Sen. Cruz Remarks on Senate Judiciary Committee Passing John Barnes Act to Strengthen Benefits for Public Safety Officers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, delivered remarks as the Senate Judiciary Committee voted yesterday to pass the Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program Expansion Act of 2026 . Sen. Cruz introduced and is leading the bipartisan legislation with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). This bill speeds up benefit determinations for public safety officers by amending the existing Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program. Click here or on the image above to watch Sen. Cruz’s opening remarks. Please see below for excerpts and highlights from Sen. Cruz’s opening remarks as delivered: “This week, we remember the 201 law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty this year, including 16 Texans. And we honor the fallen by keeping faith with the living. That faith has a name: the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, created by Congress in 1976, so that when our first responders answer the call of sacrifice, their country does not answer with silence. But silence is exactly what too many heroes have received. The program is failing too many first responders and their loved ones. “That's why I have teamed up with Senator Gillibrand to introduce the Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers Benefits Program Expansion Act. The bill forces the program to make final determinations within 270 days of receiving completed claims. It provides temporary relief to first responders left waiting by inexcusable delays, and it creates an expedited system of review for public safety officers who did not hesitate to act during the September 11 attacks. “I want to thank the supporters of this bill, including the National Fraternal Order of Police, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the National Association of Police Organizations, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Major County Sheriffs of America, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the National Narcotics Officers Association Coalition, the United States Deputy Sheriffs' Association, and the Voices Center for Resilience. I appreciate the senators who have joined me on this, and I urge the committee to adopt the bill.” Click here to read more about the bill. BACKGROUND The Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program Expansion Act of 2026 would: Require the BJA to complete a death or disability determination within 270 days of receiving a complete claim Expedite processing for officers already certified for benefits through the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) or the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) Direct BJA to implement GAO recommendations to establish updated program processes and administrative procedures