In a rare show of bipartisan unity, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to close a glaring loophole in federal law that has long denied families of retired law enforcement officers killed in retaliation for their service the federal benefits they rightfully deserve.

The Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, passed unanimously and now heads to the House of Representatives for final approval.

The bill honors the memory of Chief Herbert D. Proffitt, a Korean War veteran and Kentucky law enforcement officer with 55 years of service. He was murdered in cold blood in 2012, gunned down in his driveway by a man he had arrested a decade earlier. Although his death was clearly retaliation for his law enforcement work, his family was denied federal death benefits because Chief Proffitt had retired three years earlier.

“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.”

The Proffitt Act was part of a broader pro-law enforcement package championed by Cortez Masto, a former state attorney general. Out of seven proposed bills, only two advanced through the Senate: the Proffitt Act and the Improving Police CARE Act, which focuses on officer mental health.

However, five other measures meant to bolster police support were blocked, including:

• The Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act, which would help local officers avoid hazardous substances like fentanyl;
• The Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis Act, providing mental health resources for first responders;
• The PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act, aimed at enhancing investigations of internet crimes against minors;
• The Strong Communities Act, which encourages officers to serve in the neighborhoods where they live;
• The Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act, allowing retired officers to continue contributing in civilian law enforcement roles.

According to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the five measures were blocked by Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who he said tried to leverage the police funding bills to force federal dollars into sanctuary cities that openly defy immigration law.

Grassley accused Booker of holding law enforcement hostage to appease left-wing demands.

Despite the obstruction, the passage of the Proffitt Act drew praise across the aisle. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) urged the Republican-controlled House to take up the bill quickly.

“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.”

Cortez Masto, who has worked across the aisle on issues like law enforcement suicide prevention and Native American policing support, has made clear her continued focus on public safety.

The bill now awaits a vote in the House this fall. Republican leadership under President Donald J. Trump’s second term has consistently prioritized law enforcement support, and the Proffitt Act is expected to receive strong backing from the GOP majority.