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 | 2 0 D E C E M B E R 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 - SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS ACT CLEARSTWO SENATE HURDLESSOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS ACT CLEARSTWO SENATE HURDLESFINAL VOTES POSSIBLE THIS WEEKENDFINAL VOTES POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND
@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE @GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEThis week, National President Patrick Yoes and Executive Director Jim Pasco met with President-electDonald J. Trump and secured his support for H.R. 82, the “Social Security Fairness Act.” His supportwas crucial when the bill faced its first procedural vote—invoking cloture on a motion to proceed tothe consideration of the bill. The motion passed on a 73-27 vote, with 24 Republicans supporting it. The FOP similarly prevailed on the second procedural vote on the motion to proceed on a 73-23 vote.On this vote, three Senators who voted no on cloture switched their vote and supported the motion toproceed. This means that we have the support of 76 Senators and a majority of both the RepublicanConference and the Democratic Caucus. Two crucial procedural votes remain that require us to meet a 60-vote threshold—a motion to waivethe budgetary point of order and a motion to invoke cloture on H.R. 82. Following these two votes, theSenate will be able to vote on H.R. 82. We are urging ALL FOP Members to contact their Senators and urge them to stay in Washington, overthe weekend and possibly into next week, to vote:YES on the motion to waive the budgetary point of order;YES on the motion to invoke cloture on H.R. 82; andYES on final passage. You can call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 or visit this website to get the phone number foryour Senators! Do it TODAY! If you’re affected by the WEP/GPO and are tired of getting a monthly check that reduces a benefit YOUEARNED, then make those calls! We need ALL MEMBERS to reach out to their Senators and tell themthey must VOTE YES on the “Social Security Fairness Act” when it reaches a final vote! This effort will not succeed without YOU!LEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYSENATE HOLDING VOTES ON SOCIAL SECURITYFAIRNESS ACT!LEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITY
@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEWe need YOU in D.C.! The First Session of the 119th Congress will begin next month, and FOPpriorities are poised for another year of dedicated action. We can say with great pride that we areone step closer to accomplishing our biggest top priority, passing the “Social Security FairnessAct.” We encourage you to continue reaching out to your Senators to voice your support.From Monday, 3 February, through Wednesday, 5 February, the nation’s oldest and largestorganization of law enforcement officers will be advocating on Capitol Hill. More specifically, wewill be highlighting the challenges and the needs of our memberships, including recognizing theright of public safety officers to collectively bargain in addition to protecting due process forofficers and firefighters. With the momentum we have seen with the Social Security Fairness Act,we are confident we will continue to see more progress on these top priorities.Our future success and our legislative agenda depend on our ability to motivate and mobilize ourgrassroots to make sure our message continues to be heard loud and clear. Participation in thisevent is just a part—but an important part—of the FOP’s advocacy strategy. We need our membersto build, strengthen, and sustain their relationships with their Representatives and Senators. DON’T DELAY - REGISTER TODAY!ROOM BLOCK The National FOP will be organizing a block of rooms at a special rate for these dates. Be sure toregister today by clicking the link below and check back for information.REGISTER HERE!LEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYLEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITY
@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYLEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYNational President Patrick Yoes and Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with membersof the Senate and their staff about H.R. 82.National President Patrick Yoes worked out of the Steve Young Law EnforcementLegislative Advocacy Center in Washington, D.C.Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with Heather J. Fong, Assistant Secretary for Stateand Local Law Enforcement and Senior Counselor to the Secretary for Law Enforcementat the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, about criminal activity by legal visaholders.National President Patrick Yoes spoke with numerous media outlets.Executive Director Jim Pasco had numerous conversations with the Trump TransitionTeam and Senate leadership about H.R. 82.National President Patrick Yoes and Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with Ed Kelly,President of the International Association of Firefighters, and other union leaders aboutH.R. 82.National President Patrick Yoes and Executive Director Jim Pasco met with President-elect Donald J. Trump at Mar-A-Lago about H.R. 82 and other FOP priorities. During themeeting, President-elect Trump expressed his support for the passage of H.R. 82.Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with Shannon Long, Assistant Director of External Affairs at the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, about upcoming U.S.Department of Justice events.
