Fraternal Order of Police
Fraternal Order of Police
Washington Watch: Legislative Update
For the Week of 10 May 2010
I. Legislative News and Activity
II. This Week in Congress
III. Update on FOP Top Legislative Priorities
IV. Update on LEOSA
V. NEWS: Time Change for NPOMS
VI. NEWS: Senate Passes LEOSA Amendments Bill!!!
VII. NEWS: Scholarship for Children of Fallen Officers Passes House
I. LEGISLATIVE NEWS AND ACTIVITY
National President Chuck Canterbury, National Secretary Patrick Yoes, and Executive
Director Jim Pasco attended the FOP's annual Day on the Hill event.
National President Canterbury and Executive Director Pasco met with Nate Tamarin,
Associate Director of the Office of Political Affairs in the White House, and
Alan Hoffman, Deputy Chief of Staff to Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.,
to discuss FOP priorities.
National President Canterbury and Executive Director Pasco met with John T.
Morton, Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to discuss ICE enforcement issues.
Executive Director Pasco spoke with numerous officials from the White House
and the Executive Branch to discuss activities concerning Police Week and the
National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service.
Executive Director Pasco spoke to officials from the Department of Justice
about a potential Federal investigation of the New Orleans Police Department.
Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson had numerous conversations with a
variety of Senate staffers regarding S. 1132, the "Law Enforcement Officers'
Safety Act Improvements Act."
Legislative Liaison Jon Gentile represented the FOP at a monthly coalition
meeting of law enforcement and criminal justice organizations.
Legislative Liaison Bill Fitzpatrick met with staff in the office of Representative
Jim Moran (D-VA) to discuss issues concerning the Pentagon Police.
Approximately 100 officers participated in this year's annual Day on the Hill
event, which was rescheduled from February due to severe weather conditions.
On behalf of the National Legislative Office and the National Legislative Committee,
thank you for coming to D.C. to help get the FOP's top legislative priorities
enacted!!!
II. THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS
Both the House and the Senate were in session this week.
On Monday, President Obama nominated Elena Kagan, the Solicitor General of
the United States, to fill the seat on the Supreme Court being vacated by Justice
John Paul Stevens. The National Legislative Office is currently reviewing Ms.
Kagan’s records and writings on law enforcement, labor, and Second Amendment
issues.
Action in the House
The House considered and passed H.R. 959, the “Officer Daniel Faulkner
Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act,” by voice vote. This bill,
which was crafted with the help of the FOP, would help the children of fallen
public safety officers afford college. (See Item VII for details.)
The House considered and amended, but did not vote on, H.R. 5116, the “America
COMPETES Reauthorization Act.” The bill aimed to boost U.S. economic
competitiveness through federal support of various science and technology education
and research programs.
Action in House Committees
The Committee on the Judiciary held an oversight hearing on the Justice Department,
with Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.
Action in the Senate
The Senate passed S. 1132, the “Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act Improvements
Act,” by unanimous consent. (See Item VI for details)
The Senate continued debate on S. 3217, the “Restoring American Financial
Stability Act of 2010.” A final vote is possible for next week.
Action in Senate Committees
The Committee on the Judiciary held an oversight hearing on U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services.
III. UPDATE ON FOP TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
For the complete list of cosponsors for all of our top legislative priorities,
or to find out if your Representative and Senators are cosponsors of specific
bills, check out http://thomas.loc.gov .
A. Social Security Issues
(1) Support H.R. 235/S. 484, the "Social Security Fairness Act"
We currently have three hundred and fourteen (314) cosponsors on H.R. 235--more
than a House majority! Please note that this total differs slightly from THOMAS,
as we are not including in our count former Representatives Nathan Deal (R-GA),
Eric Massa (D-NY), John M. McHugh (R-NY), Ellen O. Tauscher (D-CA), and Robert
Wexler (D-FL), all of whom who resigned their seats, as well as John P. Murtha
(D-PA), who recently died. In addition, Delegates Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-Guam),
Pedro R. Pierluisi (D-Puerto Rico) and Gregorio Sablan (D-MP), who have limited
voting rights on the floor, are also not included in our total.
We currently have thirty (30) cosponsors on S. 484. Please note that this total
differs slightly from THOMAS, as we are not including in our count Senator
Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), who died last year.
(2) Opposing any legislation that would require the participation of public
employees in Social Security
The FOP will continue to lobby against this scheme and oppose any legislation
which would mandate participation in Social Security.
B. Support H.R. 413/S. 1611/S. 3194, the "Public Safety Employer-Employee
Cooperation Act"
We added two (2) cosponsors to H.R. 413 bringing our current total to two hundred
and eleven (211), which means we need only four (4) additional cosponsors to
reach a House majority! Please note that this total differs slightly from THOMAS,
as we are not including in our count Representatives John M. McHugh (R-NY)
and Robert Wexler (D-FL), who resigned their seats, or John P. Murtha (D-PA),
who recently died. In addition, Delegates Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and
Pedro R. Pierluisi (D-Puerto Rico), who have limited voting rights on the floor,
are also not included in our total.
The National Legislative Office is focusing on the bill's cosponsors in the
previous Congress. FOP members should expect to see outreach requests from
the National Legislative Committee in the coming weeks.
We added one (1) cosponsor to S. 1611, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), which
brings our current total to twenty-tow cosponsors. Please note that this total
differs slightly from THOMAS, as we are not including in our count Senators
Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), who died last year, or Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL),
who resigned his seat last year.
