National Update

08 Feb 2018 4:58 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Washington Watch: Legislative Update
For the Week of 29 January 2018
 
I.      Legislative News and Activity  
II.    This Week in Congress
III.   Update on Top Legislative Priorities 
IV.   Reminder: Day on the Hill is February 12-14, Meeting starts at 4:00, D.C. Lodge 1
V.    Follow the FOP on Twitter! 

 

I.    LEGISLATIVE NEWS AND ACTIVITY
Senior Advisor to the National President, Jim Pasco:

  • Met with John F. Kelly, Chief of Staff to the President, to discuss immigration, drug policy, vacancies in key law enforcement agencies and FOP priorities;
  • Met with Johnny DeStefano, Assistant to the President, regarding key law enforcement vacancies;
  • Met with Rachel L. Brand, Associate Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), to discuss issues with the Office of Justice Programs;
  • Spoke with Steve H. Cook, Associate Deputy Attorney General, regarding the “Cole Memo” and vacancies within the DOJ;
  • Met with Jennifer K. Korn, Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director for the Office of Public Liaison, on the opioid epidemic and vacancies within the Administration;
  • Met with John Zadrozny, a member of the President’s Domestic Policy Council, on pending criminal justice legislation.

Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson represented the FOP at a summit on Human Trafficking hosted by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Legislative Liaison Mike Martin:

  • Met with staff in the office of Rep. Bradley R. Byrne (R-AL) to discuss H.R. 949/S.597, the “Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act.”

Senior Legislative Liaison Richardson and Legislative Liaison Martin:

  • Met with staff in the office of Rep. John L. Ratcliffe (R-TX) to discuss legislation about the 1033 program and increasing penalties on those who target law enforcement for ambush attacks;
  • Met with staff in the office of Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Sen. Joseph Manchin III (D-WV) to discuss legislation to increase penalties on those who target law enforcement for ambush attacks;
  • Met with other law enforcement stakeholders to discuss issues of mutual interest;
  • Met with staff in the office of Rep. Ralph W. Norman, Jr. (R-SC) to discuss legislation to increase penalties on those who target law enforcement for ambush attacks.

Senior Legislative Liaison Richardson and Legislative Liaison Scott Marks met with staff from the Senate Committee on Banking regarding future legislation involving corporate transparency and beneficial ownership.

 

II.  THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS

The House and Senate were in session for only part of the week before adjourning to allow the Republicans to leave for their policy retreat. On Tuesday, President Donald J. Trump delivered the State of the Union address to a Joint Session of Congress.

Action in the Senate
The Senate has considered but rejected a motion to invoke cloture on S. 2311, “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” on a vote of 51-46.



III.    UPDATE ON 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 https://www.congress.gov/


A.  Support H.R. 1205/S. 915, the "Social Security Fairness Act"
Two Additional lawmakers have co-sponsored H.R. 1205. We now have 171 co-sponsors.

We have 18 co-sponsors on S. 915.

B.  Support the H.R. 964/S. 424, the "Law Enforcement Officers' Equity Act"

We have 32 cosponsors on H.R. 964.

We have 5 cosponsors on S. 424

 

C. Support H.R. 4846, the “Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act”

We have 1 original sponsor on this legislation. 



IV. Reminder FOP Day on the Hill is February 12-14, Meeting starts at 4:00, D.C. Lodge 1

FOP’S DAY ON THE HILL: 12-14 FEBRUARY 2018

The FOP’s Day on the Hill event is a key component of our legislative advocacy strategy and our Grassroots Action Network. Having our members here on Capitol Hill, sitting down with their elected Senators and Representatives has a real and lasting impact on the FOP’s ability to move its agenda through Congress. We are coming off of a very successful First Session, but we need to continue to build on that success and we can’t do that without YOU!

Your participation is critical, and while we look forward to seeing old friends and our Day on the Hill veterans, this year we also want to see some new faces. We are challenging our members who do attend to bring along a lodge member who hasn’t yet participated in this event. By increasing the number of officers that lawmakers hear from, the greater effectiveness we will have as an organization. Talk about Day on the Hill in your lodge meetings and help us help you by increasing our participation.

 
We need Congress focused on OUR issues and OUR safety. We need you to help make sure our voice is heard and we need more voices!


This year’s Day on the Hill will begin on Monday, 12 February 2018. The National Legislative Office and the National Legislative Committee will host a short briefing on our legislative agenda. The briefing will take place on Monday afternoon at D.C. Lodge #1 at 4:00 and will last approximately one hour.

Tuesday and Wednesday, 13-14 February, will be devoted to your meetings with Members from your home States and districts. These appointments should be made in advance!!! Event participants should make every effort to have their Representative or Senator attend the meeting along with the appropriate staff person.

Accommodations for Day on the Hill Participants
The National Legislative Office is fortunate to have secured a room block at the Hyatt House, a brand new hotel on the Washington, D.C. waterfront just three blocks south of the National Mall. The room rate is $149 per night.  Members must call 202-554-1234 and identify themselves as being part of the FOP National Legislative Group to get this reduced rate. Members can also go to this website to make their reservations: https://washingtondcthewharf.house.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html?corp_id=G-FOPN

 

V.  Follow the FOP on Twitter!
Sign up today for the latest news from Capitol Hill:  https://twitter.com/GLFOP

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