is missing, make a final decision within 270 days, and pay interim benefits if decisions take longer—with those interim payments credited against final awards and not subject to repayment except for fraud.
Quorum's transparency scan found no buried provisions in Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program Expansion Act of 2026.
What happens next
S. 3897 passed the Senate. It now moves to the other chamber.
Who is behind it
Filed by Kirsten Gillibrand. Cosponsored by Alex Padilla, Amy Klobuchar, Christopher Coons and Cory Booker.