The U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Nevada Democrat Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Senate Republican Mitch McConnell to ensure the families of retired law enforcement officers killed in retaliation for their service are no longer denied federal benefits.
The Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act passed by unanimous consent and now heads to the House of Representatives for a vote.
The bill is named after Chief Herbert D. Proffitt, a Korean War veteran and law enforcement officer of 55 years who retired in 2009 as police chief in Tompkinsville, Kentucky. On August 28, 2012, Chief Proffitt was gunned down in his driveway by a man he had arrested 10 years earlier. His murder was determined to be direct retaliation for his police service—yet his family was denied benefits under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program because he had already retired.
“Even though his murder was a direct retaliation for his service in uniform, Chief Proffitt’s family was denied the benefits they deserved simply because he had already retired,” Cortez Masto said on the Senate floor. “To me, that is unacceptable. And I know my colleagues on both sides of the aisle agree.”
While the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act passed, it was originally part of a broader package Cortez Masto tried to push through—seven pro-law enforcement bills in total. Only two ultimately cleared the Senate: the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act and the Improving Police CARE Act.
The five bills blocked included:
The Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act, which would provide local governments with training and tools to protect officers from dangerous substances;
The Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis Act of 2025, aimed at assisting police and first responders with mental health needs;
The PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025, to modernize and reauthorize the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program;
The Strong Communities Act of 2025, which would incentivize recruits to serve in the neighborhoods where they live;
The Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act, supporting the hiring of retired officers to perform civilian law enforcement tasks.
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., objected to the five measures, according to Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who accused Booker of blocking the bills “in an effort to force federal dollars to sanctuary cities that blatantly violate federal immigration law.”
Cortez Masto, formerly Nevada’s top law enforcement officer, has long been active on policing issues. She’s a member of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus and has authored several bipartisan bills to combat law enforcement suicide and improve mental health resources—signed into law by presidents of both parties. She also authored the BADGES for Native Communities Act, aimed at helping the Bureau of Indian Affairs with recruitment and retention.
New York Democrat Rep. Dan Goldman praised the bill’s passage and urged swift House action.
“We have an obligation to care for those who pay the ultimate price while serving in the line of duty, even after they have retired,” Goldman said.
“At a time when partisan gridlock is grinding Congress to a halt, I’m encouraged that both parties came together to pass this commonsense legislation honoring our fallen heroes. I urge Republican leadership to bring this bill to the House Floor in September and ensure that any law enforcement officers killed or injured in the line of duty receive the benefits they deserve—regardless of retirement status,” he said.