@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYLEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYSenior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson had multiple conversations with staff in theoffices of Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), the Majority Leader, Sherrod D. Brown(D-OH), Susan M. Collins (R-ME), William M. Cassidy (R-LA), and Kyrsten L. Sinema (D-AZ) about the Senate’s consideration of H.R. 82, the “Social Security Fairness Act.”Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson and Legislative Liaison Benjamin Stokes metwith staff in the office of Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-IA), who will chair theCommittee on the Judiciary in the next Congress, to discuss the FOP’s priorities for nextyear.Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson had numerous conversations with Senate staffabout the Senate’s consideration of H.R. 82, the “Social Security Fairness Act.”Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with numerous high-level media outlets about H.R.82, as well as with others about the 4.9 GHz spectrum issue.
@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELISTEN & SUBSCRIBE WATCH PREVIOUS EPISODESTHE BLUE VIEW PODCASTLaw enforcement officers are ordinary people called to do extraordinary things attimes. They are human beings who are not immune to experiencing a range ofemotions due to the nature of this profession. On this episode of the Blue View, National FOP President Patrick Yoes sits down withNational FOP Chaplain Rick Snyder and Dr. Chris Holland to discuss how faith andresiliency can go hand-in-hand with a law enforcement officers overall wellness –especially at such a difficult and strenuous time for law enforcement. Dr. Chris Holland and Rick Snyder host the Remnant Revealed podcast, which helpsofficers and their families find biblically-based solutions to the challenges they facedaily.
@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICETHIS WEEK IN WASHINGTONTHE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESThe House considered and passed H.R. 7224, a bill that would authorize the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services to provide training on the identificationand support of human trafficking victims, by voice vote.The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing entitled “Oversight of the CriminalJustice Information Services (CJIS) Division,” which included testimony fromTimothy Ferguson, Acting Assistant Director of the CJIS Division. The House considered and rejected H.R. 10550, the “American Relief Act,” on a174-235 vote. The House is expected to continue negotiations during this weekendto avoid a government shutdown, which would begin at midnight tonight if there isno agreement. The House considered and passed H.R. 8663, the “DETECT Fentanyl and XylazineAct of 2024,” on a 404-1 vote, with 27 members not voting. The bill providesstatutory authority for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science andTechnology Directorate to take certain actions to support the detection of drugssuch as fentanyl and xylazine. The bill now goes to the President’s desk to besigned into law.
@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICETHIS WEEK IN WASHINGTONTHE UNITED STATES SENATEThe Senate considered and passed H.R. 5009, the “National Defense AuthorizationAct for Fiscal Year 2025,” by a vote of 85-14. The Senate considered and passed S.5130, the “Opioid Overdose Data CollectionEnhancement Act” by unanimous consent. The bill amends the Omnibus CrimeControl and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to enhance an opioid grant program. The Senate considered and passed S.5398, the “Deterring External Threats andEnsuring Robust Responses to Egregious and Nefarious Criminal Endeavors(DETERRENCE) Act.” The bill would increase penalties for those who commit crimeson U.S. soil on behalf of our foreign adversaries.The Senate invoked cloture on the motion to proceed to the consideration of H.R.82, the “Social Security Fairness Act,” by a vote of 73-27. The Senate then voted73-23 to pass the motion to proceed.The Senate may vote today or possibly this weekend on two more crucialprocedural matters that require a 60-vote threshold—a motion to waive thebudgetary point of order and a motion to invoke cloture on H.R. 82. Following thesetwo votes, the Senate will be able to vote on H.R. 82.The Senate considered and passed S.1144, the “Invest to Protect Act,” byunanimous consent. The bill, supported by the FOP, would boost local policedepartments access to training, mental health support, and recruitment andretention resources. The bill now awaits passage in the House.
