Senate Passes Donnelly's Bipartisan Wounded Officers Recovery Act

Press Release

Today the Senate passed U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly's bipartisan Wounded Officers Recovery Act. Donnelly introduced the bill with Senators Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) -- all members of the Republican or Democratic congressional baseball teams -- last week. This bill recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

Donnelly said, "I'm proud this bipartisan bill has passed the Senate and is moving forward. Every day, Capitol Police officers put their lives on the line to ensure the safety of members of Congress, our staff, and visitors from across the country and world. Capitol Police officers seriously wounded in the line of duty, including those who saved lives at last month's shooting in Virginia, should be eligible for United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund assistance. It was an honor to work with my colleagues to pass this legislation."

The bipartisan, bicameral bill would amend the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund to expand eligibility to include any U.S. Capitol Police employee that has been seriously injured in the line of duty. The fund at present only allows funds donated to be distributed to families of officers killed in the line of duty.

The bill would enable Capitol Police special agents Crystal Griner and David Bailey to access funds raised for victims of the congressional baseball practice shooting. Griner and Bailey were both wounded in the line of duty as they successfully fought off and subdued the gunman.

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