Congress Honors Law Enforcement, Passes Police-Focused Bills
Protecting and honoring the nation’s law enforcement officers was top of mind on Capitol Hill during National Police Week.
There were several resolutions and legislation, as well as hearings on policing.
76 senators introduced a resolution for National Police Week, expressing “unwavering support for law enforcement officers across the United States,” and recognizing the “need to ensure that law enforcement officers have the equipment, training, and resources that are necessary to protect the health and safety of the officers.”
“Federal law enforcement officers put their lives at risk every day to protect our communities. I’m grateful to our officers and their families for their dedication and sacrifices,” said Senator Dick Durbin, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Today, I sat down with the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association to discuss how we can improve recruitment, retention, and well-being in the profession.”
A resolution was introduced in the House to honor and memorialize the 136 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in the past year.
Also the House Committee on Homeland Security held a hearing to mark National Police Week.
Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) said in his opening statement, “Supporting our men and women in law enforcement should not be reserved for one week out of the year. Our nation should be grateful every day to this unique group of men and women who risk their lives for our freedom and who serve our communities with a distinct sense of duty and honor.”
Representative Angie Craig (D-MN) unveiled a bill that would make it easier for local police departments to purchase armored vehicles following a recent shooting in her district.
Bipartisan Legislation Advances
On the legislative front, the bipartisan Recruit and Retain Act (S. 546) passed the House after earlier passing the Senate, and now heads to President Biden’s desk for his signature.
The bill is designed to make it easier to hire officers and ease the law enforcement staffing shortage. In particular, the legislation would make the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants more responsive to onboarding costs and hiring challenges. It also creates a new program to encourage partnerships between schools and police departments.
“My Recruit and Retain Act will reduce hiring costs and create local workforce pipelines to build a new generation of police,” said Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), one of the sponsors.
The House also passed the Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act (H.R. 7581) on a vote of 356-55. The legislation would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to report to the Congress about violent attacks on law enforcement officers, including the responses of federal, state, and local governments to such attacks and how to improve the reporting of those attacks. The bill also would require DOJ to report to the Congress on how traumatic incidents affect the mental health and wellness of officers.
The Senate Judiciary Committee also advanced several bills this week.
The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2023 (S. 930) introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) would extend PSOB coverage to the families of officers who die from exposure-related cancers. Senators John Hawley (R-MO) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) bill the Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis Act of 2024 (S. 4235) would reauthorize the 2019 STOIC Act on mental health grant funding. And the Retired Federal Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act (S. 3335), sponsored by Senators Klobuchar and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) would establish a DOJ grant program through which state or local agencies could use grant funds to hire retired federal law enforcement officers to either perform “civilian law enforcement tasks” or provide training to civilian employees on “civilian law enforcement tasks.”
LEOSA Reform
Also in the spotlight is the proposed reform to the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act (LEOSA) (H.R. 354), which recently passed the House Judiciary Committee and is scheduled to be brought up on the House floor.
The bill would expand concealed carry rights for qualified law enforcement officers. The original LEOSA passed in 2004 and gave qualified officers, even if retired or not working in law enforcement, the right to carry concealed firearms in any U.S. state.
Not surprisingly, there is disagreement on this legislation.
“It would supplant the judgment of the states about the appropriate use of firearms by off-duty and retired law enforcement—both for their own agencies and for the law enforcement agencies of every other state—and would force states to allow these individuals to carry concealed firearms within their borders,” said Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee.
LEOSA Reform however was supported by police organizations, including the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) and the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).
House Republicans also unveiled a bevy of other legislation that caused friction with Democrats as much of the legislation veered into immigration and police funding issues. Those include the DC Crimes Act of 2024, the Detain and Deport Illegal Aliens Who Assault Cops Act, which both passed the House, and the Police Our Border Act.