@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICETHIS WEEK IN WASHINGTONTHE UNITED STATES SENATEThe Senate considered and passed S. 465, the “Bridging Agency Data Gaps andEnsuring Safety for Native Communities (BADGES) Act” by unanimous consent. Thebill revises federal policies and procedures related to information sharing, reporting,and investigating cases of missing, unidentified, or murdered Indians. The billawaits passage in the House. The Senate considered and passed S. 5062, the “Prison Staff Safety EnhancementAct.” The bill, which the FOP supports, would address sexual assault committed byinmates against Bureau of Prisons staff. The bill now awaits passage in the House.The Senate considered and passed S. 4640, the “Supporting Victims of HumanTrafficking Act” by unanimous consent. The bill would strengthen trafficking victimassistance grant funding and now awaits passage in the house.
@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEUPCOMING EVENTS Labor Leadership Training February 11-12, 2025Las Vegas, NVInformation and Registration Legal Counselors SeminarFebruary 13-14, 2025Las Vegas, NVInformation and RegistrationOfficer Wellness SummitFebruary 17-18, 2025Nashville, TNSave the Date Wellness Professionals Forum February 16, 2025Nashville, TNSave the DateSpring State Presidents MeetingMarch 13, 2025Salt Lake City, UTInformation and RegistrationLeadership MattersFebruary 20-22, 2025Nashville, TNInformation and RegistrationSpring National Board MeetingMarch 14-15, 2025Salt Lake City, UTInformation and RegistrationDay on the Hill 2025February 3-5, 2025Washington DCInformation and Registration
@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEFOP NEWSROOMFACT SHEET: National Law EnforcementAccountability DatabaseTo strengthen hiring practices by federal, state, local, Tribal, andterritorial (SLTT) law enforcement agencies and increasetransparency and accountability, the Justice Departmentlaunched the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database(NLEA) in December 2023DHS, FBI, FAA & DoD Joint Statement on OngoingResponse to Reported Drone SightingsHaving closely examined the technical data and tips fromconcerned citizens, we assess that the sightings to dateinclude a combination of lawful commercial drones,hobbyist drones and stars mistakenly reported as drones. Trump Backs Social Security Fairness!Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order ofPolice, and Executive Director Jim Pasco met yesterdaywith President-elect Donald J. Trump at his home in Mar-a-Lago to discuss issues of mutual interest to the FOPand the incoming Administration. Cloture Invoked on Social Security Fairness Act!Madison police chief says alleged motive ofWisconsin Christian school shooting suspectseemed to be ‘combination of factors’It appears that the motive was a combination of factors,” Barnessaid. “Again, [we] cannot share that information at this time,because we do not want to jeopardize the investigation and thosewho are currently cooperating with us.”Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order ofPolice, said he believed that H.R. 82, the “Social SecurityFairness Act,” would be passed into law today followingthe 73-27 vote to invoke cloture on the motion to proceedto the bill’s consideration.
SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS ACTTOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIESLAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS’ EQUITY ACTCOLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTSH.R. 132288 COSPONSORSR: 23 D: 65H.R. 82330 COSPONSORSR: 120 D: 210S. 59762 COSPONSORSR: 13 D: 49@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEH.R. 354PROTECT AND SERVE ACTH.R. 743119 COSPONSORSR: 103 D: 1643 COSPONSORSR: 43 D: 0LEOSA REFORM ACTHELPER ACTH.R. 3170146 COSPONSORSR: 47 D: 99S. 151430 COSPONSORSR: 8 D: 22MORE RESOURCES BILLS SUPPORTEDS. 14629 COSPONSORSR: 9 D: 0H.R. 353968 COSPONSORSR: 15 D: 53NOT YET INTRODUCED IN THE SENATES. 16583 COSPONSORSR: 2 D: 1S. 425820 COSPONSORSR: 19D: 1
@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEWATCHTHE BLUE VIEW PODCASTLISTENWATCHLISTEN
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
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@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEDONATE TO THENATIONAL FOP PACDONATE TO THENATIONAL FOP 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 PAC
TIM RICHARDSONSenior Legislative Liaison JIM PASCOExecutive Director@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELAURA GORMALLYLegislative Liaison DAVID TABOHLegislative Liaison BENJAMINSTOKESLegislative 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