U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) have introduced the Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act.

This bipartisan legislation would significantly increase the death gratuity and funeral benefits for families of federal civil servants killed in the line of duty, modernizing support that has not been updated in decades.

Key Provisions:

   •Raises the one-time death benefit from $10,000 (set in 1997) to $100,000, aligning it with benefits provided to military and Foreign Service families.

   •Increases the funeral benefit from $800 (unchanged since 1966) to $8,800.

   •Expands eligibility to survivors of all federal workers and allows federal employees to designate their beneficiary of choice.

   •Indexes benefits to inflation to maintain future parity.

   •Makes benefits mandatory and not discretionary, ensuring timely support for families.

Currently, survivors of federal civil servants receive benefits that often do not cover funeral costs or immediate financial needs.

The bill is endorsed by major federal employee and law enforcement organizations, including the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, National Treasury Employees Union, and the American Federation of Government Employees.

Senator Fetterman emphasized the need for the legislation, stating, “It’s long past time that our laws reflect our national values and profound appreciation for federal workers who gave the ultimate sacrifice.” Senator Hagerty added, “Law enforcement put their lives on the line every day and deserve our highest honor and recognition.”