H.R. 8802 — January 6th Law Enforcement Heroes Compensation Fund Act

This section defines terms for the Act, including claimant as an individual filing a compensation claim, collateral source as insurance, pension, death benefit, or government payments tied to the January 6, 2021, Capitol events, economic loss as pecuniary harms such as lost earnings or medical costs, noneconomic losses as pain and suffering damages, eligible individual as a person approved for compensation, and special master as the appointed administrator.

This section states the purpose of the Act to compensate law enforcement officers who defended the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, including those injured (including mental or emotional injury) or killed in the attack.

This section directs the Attorney General to appoint a Special Master to administer the compensation program established under this Act, promulgate all procedural and substantive rules for its administration, and employ and supervise hearing officers and other personnel. It authorizes appropriations for the administrative and support costs of the Special Master.

This section establishes a claims process for compensation for active duty law enforcement officers who served in defense of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, or their personal representatives. Eligible claimants may file a single claim with the Special Master within 3 years after regulations are promulgated, seeking amounts for physical, emotional, psychological, economic, and noneconomic losses or death (including suicide reasonably attributable to service that day). The Special Master must determine eligibility and compensation amounts within 120 days, without considering negligence or awarding punitive damages, and must reduce awards by any collateral source compensation received.

This section directs the Special Master to authorize payment to a claimant within 180 days after determining the compensation amount under section 5(b). It requires a minimum payment of $4,975,000 for any death claim, including suicide or other deaths reasonably attributable to the claimant’s service on January 6, 2021.

This section requires the Special Master to pay each active-duty law enforcement officer who defended the Capitol on January 6, 2021, an equal share of $4,975,000 plus the total amount of all settlements paid by the United States to individuals convicted of January 6-related offenses between January 20, 2025, and the end of the claim period.

This section directs the Attorney General, in consultation with the Special Master, to promulgate regulations within 90 days of enactment to implement the Act. The regulations must address claim forms and required information, procedures for hearings and evidence presentation, assistance for individuals filing and pursuing claims, and other matters the Attorney General deems appropriate.