2022 VIRTUAL DAY ON THE HILL NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE7 February 2022Dear Day on the Hill Participant,Welcome to our annual Day on the Hill, which is once again virtual because of the public healthsituation, very restricted access to the U.S. Capitol and Congressional offices, and strict COVID-19 protocols imposed by the District of Columbia.As we begin this new session of Congress and approach the midterm elections, our fraternityfaces significant challenges. Crime rates nationwide are skyrocketing, and more and moreofficers are being targeted with violence. Our profession is also facing an unprecedented crisiswhen it comes to retaining and recruiting good officers. This is a critical time, and we must besure that our voices are heard by Congress and by this Administration. Too much is at stake.With your help, we hope to make real progress on the FOP’s legislative agenda in the House. Weremain cautiously optimistic that the Senate may act on bills which passed the House withbipartisan support. Our success, however, comes down to YOU! We will need your help at thegrassroots level to ensure our message gets through. Your participation this week is only a smallpart of our advocacy program. If we are to succeed, we need all of our members to build,strengthen, and sustain their relationships with their Senators and Representatives. Members ofCongress need to know that FOP members are active voters in their States and districts will bewatching them carefully. Make it clear that you and your members will hold them accountable—particularly in an election year.One example of how effective grassroots advocacy can be is shown by our efforts to increase thenumber of cosponsors for H.R. 82/S. 1302, the “Social Security Fairness Act,” which will fullyrepeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). In theHouse, we have already secured 245 cosponsors—a significant majority. The support for the billis also very bipartisan. We are working to get 290 cosponsors, which, under House rules, wouldtrigger its consideration. The Senate companion bill has 37 cosponsors—which is the mostsupport we’ve had on this bill, at this point, in a congressional cycle. A MESSAGE FROM NATIONAL PRESIDENT PATRICK YOES
2022 VIRTUAL DAY ON THE HILL NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEWe also continue to fight for retirement fairness for all of our Federal law enforcement officersby supporting H.R. 962/S. 1888, the “Law Enforcement Officers’ Equity Act.” This bill will extendthe law enforcement retirement benefits to all Federal law enforcement officers. If this bill is tohave a chance at being considered, it is vital that we increase the number of cosponsors on thismeasure. Currently, the House version has 86 cosponsors. The Senate companion bill has beenintroduced, and we are working to recruit new cosponsors for this legislation.We are also proud to announce that our collective bargaining bill, H.R. 3225, the “PublicEmployer-Employee Cooperation Act,” has 29 cosponsors in the House. Our Washington, D.C.staff is heavily engaged in conversations with Members of Congress and is actively pushing foradditional cosponsors. In the Senate, we have some work to do, as the Senate companion bill hasnot yet been introduced. In addition to these top priorities, we continue to push to get wider support for two importantofficer safety bills in the House—H.R. 3079, the “Protect and Serve Act,” which would make it aFederal crime to target law enforcement officers with violence and H.R. 1210, the “LEOSA ReformAct.” The latter bill would extend the LEOSA exemption to apply to the Gun-Free School ZonesAct, National Parks, and certain Federal buildings like post offices or Social SecurityAdministration buildings. The bill would also extend the exemption to magazines so that officersare not exposed to legal jeopardy in States that have limitations on the number of rounds orcapacity of a magazine. Both of these are vital officer safety issues, and we need your help toincrease our support for them in the House. I am pleased to tell you that we continue to have an excellent relationship with thisAdministration, especially the President. He has engaged with us directly on numerous issues,including the three bipartisan bills that were signed into law in November 2021. These three billswere S. 1502, the “Confidentiality Opportunities for Peer Support (COPS) Act;” S. 1511, the“Protecting America’s First Responders Act;” and S. 921, the “Jaime Zapata and Victor AvilaFederal Officers and Employees Protection Act.” These three bills will: make it easier for Federalofficers to seek out peer support for mental wellness; make needed reforms to the Public SafetyOfficers’ Benefits (PSOB) program with respect to the COVID-19 presumption sought by the FOP;and clarify that Federal law clearly and unambiguously protects Federal law enforcement officersand other employees operating outside our borders. President Biden recognized the FOP's effortsover the past year and years before to push these bills through Congress. No other lawenforcement organization has the access to the Administration that the FOP does. This makesbuilding relationships with your Members of Congress in the House and the Senate that muchmore important.SIGN UP FOR THE NATIONAL FOP'S WEEKLY UPDATE
