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FOP Update - 20 September 2024

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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 S E P T 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 - DISCHARGE PETITION GETS 218 SIGNERS, BILL WILLGO TO FLOORDISCHARGE PETITION GETS 218 SIGNERS, BILL WILLGO TO FLOORCOPS OFFICE CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY!COPS OFFICE CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY!

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@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE @GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEThe FOP can proudly report that Discharge Petition #16, which will allow H.R. 82,the “Social Security Fairness Act,” to be considered on the House floor, reached therequired 218 signatures on Thursday. Describing it as a “momentous occasion,” National President Patrick Yoes thankedall FOP members who reached out to their Representatives and described our effortas a “demonstration of the power of the FOP’s grassroots.” The petition discharges a rule, H. Res. 1410, to the House floor which provides forthe consideration of H.R. 82 on the House floor. The petition will need to “ripen” forseveral legislative days before the bill can proceed to a vote. Congress is facing apotential partial government shutdown and the days the House will remain insession prior to the election also remains in question, but according toRepresentatives Graves and Spanberger, there does not seem to be any proceduralway to stop a vote. It will just be a question of timing, so please be sure to monitorthe FOP’s website and social media platforms for the very latest information! We are urging FOP members to thank those Representatives who signed thepetition and “check in” with all of their Representatives and getcommitments that they will vote for H.R. 82 when in comes to the floor. Youcan call, fax, email or use the FOP’s Action Center! Let’s keep ourmomentum going!Social Security Fairness Act AlertLEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYLEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITY

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@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYNational President Patrick Yoes, National Secretary Jimmy Holderfield, ExecutiveDirector Jim Pasco, and Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson represented theFOP at the induction of the National FOP into the “Century of Service Honor Roll ofAmerican Labor Organizations.” The FOP was among those labor unions with morethan a century of service to their members that were recognized by the U.S.Department of Labor’s Acting Secretary, Julie A. Su. LEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYNational President Patrick Yoes and Executive Director Jim Pasco had theirquarterly meeting with U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.National President Patrick Yoes attended the North Carolina State FOP Conferencein Cherokee, NC.National President Patrick Yoes spoke with various media outlets.

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@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYLEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYNational President Patrick Yoes, Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson, andLegislative Liaison David Taboh represented the FOP on a stakeholders call hostedby Representatives Garret N. Graves (R-LA) and Abigail D. Spanberger (D-VA) todiscuss next steps and a strategy moving forward with respect to DischargePetition #16 and H.R. 82, the “Social Security Fairness Act.”Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with Heather J. Fong, Assistant Secretary forState and Local Law Enforcement and Senior Counselor to the Secretary for LawEnforcement at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, about the assassinationattempt on former President Donald J. Trump.Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with Steven M. Dettelbach, Director of theBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Deputy Director MarvinG. Richardson, about machine gun conversion devices and intergovernmentalaffairs.Executive Director Jim Pasco, Director of Training and Outreach Keith Turney, andSenior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson represented the FOP at the 30thAnniversary Celebration of the establishment of the Office of Community OrientedPolicing Services (COPS). The event was held in the Great Hall of the U.S.Department of Justice and featured remarks by U.S. Attorney General Merrick B.Garland, Deputy U.S. Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, as well as a panel of fourformer Directors of the COPS Office.

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@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYLEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYSenior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson spoke with staff in the offices ofSenators Amy J. Klobuchar (D-MN) and Debra L. Fischer (R-NE) about the FOP’sefforts to include S. 930, the “Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act,” into the Senate’sdraft of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson Spoke with staff in the office of SenatorSherrod D. Brown (D-OH), Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), and John Cornyn III (R-TX)about the introduction of the Senate companion to H.R. 5266, the “Interdiction ofFentanyl in Postal Mail at Federal Prisons Act.” The FOP supports this legislation.Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson spoke with staff in the office of SenatorSherrod D. Brown (D-OH) about strategies to advance H.R. 82, the “Social SecurityFairness Act,” once it is received in the Senate.Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson spoke with staff in the office of SenatorMitch McConnell (R-KY), the Senate Minority Leader, about the inclusion of S. 930,the “Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act,” into the Senate’s draft of the FY25 NationalDefense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill, which is a priority for the FOP for theend of this Congress, was blocked by Senator McConnell from inclusion in theNDAA because of the cost of the bill, which would expand the Public SafetyOfficers’ Benefits (PSOB) program to include law enforcement and public safetyofficers who are exposed to certain carcinogens and die or who are disabled as aresult of that exposure. Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with Matthew B. Klapper, chief of staff to U.S.Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, regarding interoperability issues.

