Return to flip book view

Message 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 | 4 A P R I L 2 0 2 5L 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 - NEW REPORTNEW REPORT

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYLEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITY Tell Congress to Pass H.R. 2243/S. 679 – The LEOSA Reform Act! The Fraternal Order of Police is leading the charge to strengthen the LawEnforcement Officers’ Safety Act (LEOSA), a law that exempts qualified officersfrom laws that prohibit carrying concealed firearms. The LEOSA Reform Act, whichpassed the House Committee on the Judiciary last week, amends current law sothat officers are treated the same as State CCW permit holders by: Expanding the exemption to school zones, national parks, and certain Federalbuildings (e.g., post offices, Social Security Administration, and VA facilities). Exempting restrictions on magazine capacity to ensure officers aren’tinadvertently exposed to legal jeopardy.This is a critical officer safety issue. The FOP is lobbying Congress, but we needYOUR voice to make this happen!Contact your Members of Congress today using the FOP Action Center and urgethem to support H.R. 2243/S. 679 to ensure law enforcement officers are protected—on and off duty.

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYLEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYNational President Patrick Yoes spoke with various media outlets. National President Patrick Yoes, Executive Director Jim Pasco, and Senior LegislativeLiaison Tim Richardson met with FOP members from NJ FOP Lodge #168 to discussstrategies for building support for the “Law Enforcement Officers’ Equity Act.”National President Patrick Yoes worked out of the Washington, D.C. office this week.National President Patrick Yoes and Executive Director Jim Pasco met with Kash P.Patel, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Acting Director of the Bureau ofAlcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, to discuss FOP priorities and ways in whichthe FOP can closely collaborate with all of the enforcement agencies within the U.S.Department of Justice going forward. National President Patrick Yoes and Executive Director Jim Pasco met with James D.Jordan (R-OH), Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary, to discuss H.R. 1551,the “Protect and Serve Act,” S. 237, the “Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act.” and otherpending FOP priorities. Edward A. Kelly, General President of the InternationalAssociation of Firefighters, as well as Kevin O’Connor, Assistant to the GeneralPresident, were also in attendance. National President Patrick Yoes attended the Western Sates Conference in Des Moines,IA.Executive Director Jim Pasco continued conversations with the White House Office ofDomestic Policy and the Office of Policy Engagement regarding the recent ExecutiveOrder on collective bargaining with the view of ensuring, to the maximum extent possible,that our members will be protected under the Executive Order.

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYLEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYExecutive Director Jim Pasco spoke with White House officials to express the FOP’sconcerns with the recent reductions in force at the U.S. Department of Health and HumanServices, specifically within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH), which, among other responsibilities, certifies first responders eligible for healthcare through the World Trade Center Health Program. White House staff assured the FOPthat they will work with us to ameliorate the impact of the reduction in force to ensurethat 9/11 responders receive the highest quality of care.Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson and Legislative Liaison Laura Gormally met jointlywith staff from the offices of Senator Thomas R. Tillis (R-NC) and John H. Rutherford (R-FL)about the FOP’s legislative strategy for H.R. 1551/S. 167, the “Protect and Serve Act.”Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson and Legislative Liaison Ben Stokes met with newstaff in the office of Senator John Cornyn III (R-TX) to discuss FOP priorities and bills on whichSenator Cornyn is the sponsor. These include the “Law Enforcement Officers’ Equity Act,” S.167, the “Protect and Serve Act,” S. 679, the “LEOSA Reform Act,” S. 978, the “Homes for EveryLocal Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act,” the “American Law EnforcementSustaining Aid and Vital Emergency Resources (SAVER) Act,” the “Public Safety OfficerConcussion and Traumatic Brain Injury Health Act,” S. 237, the “Honoring Our Fallen HeroesAct,” legislation reauthorizing the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, and other issues.Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson met with Hope D. Janke, Director of the PublicSafety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program, to discuss pending legislation impacting the PSOBprogram and its future.

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYLEGISLATIVE NEWS & ACTIVITYSenior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson and Legislative Liaison Ben Stokes met with staff inthe office of Senator Cory A. Booker (D-NJ) to discuss the re-introduction of the “LawEnforcement Officers’ Equity Act.” Other bills discussed included S. 167, the “Protect andServe Act,” S. 237 the “Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act,” and legislation reauthorizing theProject Safe Neighborhoods program. His staff also promised to work with us to ensure thatthe U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) was complying with Federal law requiring theDepartment’s components to issue law enforcement credentials to civilian law enforcementofficers employed by DoD.Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson spoke with staff in the office of Senator Charles E.Schumer (D-NY), the Minority Leader, about issues related to Medicaid in the revised Senatebudget resolution. Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson spoke with staff in the office of RepresentativeMary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) about H.R 1269, the “Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act.”

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICELISTEN & SUBSCRIBE WATCH PREVIOUS EPISODESTHE BLUE VIEW PODCASTAfter 40 years of injustice, public employees will finally receive the full Social Securitybenefits they have earned. The 118th Congress has passed the Social SecurityFairness Act, repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government PensionOffset. Join us as we discuss this historic victory with Jim Pasco, Executive Director of theFraternal Order of Police, and Edward A. Kelly, General President of the InternationalAssociation of Firefighters. Together, we’ll break down the years of advocacy,bipartisan efforts, and the role law enforcement and firefighters played in makinghistory.