2022 VIRTUAL DAY ON THE HILL NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEWhile we are grateful for your participation this week, please remember that genuine grassrootsactivism is not a one or two-day event. The key to being effective in the future is to grow therelationships with the individuals you meet this week. Follow-up! Make contact again with theMembers and staffers you interact with during this event, even if it is just to thank them for theirtime. Each and every contact you have with them will reinforce the progress you made and makeour efforts here more productive in generating strong and active support for our issues. I also want to ask you and your lodge brothers and sisters to support the National Fraternal Orderof Police Political Action Committee (NFOP PAC), which, like our grassroots activism, is anessential part of our National Legislative Program. The NFOP PAC allows us to supportcandidates who support our members and our profession.We need to increase memberparticipation in our payroll deduction and monthly recurring credit card programs. Please takethis request back to your local and State Lodges and help us grow our PAC and amplify our voicein the nation’s capital. On behalf of your more than 364,000 brothers and sisters in the Fraternal Order of Police, I wantto thank you for taking the time to be part of Day on the Hill 2022!Sincerely,Patrick YoesNational PresidentIF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL FOP’SGOVERNMENT AND MEDIA AFFAIRS CENTER AT (202) 547-8189TO VIEW AND DOWNLOAD INDIVIDUAL DAY ON THE HILL DOCUMENTS, CLICK HERETO VIEW THE FULL LIST OF LEGISLATION WE SUPPORT,CLICK HERE
2022 VIRTUAL DAY ON THE HILL NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEH.R. 82/S.1302, THE “SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS ACT”Repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension OffsetCLICK TO SEE IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVESUPPORTS THIS BILLCLICK TO SEE IF YOUR SENATORSUPPORTS THIS BILLCLICK TO DOWNLOAD THIS INDIVIDUAL DOCUMENTThe FOP strongly supports the passage of H.R. 82/S. 1302, the “Social Security Fairness Act,”legislation which would fully repeal both the “Windfall Elimination Provision” (WEP) and the“Government Pension Offset” (GPO) in current Social Security law.The WEP was enacted in 1983 as part of a large reform package designed to shore up the financing ofthe Social Security system. It went into effect in 1985 and applies a modified formula designed toreduce the amount of the Social Security benefits received by individuals who collect a governmentpension. The ostensible purpose of the WEP is to remove a “windfall” for persons who spent sometime in jobs not covered by Social Security (like public employees) and also worked other jobs wherethey paid Social Security taxes long enough to qualify for retirement benefits. The practical effect ofthe provision on low-paid public employees outside the Social Security system is that they lose up tosixty percent (60%) of the Social Security benefits to which they are entitled—this is a loss, not anadjustment for a “windfall.” This creates a very real inequity for many public employees, particularlypolice officers who retire earlier than other government employees and begin second careers whichrequire them to pay into the Social Security system.We regard this as an issue of fairness, as these public employees are unfairly penalized under currentlaw. The WEP substantially reduces a benefit that workers had counted on when planning theirretirement. The arbitrary formula, when applied, does not eliminate “windfalls” because of itsregressive nature—the reduction is only applied to the first bracket of the benefit formula and causesa relatively larger reduction in benefits to low-paid workers. It also over penalizes lower-paid workerswith short careers or, like many retired law enforcement officers, those whose careers are evenly splitinside and outside the Social Security system.The GPO was amended in 1983 to shore up the finances of the Social Security Trust Fund. It offsetsthe dependent’s Social Security benefit to which a spouse or widow(er) is entitled by two-thirds of themonthly amount of any government pension from non-covered employment that the surviving spousemight receive. For example, the wife of a retired law enforcement officer who collects a governmentpension of $1,200 would be ineligible to collect the surviving spousal benefit of $600 from SocialSecurity upon the death of her spouse. Two-thirds of $1,200 is $800, which is greater than thespousal benefit of $600 and thus, under this law, she would be unable to collect it. If the spouse’sbenefit was $900, only $100 could be collected because $800 would be “offset” by her governmentpension.Again, the FOP believes this is a matter of fairness and that the offset scheme currently in placepenalizes those employees least able to afford it.
