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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President


For Immediate Release August 8, 1999

VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FOR WORKING FAMILIES OF STATE AND LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Vice President Al Gore announced today that the Federal Law Enforcement Dependents' Assistance (FLEDA) program will extend financial support for higher education to the working families of state and local public safety officers whose death or permanent disability resulted while they were in the line of duty.

"We owe public safety officers a debt of gratitude for their tireless and courageous service to this country. And for those who are killed or injured in the line of duty, we have an obligation to ensure that their families are protected and that their children have the opportunity to receive higher education," said Vice President Al Gore.

In the past, the FLEDA program has provided financial assistance for higher education only to eligible and qualified survivors of Federal police officers.

The new program, which is administered by the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is called the "Public Safety Officers Educational Assistance (PSOEA) Program." The BJA currently provides the families of officers who are killed or permanently disabled with a one-time benefit, however this money only covers basic needs and is not sufficient to support the cost of higher education.

For more information regarding the PSOEA program contact the Bureau of Justice Assistance at (888) 744-6513. Additional information about BJA or its programs is available at http:/www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bja

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