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEThis week, calling it “Liberation Day,” President Donald J. Trump announced his plan toimpose a 10 percent tariff on imports from all countries worldwide. There will beincreased tariff rates on approximately 60 countries that his Administration believeshave the most unfair trade relationships with the U.S.THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTONTHE WHITE HOUSEPresident Trump signed an Executive Order entitled: “Further Amendment to DutiesAddressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China asApplied to Low-Value Imports.” The EO eliminates duty-free de minimis treatment forlow-value imports from China and Hong Kong, a step intended to curb the illicit flow ofsynthetic opioids into the U.S. The FOP was supportive of Federal legislationaddressing this same issue.President Trump also the appointment of Sara A. Carter as the next Director of theOffice of National Drug Control Policy. This week, the Office of National Drug ControlPolicy announced the release of the Trump Administration's Drug Policy Priorities, acomprehensive and coordinated blueprint to reduce the impact of illicit drugs onAmerican society, which you can read here.

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICETHIS WEEK IN WASHINGTONTHE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESThe House Committee on Homeland Security held a hearing entitled, “Exploring the Useof Unmanned Aircraft Systems Across the DHS Enterprise.” The House Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing entitled, “Judicial Overreach andConstitutional Limits on the Federal Courts.”The House Committee on Oversight held a hearing entitled, “Salt Typhoon: SecuringAmerica’s Telecommunications from State-Sponsored Cyber Attacks."The House failed to pass a rules package on a vote of 206-222 backed by Speaker of theHouse J. Michael Johnson. The House was unable to consider further legislation,resulting in the chamber entering recess for the week. The House Committee on Homeland Security held a hearing entitled, “Cybersecurity isLocal, Too: Assessing the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.” The House Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing entitled, “Inside the Biden FBI:Waste, Fraud, Abuse, and a Bureau Leadership in Decline.”The House Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing entitled, “Artificial Intelligence:Examining Trends in Innovation and Competition.”

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICETHIS WEEK IN WASHINGTONTHE UNITED STATES SENATEThe Senate confirmed Harmeet K. Dhillon to serve as Assistant Attorney General of theU.S. Department of Justice by a vote of 52-45.The Senate confirmed Dean J. Sauer to serve as Solicitor General of the U.S. Departmentof Justice by a vote of 52-45.Sen. James C. Justice (R-WV) introduced S. 1295, the “Bureau of Prisons Security Checkand Actions against Narcotics in Mail Act.” The FOP supports this bill.Sen. John Cornyn III (R-TX) introduced S. 1300, the “Project Safe Neighborhoods GrantProgram Authorization Act.” The FOP supports this bill.The Senate voted 52-48 on motion to proceed to debate on H. Con. Res. 14 which wouldestablish a Congressional budget for fiscal years 2025 through 2034. This sets up a“vote-a-rama”—Senators will be in session for most of the weekend considering almost500 amendments. A final vote may come as early as Saturday night.

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEFOP NEWSROOMPresident Donald J. Trump Intends to NominateIndividuals to Key Posts at the DOJFOP Monthly Update: Officers Shot and Killed H.R. 2502, the “Law Enforcement Training forMental Health Crisis Response Act”National President Patrick Yoes sent a letter toRepresentatives Kaptur and Bice in support of H.R. 2502, the“Law Enforcement Training for Mental Health Crisis ResponseAct.”H.R. 1551, the “Protect and Serve Act”National President Patrick Yoes sent letters to RepresentativesVan Drew, Hunt, Lee, and Issa to request that they once againcosponsor H.R. 1551, the "Protect and Serve Act," in light ofincreased attacks on law enforcement.“Luigi Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson was apremeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shockedAmerica. After careful consideration, I have directed federalprosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carryout President Trump’s agenda...”Attorney General Pamela Bondi Directs Prosecutorsto Seek Death Penalty for Luigi MangioneToday the DOJ is proud to announce President Trump’s intentto nominate Stanley Woodward to serve as Associate AttorneyGeneral, and Elliot Gaiser to serve as Assistant AttorneyGeneral for The Office of Legal Counsel. The National Fraternal Order of Police regrets to report that asof midnight on 31 March, there have been 84 officers shot inthe line of duty in 2025. Of those officers shot, 10 of them werekilled.

TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIESLAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS’ EQUITY ACTCOLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEPROTECT AND SERVE ACTLEOSA REFORM ACTHELPER ACTMORE RESOURCES BILLS SUPPORTEDNOT YET INTRODUCED IN THE SENATENOT YET INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSES. 1677 COSPONSORSR: 7D: 0H.R. 150525 COSPONSORSR: 5 D: 20S. 6361 COSPONSORSR: 0 D: 1H.R. 155147 COSPONSORSR: 41D: 6S. 9789 COSPONSORSR: 2D: 7H.R. 209429 COSPONSORSR: 8D: 21H.R. 224316 COSPONSORSR: 15 D: 1S. 6798 COSPONSORSR: 8 D: 0

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

@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE

@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 DAVID TABOHLegislative Liaison JIM PASCOExecutive Director@GLFOP @FOPNATIONALNATIONAL FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICEBENJAMINSTOKESLegislative Liaison LAURA GORMALLYLegislative 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