2022 VIRTUAL DAY ON THE HILL NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEH.R. 3225, THE “PUBLIC EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE COOPERATION ACT”the right to form and join a labor organization that serves as, or seeks to serve as, theexclusive bargaining representative for non-management and non-supervisory publicsafety employees;a requirement that the public safety employer recognizes the employees’ labororganization and agrees to bargaining;t he right to bargain over hours, wages, and the terms and conditions of employment;the availability of a binding interest arbitration or other impasse resolutionmechanism such as fact-finding, mediation, or comparable procedure; anda requirement of enforcement of “all rights, responsibilities, and protections” providedby the bill, including any written contract or memorandum of understanding through aState administrative agency or court of competent jurisdiction.determine the appropriateness of units for labor organization representation;supervise and conduct elections to determine whether a labor organization has beenselected as an exclusive representative by a voting majority of the employees in anappropriate unit;resolve issues relating to the duty to bargain in good faith;conduct hearings and resolve complaints of unfair labor practices;resolve exceptions to the awards of arbitrators;This legislation would require that States “substantially provide” for the following rightsand responsibilities:In determining whether or not a State “substantially provides” for these rights andresponsibilities, the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) is required to consider theopinions of the affected employers, employees, and labor organizations. If an employerand an affected labor organization jointly agree that the current State law “substantiallyprovides” for these rights and responsibilities, the FLRA will give this agreement “weightto the maximum extent practicable” in making its determination.If the FLRA determines that a State does not “substantially provide” for the rights andresponsibilities enumerated above, then a State has two years (from the date of the law’senactment) or “date of the end of the first regular session of the legislature of that Statethat begins after the date of the enactment of this Act” to change State law or regulationsto comply with the provisions of the bill. If the State fails to act, the FLRA will issueregulations which will provide for the aforementioned rights and responsibilities. Theseregulations will enable the FLRA to:
2022 VIRTUAL DAY ON THE HILL NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEprotect the right of each employee to form, join, or assist any labor organization, or torefrain from any such activity, freely and without fear of penalty or reprisal, andprotect each employee in the exercise of such right; direct compliance by such State by order if the FLRA finds that the State is not incompliance with the regulations it issued; andtake other actions as necessary to appropriately and fairly administer the PublicSafety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, including the authority to issuesubpoenas, take depositions, administer oaths, order written interrogatories, andreceive and examine witnesses.The bill specifically prohibits strikes and lockouts. The bill would not preempt any law of any State or political subdivision of any State orjurisdiction that substantially provides greater or comparable rights and responsibilitiesas described above, or prevent a State from enforcing a State law which prohibitsemployers and labor organizations from negotiating provisions in a labor agreement thatrequires union membership or payment of union fees as a condition of employment (i.e.“right-to-work”). The bill would also not preempt any State law in effect on the date of enactment. Inaddition, a State may be exempt from its State law, or from the requirements establishedby this bill, a political subdivision of the State that has a population of less than 5,000 orthat employs fewer than 25 full-time employees. CONTINUED: H.R. 3225, THE “PUBLIC EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE COOPERATION ACT”CLICK TO SEE IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVE SUPPORTS THIS BILLCLICK TO DOWNLOAD THIS INDIVIDUAL DOCUMENT
2022 VIRTUAL DAY ON THE HILL NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEH.R. 962/S.1888, THE “LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS’ EQUITY ACT”Legislation Providing Law Enforcement Retirement Benefits to All Federal Law Enforcement OfficersThe FOP strongly supports H.R. 962/S.1888, the “Law Enforcement Officers’ Equity Act.” This legislationwould expand the definition of “law enforcement officers (LEO)” for retirement benefits to include allFederal law enforcement. Nearly 30,000 Federal law enforcement officers do not receive the same retirement benefits as their otherFederal law enforcement colleagues. This legislation would provide all law enforcement officers with 6(c)retirement benefits and the ability to retire after twenty (20) years of service