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@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYAll D.C. staff were involved in ongoing outreach to a targeted list of HouseMembers who are cosponsors of H.R. 82 but who had not yet signed DischargePetition #16, which will send the bill to the House floor for consideration.Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson spoke with staff in the office ofRepresentative Gabriel F. K. Amo (D-RI) about draft legislation conditioning certaingrants through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne-JAG)on certain firearms transfers to covered Federal Firearms Licensees (FFL).Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson spoke with staff in the office ofRepresentative Richard R. Larsen (D-WA) about draft legislation that would expandthe Anti-Heroin Task Force administered by the Office of Community OrientedPolicing Services (COPS) and support local-State-and Federal task forcescombating the opioid epidemic.LEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYSenior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson and Legislative Liaison David Tabohspoke with the deputy chief of staff in the office of Representative Thomas H. Kean,Jr. (R-NJ) about H.R. 82, the “Social Security Fairness Act.” Representative Keanpledged to vote in favor of the bill when it reaches the floor.

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@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELISTEN & SUBSCRIBE WATCH PREVIOUS EPISODESTHE BLUE VIEW PODCASTEquality and fairness are some of America’s most cherished ideals. In current SocialSecurity law, over 2.5 million retired first responders, teachers, and other governmentemployees are financially penalized by provisions of the law, the Windfall EliminationProvision and the Government Pension Offset, that slash their benefits solely becausethey spent part of their careers in jobs that don’t pay into Social Security. On thisepisode of the Blue View Podcast, National FOP President Patrick Yoes sits down withRepresentative Garret N. Graves (R-LA), who currently represents Louisiana’s 6thCongressional district. Representatives Graves and Abigail D. Spanberger (D-VA) are united in an effort touse a House procedure known as a discharge petition to force a vote on H.R. 82, the“Social Security Fairness Act.” This week, the Discharge Petition succeeded inreaching the required 218 signatures to bring the bill to the House floor.

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@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEDischarge Petition #16, which will bring the H.R. 82, the “Social Security FairnessAct” to the floor, reached the required 218 signatures to force a vote on the bill.The discharge petition will need to “ripen” for a certain number of legislative days.We will be in close contact with Representatives Garret N. Graves (R-LA) andAbigail D. Spanberger (D-VA) with respect to timing the floor vote.The House Committee on Ways and Means amended and favorably reported H.R.3269, the “Law Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act” on a 21-16 vote. The billnow moves to the full House for consideration. THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTONTHE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESThe House considered and rejected H.R. 9494, the “Continuing Appropriations andOther Matters Act,” on a 202-220 vote, with 14 Republicans joining all theDemocrats in voting down the measure.The House passed numerous bills this week, including:H.R. 3784, the “Improving “Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity TheftAct;”H.R. 7909, the “Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act;”H.R. 9106, the “Enhanced Presidential Security Act;” andS. 1146, the “Find and Protect Foster Youth Act.”The House Committee on the Judiciary favorably reported H.R. 8205, the “KeepingViolent Offenders Off Our Streets Act,” on a 14-9 vote. The bill now moves to thefull House for consideration.

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@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICETHIS WEEK IN WASHINGTONTHE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESThe House Committee on Homeland Security held two hearings -one entitled“Beyond the Border: Terrorism and Homeland Security Consequences of IllegalImmigration,” and the other entitled “A Country Without Borders: How Biden-Harris’Open-Borders Policies Have Undermined Our Safety and Security.”The House Committee on the Judiciary favorably reported H.R. 8419, the“American Victims of Terrorism Compensation Act,” by voice vote. The bill nowmoves to the full House for consideration. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce voted unanimously to favorablyreport H.R. 3433, the “Give Kids a Chance Act,” as well as H.R. 7891, the “KidsOnline Safety Act,” by voice vote. Both bills now move to the House forconsideration. The House Committee on the Judiciary favorably reported H. J. Res 144, “Povidingfor Congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of therule submitted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives,Department of Justice, relating to “Definition of ‘Engaged in the Business’ as aDealer in Firearms” on a 14-9 vote. The bill now moves to the full House forconsideration. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure considered andfavorably reported H.R. 8610, the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, andReauthorization Act,” by voice vote. The measure now goes to the House floor forfurther consideration.

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@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICETHIS WEEK IN WASHINGTONTHE UNITED STATES SENATEThe Senate Committee on Armed Services released its “manager’s package”—a package of 93amendments included in S. 4638, the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year2025.” The FOP can report that we were successful in our efforts to include the followinglegislation in the manager’s package:S. 645, the “Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act,” which would direct the U.S.Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop a state-of-the-art treatment program for publicsafety officers experiencing acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),or similar conditions;S.994, the “Strong Communities Act,” which would help build on the community-policingmodel by establishing a grant program for local law enforcement agencies to assist inrecruiting officers from their own community;S. 1170, the “Project Safe Childhood Act,” which updates and expands provisions includedin the original “Project Safe Childhood” initiative launched by the DOJ;S.1387, the “Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act,” which wouldreauthorize critical funding and support for local law enforcement agencies andcommunity organizations that help reduce violent crime and enhance public safety;S. 2644, the “American Law Enforcement Sustaining Aid and Vital Emergency Resources(SAVER) Act,” a bill developed by the FOP which would expand the existing Edward ByrneMemorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne-JAG) program to allow for the purchase oftrauma kits;S.3687, the “Preventing Child Trafficking Act,” which would direct the Office for Victims ofCrime in the DOJ to implement anti-trafficking recommendations of the GovernmentAccountability Office; andS.3859, the "Justice for Murder Victims Act", which would allow a prosecution to beinstituted for any Federal homicide offense without regard to the time that elapsedbetween the act or omission that caused the death of the victim and the death of thevictim.

