Return to flip book view

FOP Update - 9 February 2024

Page 1

WASHINGTON WATCHN A T I O N A L F R A T E R N A L O R D E R O F P O L I C E W E E K L Y U P D A T E | 9 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4L E G I S L A T I V E U P D A T EJIM PASCOPATRICK YOES THE VOICE OF OUR NATION'S LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERSExecutive DirectorNational President- Subscribe to the FOP’s Weekly Update - ONE MONTH UNTIL DAY ONTHE HILL 2024!ONE MONTH UNTIL DAY ONTHE HILL 2024!Be in D.C. 4-6 March! Attend the Social Security Fairness Rally on 5 March!Visit the FOP website for 2024 Day on the Hill Legislative Material!

Page 2

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICENational President Patrick Yoes gave various media interviews regarding lawenforcement challenges on the horizon, the recruitment and retention crisis, and theNational FOP's data showing a rise in the number of officers shot in the line of duty.LEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYNational President Patrick Yoes attended the winter board meeting of the FloridaState FOP Lodge in Daytona Beach, Florida.Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with Erika-Dinkel Smith, Special Assistant tothe President for Political Affairs and Senior Labor Advisor, regarding the FOP’sPresidential endorsement process.Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with Betsy Henthorne, Chief of Staff for thenewly-named Acting Associate U.S. Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, to discussthe FOP’s relationship and collaborations going forward.Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with Nicole M. Argentieri, Acting AssistantAttorney General for the Criminal Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, aboutasset forfeiture.

Page 3

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYSenior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson and Legislative Liaison Benjamin Stokesmet with staff in the office of Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), the SenateMajority Leader, to discuss discuss H.R. 82, the “Social Security Fairness Act,” H.R.743, the “Protect and Serve Act,” and other FOP priorities in the House for 2024.Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson and Legislative Liaison Benjamin Stokesmet with staff in the office of Representative Hakeem S. Jeffries (D-NY), HouseMinority Leader, to discuss H.R. 82, the “Social Security Fairness Act,” H.R. 743, the“Protect and Serve Act,” and other FOP priorities in the House for 2024.Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson and Legislative Liaison Asa Render metwith staff in the office of Senator Joseph Manchin III (D-WV) to discuss draftlegislation that would establish a pilot program to arm drones with less than lethaltechnology.Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson and Legislative Liaison Asa Render metwith staff in the office of Senator Thomas R. Tillis (R-NC) to ask that he cosponsorS. 1514, Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act.Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson was interviewed by staff with theGovernment Accountability Office (GAO) about the FOP’s support for H.R. 1322/S.1658, the Law Enforcement Officers’ Equity Act.”Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson and Legislative Liaison Benjamin Stokesparticipated in a video call with Leslie Baxley, Co-Chairman of the FOP’sCorrectional Officers’ Committee, to discuss the FOP’s collection of data onofficers shot in the line of duty and other concerns of our correctional officermembers.

Page 4

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEWe need YOU in D.C.! The Second Session of the 118th Congress has begun and FOP priorities,including the “Social Security Fairness Act,” are poised for action. For the first time, the nation’s oldest and largest organization of law enforcement officers will bejoining forces with the nation’s oldest and largest union of professional firefighters—theInternational Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). Rank-and-file law enforcement officers and firefighters will come together in our Nation’s capitalto highlight the important issues facing our public safety organizations. We will be talking aboutthe challenges and the needs of our memberships including recognizing the right of public safetyofficers to collectively bargain, protecting due process for officers and firefighters, and repealingthe Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO)! Click here to view the legislative briefing materials. On Tuesday, 5 March from 11am-12pm the FOP-IAFF will hold a rally on the Capitol grounds to callon Congress for immediate action on H.R. 82/S. 597, the “Social Security Fairness Act,” to repealthe WEP and GPO.Our future success and our legislative agenda depend on our ability to motivate and mobilize ourgrassroots to make sure our message gets through—which will get increasingly more difficult aswe get closer and closer to the election. Participation in this event is just a part—but an importantpart—of the FOP’s advocacy strategy. We need our members to build, strengthen, and sustain theirrelationships with their Senators and Representatives. DON’T DELAY – REGISTER TODAY!LEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITY

Page 5

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELISTEN & SUBSCRIBE WATCH PREVIOUS EPISODESLEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYOn the latest episode of the Blue View Podcast, National President Patrick Yoes isjoined by National FOP Chaplain, Rick Snyder, as well as Shannon Nordyke andCrystal Mai Purdy-Newland for an in-depth, conversation about why it is soimportant to plan. The Dignity Memorial Public Servants Program offers no-costtributes for career and volunteer law enforcement officers, firefighters, andemergency services personnel who fall in the line of duty. In addition to providingfuneral, cremation, and burial services, the Public Servants Program also providesextended counseling services to the grieving family.

Page 6

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEThe House considered and rejected H. Res. 863 on a 214-216 vote, a resolutionimpeaching Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the Secretary of the U.S. Department ofHomeland Security.The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability favorably reported H.R.5798, the “Protecting Our Nation’s Capital Emergency Act,” on a 22-19 vote. Thebill, which the FOP supports, would restore the collective bargaining rights andother protections of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officers.The bill is now pending on the House floor.The House considered and passed H.R. 443, the “Enhanced Detection of HumanTrafficking Act,” on a 407-0 vote. The bill now goes to the Senate for furtherconsideration.The House considered and rejected, under a suspension of the rules, H.R. 7217, the“Israeli Supplemental Appropriations Act,” on a 250-189 vote.THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTONTHE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Page 7

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEDONATE TO THENATIONAL FOP PACDONATE TO THENATIONAL FOP PACThe Senate considered but rejected a cloture motion to proceed to theconsideration of H.R. 815, which was to have served as a vehicle for an amendmentproviding for greater border security as well as military aid for Israel, Taiwan, andUkraine and humanitarian aid to Gaza, on a 49-50 vote.THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTONTHE UNITED STATES SENATEThe Senate considered and rejected a motion to reconsider the cloture motion toproceed to H.R. 815 on a 58-41 vote.The Senate considered and passed a a third cloture motion on the motion toproceed to H.R. 815, which will now serve as a vehicle for a military aid package forIsrael, Taiwan, and Ukraine without any border security measures, on a 67-32 vote. The Senate will begin debating the bill possibly over the weekend or next week.