at the age of fifty (50) orafter twenty-five (25) years of service at any age. This same benefit is currently received by most Federallaw enforcement officers. The practical effects of the bill would include savings in training costs, improverecruitment and retention of qualified officers, and enhance public safety.Officers classified as “0083s” in agencies like the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, FBI Police,U.S. Postal Police, Federal Protective Service, National Institute of Health, U.S. Mint, and the Bureau ofEngraving and Printing are among those Federal officers who do not receive these specific benefits. Yetthese GS-0083 officers attended the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and are just ashighly trained as those Federal law enforcement officers who do receive the 6(c) retirement benefit. Theirjob is no less dangerous and these officers who do not receive 6(c) benefits are asked to face the samehazards as their State and local counterparts. They have been seriously injured and killed in the line ofduty and their sacrifices are no less or different than any other Federal officer. Nor are they any lessdedicated—during the government shutdown, these officers reported to work just as their counterpartsfrom covered agencies did and continued serving the American people with distinction to ensure ournation's infrastructure, government facilities, and institutions remained safe. Through regulatory authority, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has promulgated that thedefinition of “law enforcement officer” does NOT include “an employee whose primary duties involvemaintaining law and order, protecting life and property, guarding against or inspecting violations of thelaw, or investigating persons who are suspect or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of theUnited States.” These officers may achieve LEO status by appealing to the Merit Systems ProtectionBoard (MSPB) or the OPM, but since 2000, the OPM and the MSPB, with the backing of the U.S. Court ofAppeals for the Federal Circuit, have made it extremely difficult for these officers to gain LEO statusthrough judicial review.It is for this reason the FOP seeks this legislative change.In addition to granting these law enforcement officers the retirement benefits they deserve, the legislationwill also save taxpayers money. The increased cost would be more than offset by the savings in trainingbecause recruitment and retention are problems Federal law enforcement agencies face today. This isespecially true for agencies whose officers do not have LEO status. We believe extending these benefitswould help increase recruitment and retention rates.Most importantly, an investment in these officers will pay unquantifiable dividends in national securityand public safety, for the value of highly trained and experienced law enforcement is immeasurable.
2022 VIRTUAL DAY ON THE HILL NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEA Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) who retires at age fifty (50) with twenty (20) years of coveredservice whose “high 3” is $65,000 would get $22,100 a year in retirement, plus the option of continuedhealth and life insurance.A GS-0083 officer without LEO status who retires today at age fifty (50) with twenty (20) years of servicewhose “high 3” is $65,000 would get just $13,000 a year in retirement (until age 56). He only gets animmediate annuity and continued health and life insurance if he was Reduction in Forced (RIFed) or theagency had voluntary early retirement authority. The officer with LEO status gets almost twice as much asthe GS-0083 Officer with the same salary, age and service.A LEO who retires at age fifty-five (55) with twenty-five (25) years of covered service whose “high 3” is$70,000 would get $40,900 a year in retirement, plus the option of continued health and life insurance.A GS-0083 officer without LEO status who retires today at age fifty-five (55) with twenty-five (25) years ofservice whose “high 3” is $70,000 might not be eligible for any immediate annuity at all. Again, he is onlyeligible if his retirement was the result of a RIF, downsizing, or agency early-out program. If he wereretiring at his own discretion, he would not qualify for any annuity at all until he reached age fifty-seven(57), and then the annuity would be reduced by 25% for being five (5) years younger than sixty-two (62).At age fifty-seven (57) he could start getting $17,500 a year, but he would not be eligible for continuedhealth or life insurance. In this case, the officer with LEO status in this case also gets more than two-and-a-half times what the GS-0083 officer gets with the same salary, age and service.CONTINUED: H.R. 962/S.1888, THE “LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS’ EQUITY ACT”CLICK TO SEE IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVESUPPORTS THIS BILLCLICK TO SEE IF YOUR SENATORSUPPORTS THIS BILLCOMPARISON BETWEEN LEO AND NON-LEO BENEFITSCLICK TO DOWNLOAD THIS INDIVIDUAL DOCUMENT
NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE 2022 VIRTUAL DAY ON THE HILL H R 3079 S 774 THE PROTECT AND SERVE ACT Facts and Analysis This legislation has been reintroduced for the 117th Congress by Representatives John H Rutherford R FL and Joshua S Gottheimer D NJ as H R 3079 and in the Senate by Senator Thomas R Tillis R NC as S 774 In 2018 this same legislation passed the House on a 382 35 vote The legislation would create a new Federal offense for those who deliberately target law enforcement officers with violence and is a direct response to the increased number of law enforcement officers who have been targeted for attack THE FACTS In October 2015 the U S Department of Justice released a report entitled Ambushes of Police The report detailed the number of ambush attacks on law enforcement officers from 1990 2013 In 2013 alone there were between 200 and 300 ambush attacks reported The Executive Summary of the report states the proportion of fatal attacks on officers attributable to ambushes is increasing Concerns about targeted violence against police are on the rise while officers must not only be guardians of the public but also be prepared to respond to violence targeting them In May 2017 the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI released a report entitled The Assailant Study Mindset and Behavior The report identified a disturbing and growing trend of attackers who are motivated by a desire to kill a law enforcement officer This motivation the report concludes is from a singular narrative that portrays the officer as guilty in traditional and social media and the subject as the victim A December 2017 study by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services entitled Making It Safer examined law enforcement officer fatalities from 2010 2016 including ambush attacks The study found that 20 of ambushed officers were seated in their patrol cars and that 56 percent were not on a call or engaged in any enforcement activity Many of these officers were simply eating sitting on post or in five cases targeted and killed while at their home or on their way home In 2018 the Criminal Justice Information Services Division within the FBI released a report entitled Ambushes and Unprovoked Attacks Assaults on Our Nation s Law Enforcement Officers This comprehensive report concluded While the overall number of officers who were feloniously killed was declining the percentage of officers feloniously killed during surprise attacks was increasing NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE GLFOP FOPNATIONAL
NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE 2022 VIRTUAL DAY ON THE HILL CONTINUED H R 3079 S 774 THE PROTECT AND SERVE ACT THE FACTS In 2017 271 officers were shot in the line of duty and 47 were killed Deaths by gunfire among law enforcement dropped by 10 that year however more officers were shot in 2017 than in the previous year showing that the risk to law enforcement did not diminish In 2018 237 officers were shot in the line of duty and 53 were killed Of these 22 officers were shot in an ambush attack and five of these officers died Officer deaths by gunfire increased 24 from 2017 In 2019 293 officers were shot in the line of duty 50 of whom were killed The number of officers shot in an ambush attack increased to 30 and seven of those officers were killed The number of officers shot in the line of duty went up 20 in 2019 Eighteen percent 18 of the officers killed by gunfire in 2019 were killed in an ambush attack In 2020 314 officers were shot in the line of duty 47 of whom were killed There were 43 ambush attacks on law enforcement officers which resulted in 52 officers being shot 12 of whom were killed The number of officers shot in the line of duty increased 7 from 2019 and 33 compared to 2018 In 2021 346 officers were been shot in the line of duty 63 of whom were killed There have been 103 ambush stye attacks on law enforcement officers 115 from 2020 YTD which have resulted in 130 officers being shot 30 of whom were killed This information does not account for officers who were ambushed with any other weapons ANALYSIS SECTION BY SECTION Section 1 Short Title The short title of the bill is the Protect and Serve Act Section 2 Crimes targeting law enforcement officers This section creates a new Federal offense for anyone who knowingly assaults a law enforcement officer and would sentence such an offender to a term of imprisonment of 10 years or for life for murder or attempted murder In order for these charges to be filed the U S Attorney General must certify that the State does not have jurisdiction the State has asked the Federal government to assume jurisdiction the verdict or sentence at the State level left demonstratively unvindicated the Federal interest in protecting public safety or a Federal prosecution is in the public interest and necessary to secure substantial justice CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THIS INDIVIDUAL DOCUMENT CLICK TO SEE IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVE SUPPORTS THIS BILL NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE CLICK TO SEE IF YOUR SENATOR SUPPORTS THIS BILL GLFOP FOPNATIONAL
