Bipartisan Bill Championed by Sen. Ossoff to Expand Support for Georgia First Responders Battling Service-Related Cancer Becomes Law

Washington, D.C.— A bipartisan bill backed by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff to strengthen benefits for first responders has become law.
The bipartisanHonoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, a bill cosponsored by Sen. Ossoff, was recently signed into law as part of the NDAA to expand support for Georgia first responders battling service-related cancers or injuries.
Previously, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Public Safety Officer Benefits (PSOB) program only provided support to first responders who sustained service-related physical injuries or deaths caused by service-related heart attacks, strokes, and mental health conditions.
Under this bipartisan law, the program will now provide support to law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders who fall ill or die of cancer linked to their service and extend similar benefits to survivors of public safety officers.
“Georgia’s first responders put their lives on the line for Georgians every single day,”Sen. Ossoff said.“We passed this bipartisan law to ensure that they get the support they deserve for protecting our communities.”
Sen. Ossoff continues working to support Georgia’s public servants and their families.
In March 2025, Sens. Ossoff and Ashley Moody (R-FL)introducedthe bipartisanHomes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act of 2025, which would establish a new home loan program under the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) for law enforcement, fire fighters, medical first responders, and teachers.
In March 2025, Sen. Ossoff helpedintroducethe bipartisanFighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Actto help first responders who are dealing with long-term mental health effects.
In January 2025, the bipartisanSocial Security Fairness Act ––which was cosponsored by Sen. Ossoff –– wassigned into lawto increase Social Security benefits for public employees like teachers, firefighters, and law enforcement officers.
In 2022, Sens. Ossoff and Chuck Grassley (R-IA)’s bipartisanTBI and PTSD Law Enforcement Training Actbecame lawto fund trainings for first responders, crisis intervention teams, mental health courts, and other programs that help law enforcement assist individuals experiencing mental illness.
Click hereto read theHonoring Our Fallen Heroes Act.
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