Page 8

SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS ACTTOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIESLAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS’ EQUITY ACTCOLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTSH.R. 132274 COSPONSORSR: 19 D: 55H.R. 82308 COSPONSORSR: 105 D: 203S. 59749 COSPONSORSR: 8 D: 41@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEH.R. 354PROTECT AND SERVE ACTNOT YET INTRODUCED IN THE SENATEH.R. 74397 COSPONSORSR: 84 D: 1335 COSPONSORSR: 35 D: 0LEOSA REFORM ACTHELPER ACTH.R. 3170109 COSPONSORSR: 33 D: 76S. 151416 COSPONSORSR: 4 D: 12MORE RESOURCES BILLS SUPPORTEDS. 14623 COSPONSORSR: 3 D: 0H.R. 353945 COSPONSORSR: 10 D: 35NOT YET INTRODUCED IN THE SENATES. 16581 COSPONSORSR: 1 D: 0

Page 9

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEFOP NEWSROOMLetters: H.R. 734, the “Protect and Serve Act”DOJ Announces Plan to Administer Grant FundingOpportunities for Fiscal Year 2024 to StrengthenCommunity SafetyThe Justice Department today announced its annual plan formaking anticipated grant funding available this fiscal year toadvance public safety activities and improve justice systemoutcomes.DOJ Gathers Stakeholders, Advocates for InauguralNational Elder Justice Law Enforcement SummitThe Justice Department today convened the National Elder JusticeLaw Enforcement Summit, which represents the first nationalgathering of local, state, and federal law enforcement to focus onefforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, andfraud.National President Patrick Yoes sent the following letters toRepresentatives Scanlon and Boebert to request that theycosponsor H.R. 734, the “Protect and Serve Act,” in light of recenttragedies occurring in their respective districts.A bank robber in Fort Myers, Fla. claiming to have a bomb wastaken out by a SWAT team sniper when he held a knife to ahostage’s throat.Fla. SWAT sniper takes down bank robber who heldknife to hostage’s throatDHS Blue Campaign Partners with Lyft to EducateRideshare Drivers About How to Detect and PreventHuman TraffickingToday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Blue Campaignand Lyft, Inc. announced a new tutorial program that will helprideshare drivers in the United States and Canada detect andprevent human trafficking.

Page 10

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEWATCHTHE BLUE VIEW PODCASTLISTENWATCHLISTEN

Page 11

LEARN MORE LEARN MORELEARN MORELEARN MOREOn the Blue View Podcast, you'llhear from law enforcementexperts, elected officials, andother notable leaders to gaininsight into the issues andcurrent events surrounding thelaw enforcement community. The Collaborative ReformInitiative Technical AssistanceCenter (CRI-TAC) provides no-cost, customized technicalassistance solutions designed tomeet the unique needs of state,local, tribal, and campus lawenforcement agencies.The COPS Office awards grants tohire community policingprofessionals, develop and testinnovative policing strategies, andprovide training and technicalassistance to community members,local government leaders, and alllevels of law enforcement. The Office of Justice Programs (OJP)provides innovative leadership toFederal, state, local, and tribaljustice systems, by disseminatingstate-of-the art knowledge andpractices, and providing grants forthe implementation of these crimefighting strategies. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICEOFFICE OF JUSTICEPROGRAMSADDITIONAL RESOURCES@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE

Page 12

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE

Page 13

CLICK TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PACPOLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEEWhether it be Members of Congress or a President of the United States, when they seek toengage in meaningful conversation on issues pertaining to criminal justice or lawenforcement, they partner with the National Fraternal Order of Police. We are known andtrusted to fight for the interests of our members, which makes the FOP a vital ally on policingand criminal justice issues.The National Fraternal Order of Police Political Action Committee (NFOP PAC) needs yourhelp! Our PAC plays an important role in our advocacy program and allows the FOP tosupport candidates who support our members and our profession. Given the importance ofthe PAC, it is vital that our PAC is as well-funded as possible.WE ARE ASKING ALL FOP MEMBERS TO FIND A WAY TOCONTRIBUTE TO THE NATIONAL FOP PACPlease consider supportingthe National FOP's5-5-5 GIVEBACK PROGRAMFor only $15 per month, yourhard-earned dollars will go towhere they are most effective. @GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE

Page 14

TIM RICHARDSONSenior Legislative Liaison DAVID TABOHLegislative Liaison ASA RENDERLegislative Liaison JIM PASCOExecutive Director@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEBENJAMINSTOKESLegislative Liaison 328 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NE,WASHINGTON, D.C. 20002ADDRESS202-547-8189PHONEFAX: 202-547-8190FAXLEGISLATIVE@FOP.NETEMAILTHE STEVE YOUNG LAWENFORCEMENT LEGISLATIVEADVOCACY CENTERNATIONAL FOPLEGISLATIVE OFFICEWASHINGTON, D.C. STAFF