2022 VIRTUAL DAY ON THE HILL NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEH.R. 1210/S.1610, THE “LEOSA REFORM ACT”Section-by-Section AnalysisThis legislation is entitled the “LEOSA Reform Act.”The bill makes minor but important changes to theexisting Law Enforcement Officers’ Safety Act (LEOSA) statute (18 USC 926B and 926C) to improvethe safety of our nation’s qualified active and retired law enforcement.Section 1. Short Title.The short title of the bill is the “LEOSA Reform Act.”Section 2. Conforming the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act and the Guns Free School Zones Act.The LEOSA statute exempts qualified active and retired law enforcement officers from State and localprohibitions on the carriage of concealed firearms. This exemption, however, does not apply to areasgoverned by Federal law or regulation. The Guns Free School Zones Act (GFSZA) has sevenexemptions in current law, including those who are licensed to carry firearms in the State where theschool is located. A qualified active or retired law enforcement officer must abide by the GFSZA.Section 2 would add an eighth exemption to the GFSZA to include anyone authorized to carry underLEOSA.Issue: In some States, a mother with a CCW permit can carry her firearm while attending an event at herchild’s school. However, the child’s grandfather, a qualified retired law enforcement officer, or hisactive-duty uncle from out of State, could not.Section 3. Making Improvements to the Law Enforcement Officers’ Safety Act.Under the current statute, the LEOSA exemption does not attach to “common or contract carriers” likepublic transportation or other public areas. This paragraph would expand the LEOSA exemption toinclude property used by a “common or contract carrier” and to property that is “open to the public.”Issue: An active-duty law enforcement officer visiting a different jurisdiction may not be able to uselocal buses, trolleys, or ferries during his or her visit. Under the current statute, active and qualified law enforcement officers carrying under LEOSA cannotcarry in National Parks. However, individuals that have licenses from a State (or which havereciprocity with the State) may lawfully carry into National Parks located in that State. This paragraphwould expand the LEOSA exemption to cover National Parks.Issue: Two friends visit Scott’s Bluff National Monument. The civilian is carrying a firearm because heor she has a permit issued by Nebraska. His or her friend, an active law enforcement officer fromFlorida, who can carry in Nebraska under LEOSA, cannot carry his or her firearm into the National Park.
2022 VIRTUAL DAY ON THE HILL NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICECONTINUED: H.R. 1210/S.1610, THE “LEOSA REFORM ACT”The LEOSA exemption in current law does not apply to magazine capacity. This paragraph wouldclarify Congressional intent that magazines, like ammunition and the firearm itself, should be exemptfrom State and local law. Issue:An active or retired law enforcement officer who is trained with and qualified to carry asemiautomatic firearm with a 12-round magazine cannot travel into a jurisdiction which restrictsmagazine size unless he or she brings a weapon with a magazine that conforms to State law. Thismeans the officer must leave his firearm behind and expose himself to jeopardy or decide to carry afirearm with which he is less familiar.This paragraph makes minor changes to the existing statute with respect to qualification and trainingstandards. Under current law, qualified retired law enforcement officers must re-certify every 12months. This provision would allow States to lengthen this time period up to 36 months. It alsoclarifies Congressional intent that the standards which must be met by the qualified retired lawenforcement officer can be set and conducted by (1) the officer’s former agency, (2) the State inwhich the officer resides, (3) any law enforcement agency within the State in which the officerresides, or (4) a firearms instructor certified by the State in which the officer resides to conductactive-duty firearms training.Issue:Some States may wish to save on resource and training costs by lengthening the time betweenrequalification. The existing language in the statute regarding training and standards is clarified.Section 4. Permitting Qualified Current and Retired Law Enforcement Officers to Carry Firearms inCertain Federal Facilities.Under current law, an active local or State law enforcement officer can only enter a U.S. Post Office,Social Security Administration Office, Veterans Affairs facility or similar Federal facility if they arethere in an “official capacity”—i.e., a call for service. This Section would allow any active or retired lawenforcement officer carrying under the LEOSA to lawfully access these facilities.Issue:A law enforcement officer, even if on duty and in full uniform, cannot lawfully enter a SocialSecurity Administration building or similar facility to drop off paperwork, pick up a form or speak to anemployee. An officer may only enter the facility if there is a call for service.CLICK TO SEE IF YOUR REPRESENTATIVESUPPORTS THIS BILLCLICK TO SEE IF YOUR SENATORSUPPORTS THIS BILLCLICK TO DOWNLOAD THIS INDIVIDUAL DOCUMENT
