Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act of 1976
Public Law 94-430 · H.R. 366 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Sep 29, 1976 · Crime and Law Enforcement
Sponsor: Rep. Joshua Eilberg (D-PA-4)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 290 yea, 71 nay290–71
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act - Provides that a public safety officer who dies as the direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty, shall be entitled to $50,000 as specified in this Act. Allows for an interim payment of $3,000 to the persons entitled to receive a benefit.
Provides that under specified circumstances no benefit shall be paid, including: (1) intentional misconduct of the public safety officer; (2) voluntary intoxication of the officer; and (3) where a potential beneficiary substantially contributed to the death of the public safety officer.
Defines the terms used in this Act.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 94th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 298 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
298 yea78 nay54 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(210)
- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
- Rep. Bella AbzugD-NY-20
- Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
- Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
- Rep. Yvonne BurkeD-CA-28
- Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
- Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24- Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19- Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Herman BadilloD-NY-21
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
- Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
- Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
- Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
- Rep. Charles CarneyD-OH-19
- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
- Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
- Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
- Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
- Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
- Rep. John McFallD-CA-14
- Rep. Tip O’NeillD-MA-8
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Edward KochD-NY-18
- Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
- Rep. Robert LeggettD-CA-4
- Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
- Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
- Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
- Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
- Rep. Helen MeynerD-NJ-13
- Rep. Edward MezvinskyD-IA-1
- Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. Thomas MorganD-PA-22
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
- Rep. Dominick DanielsD-NJ-14
- Rep. Spark MatsunagaD-HI-1
- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- Rep. Floyd HicksD-WA-6
- Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
- Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
- Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
- Rep. Joseph KarthD-MN-4
- Rep. James O’HaraD-MI-12
- Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
- Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
- Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
- Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
- Rep. John DentD-PA-21
- Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
- Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
- Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
- Rep. Paul SarbanesD-MD-3
- Rep. Joseph VigoritoD-PA-24
- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
- Rep. Paul TsongasD-MA-5
- Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
- Rep. Philip HayesD-IN-8
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
- Rep. Bernice SiskD-CA-16
- Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
- Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
- Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
- Rep. Tim HallD-IL-15
- Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
- Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
- Rep. William HungateD-MO-9
- Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
- Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
- Rep. Richard Vander VeenD-MI-5
- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
- Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
- Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
- Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
- Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
- Rep. Leo RyanD-CA-11
- Rep. James SymingtonD-MO-2
- Rep. John MelcherD-MT-2
- Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
- Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
- Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
- Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
- Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
- Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
- Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
- Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
Rep. Max BaucusD-MT-1- Rep. George ShipleyD-IL-22
- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
- Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
- Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
- Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
- Rep. Michael BlouinD-IA-2
- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
- Rep. Mark HannafordD-CA-34
- Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
- Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
- Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
- Rep. John KrebsD-CA-17
- Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
- Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
- Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
- Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
- Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
- Rep. Martha KeysD-KS-2
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
- Rep. John YoungD-TX-14
- Rep. Wilbur MillsD-AR-2
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
- Rep. John BreckinridgeD-KY-6
- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
- Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
- Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
- Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. William RandallD-MO-4
- Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
- Rep. John RoushD-IN-4
- Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
- Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
- Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
- Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. Walter FlowersD-AL-7
- Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
- Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
- Rep. Robert KruegerD-TX-21
- Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
- Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
- Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
- Rep. Kenneth HechlerD-WV-4
- Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
- Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
- Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
- Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
- Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
- Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
- Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
- Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
- Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
- Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. Thomas DowningD-VA-1
- Rep. Goodloe ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. John FlyntD-GA-6
- Rep. Harold RunnelsD-NM-2
- Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
- Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
Republicans who voted yea(88)
- Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
- Rep. Gilbert GudeR-MD-8
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Edward BiesterR-PA-8
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
- Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. William WalshR-NY-33
- Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
- Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
- Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
- Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
- Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
- Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
- Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
- Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
- Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
- Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
- Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
- Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
- Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
- Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
- Rep. Charles MosherR-OH-13
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
- Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
- Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
- Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
Rep. Thad CochranR-MS-4- Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
- Rep. Pierre du PontR-DE
- Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
- Rep. Albert JohnsonR-PA-23
- Rep. Garner ShriverR-KS-4
- Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
- Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
- Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5- Rep. Herbert BurkeR-FL-12
- Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
- Rep. Philip RuppeR-MI-11
- Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
- Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
- Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
- Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
- Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
- Rep. Burt TalcottR-CA-16
- Rep. Alphonzo BellR-CA-27
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Shirley PettisR-CA-37
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
- Rep. Louis FreyR-FL-9
- Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
- Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
- Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
- Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
- Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
- Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
- Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
- Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
- Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3- Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
- Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
- Rep. Robert KastenR-WI-9
- Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
- Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
- Rep. Gary MyersR-PA-25
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6- Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
- Rep. William KetchumR-CA-18
- Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
- Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
- Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
- Rep. Donald ClancyR-OH-2
- Rep. Richard KellyR-FL-5
- Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
- Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
- Rep. John AshbrookR-OH-17
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1173 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 22 actions.
- Sep 29, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-430.
- Sep 17, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 16, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Sep 15, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #735 (290-71).House roll call 735
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #735 (290-71).House roll call 735
- Sep 10, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1501.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1501.
- Aug 24, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Jul 19, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #391 (80-4).Senate roll call 391
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- May 12, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
- May 3, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
- Apr 30, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #220 (199-93).House roll call 220
- FloorFloor · Motion to recommit to the Committee on the Judiciary rejected in House.
- Apr 9, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
- Jan 14, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.