Comments on S. 879

Legislation has been proposed which would provide for a lump-sum payment of $50,000 to the survivor of any Federal law enforcement officer or firefighter who dies as a result of injuries sustained in the performance of duty. Because several programs already exist which provide survivor benefits upon the death of Federal civilian personnel, GAO could find no reasonable grounds for the proposed additional benefits. If it is necessary to provide additional compensation for Federal law enforcement and firefighter personnel, GAO felt it should be reflected in pay, not in benefit programs. The bill would also include Federal protective officers employed by the General Services Administration and other nonuniformed special police under the more generous retirement provisions available to certain law enforcement and firefighter personnel under the civil service retirement system. GAO does not support this change. The bill would include these employees among those Federal officials afforded the protection of the Federal statutes pertaining to punishment for the murder, manslaughter, or assault of such officials. GAO saw no reason not to include them.