2022 VIRTUAL DAY ON THE HILL NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELOBBYING TIPSCONSIDER YOURSELF AN INFORMATION SOURCERemember, you are the expert on law enforcement. Utilize this opportunity to educateyour elected officials about the needs and concerns of law enforcement officers. (Refer tothe Legislative Briefing Book provided by the NFOP Legislative Office.) Legislators wantto know how a specific issue will affect their districts. Share personal or localexperiences about the issues with your legislators. If you don't know the answers to someof their questions—tell them so. Make notes and follow up with the answers after themeetings.TRY TO MAKE PERSONAL CONNECTIONSMake the legislator aware of any personal connections you may have. No matter howinsignificant you may feel it is, if you have friends, relatives, or colleagues in common, letthem know. Use personal examples from your own life or the lives of your neighbors. BE ORGANIZEDBe on Time. If you are part of a group meeting with an elected official, select aspokesperson to lead the discussion. Know the time frame you are under and highlight afew key issues. Determine who will speak on each issue.BE CONCISELegislators (and staff) have limited time and many demands. Be sure to stay on messageon those three top legislative priorities important to law enforcement. You will be lucky tohave a full 15 minutes to discuss them with the legislator or staff and it is critical thatthey understand the importance of them all.EXPECT SURPRISES AND BE FLEXIBLELegislators have very unpredictable schedules on session days, causing them to run lateor be called away. Don't be disappointed if they have to cut your meetings short. Make themost of them by focusing on a few key issues and following up with detailed informationin writing. Don't be disappointed if you meet with a member of their staff; often, theyknow more details about the issues than their bosses do and they are the ones whoadvise legislators how to vote.
2022 VIRTUAL DAY ON THE HILL NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICECONTINUED: LOBBYING TIPSTest out and make sure you know how to work the technology you are using for themeeting and calls beforehand to reduce the probability of technical issues. Also, beflexible and have a backup plan if technical issues do arise for one or more people inthe meeting. If you are not talking, make sure you are muted to reduce background noise. When itis your turn to talk, don’t forget to unmute yourself. When switching speakers, pauseto allow the next speaker to unmute. We still want the office to feel that they are meeting with you face-to-face, so makesure to have your video on, if possible. Be sure to dress professionally and have your background surroundings lookprofessional, if possible. Ask the Member of Congress or staff if you can take a snapshot of the screen or a“selfie” with the screen to share on social media.LOBBYING VIRTUALLY ANTICIPATE REACTIONS AND STAY ON MESSAGEAfter explaining your views, ask the legislators where they stand on the issue. Try tounderstand their perspective and tailor your approach accordingly. If they are undecided,focus on your message. Respectfully maintain your position, even if you know they don'tagree. If they change the subject to avoid getting pinned down on an issue, try to bridgethe discussion back to your message.FOLLOW UPSend thank you notes reviewing the issues you discussed. Be sure to send legislators anyadditional materials requested, including answers to questions for which you didn't haveanswers during the meeting. Let them know you are a resource that is available to them inthe future.IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL FOP’SGOVERNMENT AND MEDIA AFFAIRS CENTER AT (202) 547-8189
CAN YOU CHIP IN $5?DONATEClick Here2022 VIRTUAL DAY ON THE HILL NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEThe Fraternal Order of Police is committed to improving the workingconditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those we servethrough education, legislation, information, community involvement, andemployee representation. The NFOP PAC is the power behind our organization's punch on Capitol Hill,representing its members in the most effective way possible.Our challenge to you is to have each and every FOP member in yourdepartment, lodge, and State commit $5.00 a month to the NFOP PAC.Please contact the National Legislative Office to learn about the variousways you can contribute to the NFOP PAC. NATIONAL FOP POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (NFOP PAC)DONATEClick Here
TIM RICHARDSONSenior Legislative Liaison JIM PASCOExecutive DirectorMARK MCDONALDLegislative Liaison 2022 VIRTUAL DAY ON THE HILL NATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEDAVID TABOHLegislative Liaison JESSICA CAHILLPress Liaison MATT BROWNLegislative Liaison 328 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NE, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20002 PHONE: 202-547-8189 FAX: 202-547-8190