January 6th Law Enforcement Heroes Compensation Fund Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8802
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-13: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-16T14:55:00Z
AI-Generated Summary
January 6th Law Enforcement Heroes Compensation Fund Act (H.R. 8802)
Purpose This legislation establishes a federal compensation program for law enforcement officers who defended the United States Capitol during the events of January 6, 2021. It aims to provide payments for economic losses, noneconomic losses, injuries (including mental or emotional harm), and deaths (including suicides reasonably linked to service that day).
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Establishes terms such as "claimant," "economic loss" (pecuniary harms like lost earnings or medical costs), "noneconomic losses" (pain, suffering, PTSD, and related harms), and "collateral source" (other compensation like insurance or government payments).
- Administration: The Attorney General appoints a Special Master to oversee the program, issue rules, and handle claims; administrative costs are authorized for appropriation.
- Claims Process: Eligible individuals or their personal representatives file claims within three years of regulation issuance. The Special Master reviews claims, determines eligibility and compensation amounts within 120 days, and issues final, non-appealable decisions. Claimants may be represented by counsel and present evidence.
- Eligibility: Covers active-duty law enforcement officers who served in defense of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and suffered losses or death; one claim per person or decedent.
- Compensation:
- Payments authorized for determined harm, reduced by collateral sources.
- No punitive damages considered.
- Minimum $4,975,000 for death claims.
- Additional equal payments to all qualifying officers (regardless of loss), calculated as $4,975,000 plus the total of certain U.S. settlement payments to convicted individuals divided by the number of claimants.
- Other: The Act provides advance budget authority; the United States gains subrogation rights for paid claims; regulations must be issued within 90 days.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill creates a new, standalone compensation mechanism outside standard federal tort claims or workers' compensation processes. It introduces a no-negligence, expedited administrative review with binding determinations and a minimum death benefit not tied to prior statutory limits. It also ties additional payments to the aggregate of recent U.S. settlements with convicted January 6 offenders.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Requires the Department of Justice to establish and fund a new claims office, potentially increasing administrative workload and necessitating appropriations.
- Citizens: Provides direct financial support to affected officers and families; indirect costs borne by federal taxpayers.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Law enforcement officers who served at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and their personal representatives or families.
- The Department of Justice and the appointed Special Master.
- Individuals or entities previously receiving settlements from the United States related to January 6 convictions (through the additional payment formula).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The program operates as a no-fault compensation system with limited judicial oversight, as Special Master decisions are final. It includes subrogation provisions allowing the government to recover funds and establishes advance spending authority. The structure parallels certain prior victim compensation models but applies exclusively to this event.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (54)
Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA-11], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] and 4 more
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-13: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-05-13: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-13: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- January 6th Law Enforcement Heroes Compensation Fund Act — issued 2026-05-13 — PDF (12 pages)