Information provided by F.O.P. Grassroots Action Netwrok

For the Week of September 18, 2009

Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, welcomed the news that H.R. 959, the "Officer Daniel Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act," was included in H.R. 3221, the "Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act," which passed the House this week on a 253 to 171 vote.

"This legislation will help the children of those law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe," Canterbury said. "This bill will make a college education more affordable for these families, many of whom are struggling to makes ends meet in addition to suffering the loss of a loved one."

The original bill, H.R. 959, introduced by Representatives Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Todd Russell Platts (R-PA), and strongly supported by the FOP, would eliminate the Expected Family Contribution in the Pell Grant eligibility formula for the children of fallen police officers and other public safety officers. This scholarship will not affect the educational assistance currently provided by the Public Safety Officers Benefit program.

The language from H.R. 959 was included in the final bill as part of the manager's amendment submitted by Representative George Miller (D-CA), Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, at the request of Representatives Murphy and Platts. The amendment passed by voice vote on the House floor. The bill will now move to the Senate for consideration.

"I am pleased that the House of Representatives took action on this matter, and want to thank Representatives Murphy and Platts for their leadership on behalf of these families and all law enforcement officers," Canterbury said. "We now must continue to monitor this issue and fight for the inclusion of this language as it is considered by the Senate."

For more information, please contact the FOP's National Legislative Office at 202-547-8189 or via e-mail at natlfop@fop.net.