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@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICETHIS WEEK IN WASHINGTONTHE UNITED STATES SENATEThe FOP will continue our efforts to ensure these provision are included in the finalbill, which will not be considered until after the election. The FOP had been pushing for the inclusion of three additional measures whichwere not included:S. 930, the “Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act,” which would categorize duty-related cancer fatalities as a line of duty death under Public Safety Officers’Benefits program;S. 993, the “Combating Illicit Xylazine Act,” which would add xylazine to theControlled Substances Act, listing it as a Schedule III drug for illicit use; andS. 1144, the “Invest to Protect Act,” which would establish a grant program,administered by the Community Oriented Policing Services Office within theU.S. Department of Justice, that would be used for the training of officers frompolice departments and municipalities that employ fewer than 200 lawenforcement officers.

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@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEThe U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing entitled “A Threat toJustice Everywhere: Stemming the Tide of Hate Crimes in America.”The U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security voted to favorably report S.4711, the “Dismantling Outdated Obstacles and Barries to Individual EmploymentAct of 2024” on a 9-2 vote. The bill, which would ensure applicants for federalpositions or security clearances are not being denied solely on the basis of pastrecreational and medical marijuana use, now heads to the Senate floor. THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTONTHE UNITED STATES SENATEThe U.S. Senate Commitee on Commerce held a hearing entitled, “Coast GuardDrug Interdiction and Enforcement in the Maritime Environment.”The U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security voted unanimously to favorablyreport S.4294, the “Cross Border Aerial Law Enforcement Act,” and S.4419, the“Detection Equipment and Technology Evaluation to Counter the Threat (DETECT)Fentanyl and Xylazine Act.” Both bills now await action by the full Senate.The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs voted unanimously to favorablyreport S. 2695, the “Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act.” The bill now awaitsaction by the full Senate.

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@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEUPCOMING EVENTS Collective BargainingOctober 22-24, 2024Las Vegas, NVInformation and RegistrationLabor 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 Leadership MattersFebruary 20-22, 2025Nashville, TNSave the Date

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@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEFOP NEWSROOMJustice Department Awards Over $600M to HireLaw Enforcement OfficersThe Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented PolicingServices (COPS Office) today announced that it has awardedover $600 million in grant funding to law enforcement agenciesand stakeholders across the country. FOP National President Patrick Yoes joined IACP President WadeCarpenter in sending a letter to Senator McConnell asking him toinclude S. 930, the "Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act" in the NDAAfor FY25. S.930, the “Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act”DHS Awards $18 Million to agencies in fight againstTargeted Violence and TerrorismThe TVTP Grant Program provides financial assistance toeligible applicants to develop sustainable, multidisciplinarytargeted violence and terrorism prevention capabilities in localcommunities, and pilot innovative prevention approaches.Social Security Discharge Petition Reaches 218!Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police,proudly announced that Discharge Petition #16, which will allowH.R. 82, the “Social Security Fairness Act,” to be considered onthe House floor, reached the required 218 signatures. S.5128, the “Interdiction of Fentanyl in PostalMail at Federal Prisons Act” National President Patrick Yoes sent a letter to Senators Caseyand Heinrich in support of S. 5128, the “Interdiction of Fentanylin Postal Mail at Federal Prisons Act.”

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SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS ACTTOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIESLAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS’ EQUITY ACTCOLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTSH.R. 132288 COSPONSORSR: 23 D: 65H.R. 82327 COSPONSORSR: 117 D: 210S. 59762 COSPONSORSR: 13 D: 49@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEH.R. 354PROTECT AND SERVE ACTH.R. 743117 COSPONSORSR: 101 D: 1643 COSPONSORSR: 43 D: 0LEOSA REFORM ACTHELPER ACTH.R. 3170143 COSPONSORSR: 46 D: 97S. 151427 COSPONSORSR: 7 D: 20MORE RESOURCES BILLS SUPPORTEDS. 14628 COSPONSORSR: 8 D: 0H.R. 353966 COSPONSORSR: 13 D: 53NOT YET INTRODUCED IN THE SENATES. 16583 COSPONSORSR: 2 D: 1S. 425820 COSPONSORSR: 19D: 1

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@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEWATCHTHE BLUE VIEW PODCASTLISTENWATCHLISTEN

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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 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

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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