In addition to S. 1611, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-NV) introduced
S. 3194, which is identical to S. 1611. Senator Reid took this step and initiated
a first reading of the bill, which will allow S. 3194 to be considered directly
on the floor without having to be referred to a committee. Either bill, S.
1611 or S. 3194 could be taken up by the Senate. If the House passed H.R. 413,
the Senate would take up that bill.
C. Support H.R. 1972, the "Law Enforcement Officer’s Procedural
Bill of Rights Act"
We added one (1) cosponsor to H.R. 1972, bringing our current total to seven
(7).
The Senate companion bill has not yet been introduced.
D. Support H.R. 673, the “Law Enforcement Officers’ Equity Act"
We currently have twenty-three (23) cosponsors on H.R. 673. Please note that
this total differs slightly from THOMAS, as we are not including in our count
Representative John M. McHugh (R-NY) and Robert Wexler (D-FL), who resigned
their seats.
The Senate companion bill has not yet been introduced.
IV. UPDATE ON LEGISLATION AMENDING LEOSA
This week the Senate passed S. 1132 by unanimous consent. This legislation
will now go to the House for further action.
We have eleven (11) cosponsors on H.R. 3752. Please note we are not including
in our count Representatives Eric Massa (D-NY), who resigned his seat, or John
P. Murtha, who died earlier this year. The bill is similar in most respects
to the Senate companion bill, S. 1132. The House bill includes language that
would also clarify the status of retired military personnel that served as
law enforcement officers in their respective branch of service. We will continue
to work with Rep. Forbes' office to get this bill moved through subcommittee.
V. FOP NEWS: Time Change for NPOMS; Event to Start at 11am
Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, announced
today that the organization’s annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial
Service will begin at 11am, one hour earlier than was previously scheduled.
“
The Memorial Service, probably the most solemn event for law enforcement officers
and their families in the calendar year, will begin an hour earlier this year
to accommodate the schedules of our guests and participants,” Canterbury
said. “I look forward to being with the families of our fallen heroes
next week.”
The National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service, which will be held on
Saturday, 15 May on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, will honor the one hundred
and sixteen (116) law enforcement officers who gave their lives in the line
of duty in 2009. The National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service is the
capstone event of National Police Week, which will begin this year on 10 May.
During National Police Week, thousands of law enforcement officers in every
region of the nation gather at memorial services to honor their fallen colleagues.
More than 25,000 officers, as well as the surviving family members and friends
of slain officers, will travel to the nation’s capital to attend the
29th Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service, which is the nation’s
largest and most prominent memorial service held on behalf of fallen law enforcement
officers.
In October 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating
May 15th as National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day. Since the signing
of this proclamation, this date has been the official day of recognition for
law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the performance of their
duty. This is the 29th year that the Fraternal Order of Police and its Auxiliary
will hold the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service.
VI. NEWS: Senate Passes LEOSA Amendments Bill!!!
Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, cheered
today's news that the United States Senate passed S. 1132, the "Law Enforcement
Officers' Safety Act Improvements Act," by unanimous consent.
"
I want to first express my deep appreciation to Chairman Leahy for his commitment
to this issue," Canterbury said. "I know he's been trying to move
the bill for us since late last year, and his persistence paid off today."
Senator Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT), the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, is
also the sponsor of S. 1132. With the active support of the Judiciary Committee's
Ranking Member, Senator Jefferson B. Sessions III, the legislation was favorably
reported by that committee in March of this year.
"
We're very fortunate to have a champion like Chairman Leahy and strong supporters
like Senator Sessions," Canterbury said. "Many of our retired officers
are facing significant hurdles because some States have failed to implement
the law as intended by Congress; this bill will help them overcome those obstacles."
The bill would improve certain provisions of the Law Enforcement Officers'
Safety Act (LEOSA), especially with respect to retired law enforcement officers,
and would make clear that law enforcement officers employed by the Amtrak and
Federal Reserve Police Departments, as well as those employed by the executive
branch of the Federal Government who are classified as a GS-0083 meet the definition
of "qualified law enforcement officer" in current law. The bill would
also lower the aggregate years of service needed to meet the definition of "qualified
retired law enforcement officer" from fifteen (15) to ten (10) and removes
confusing language related to that same definition. The bill will now move
to the House for further consideration.
VII. NEWS: Scholarship for Children of Fallen Officers Passes House
Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, welcomed
the news that H.R. 959, the “Officer Daniel Faulkner Children of Fallen
Heroes Scholarship Act,” passed the House this week by voice vote.
“
This bill will make a college education more affordable for the families of
fallen officers,” Canterbury said. “It is important to help these
families because many will struggle with financial hardships after losing their
loved one suddenly and tragically.”
The bill, introduced by Representatives Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Todd Russell
Platts (R-PA), and crafted with the help of the FOP, would eliminate the Expected
Family Contribution in the Pell Grant eligibility formula for the children
of fallen police officers and other public safety officers. This scholarship
will not affect the educational assistance currently provided by the Public
Safety Officers Benefit program.
The bill had been included in H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility
Act of 2009, which passed the House in the fall. However, that bill has since
stalled in the Senate, so an effort was made to pass H.R. 959 as a stand alone
measure in the House. The bill will now go to the Senate for consideration.
“
I want to thank Representatives Murphy and Platts for their leadership on behalf
of all law enforcement officers,” Canterbury said. “We will be
sure to monitor this issue and work to have it passed in the Senate.”
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