House and Senate leadership are working to finalize the Fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with the goal of releasing the text by Dec. 7 and votes in the House for the week of Dec. 8. Congress is scheduled to be in session for just two more weeks before adjourning for the year. Through NAPO efforts with the House and Senate Judiciary and Armed Services Committees and leadership, we are confident that at least a couple of the provisions of our pro-law enforcement amendment will be included in the final bill. The FY26 NDAA seems to be the last must-pass bill Congress will take up in 2025, so this is the time to get priority bills across the finish line.
Representative Greg Landsman (D-OH) and Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) reintroduced the NAPO-backed Expanding Health Care Options for First Responders Act (H.R. 6147 / S. 3221), which would permit public safety officers, ages 50 to 64, who are retired or separated from service due to a disability to buy-in to Medicare.
On Dec. 3, the House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing entitled, “When Badges Become Targets: How Anti-Law Enforcement Rhetoric Fuels Violence Against Officers.” NAPO submitted written testimony focusing on the environment that has enabled attacks on officers to go unabated. Politicians expressing distrust of the police helps provoke attacks on officers and encourages individuals not to comply with police commands. This behavior is impacting officer morale, retention and hiring, in addition to officer safety and wellness. NAPO recommended administrative tools the Department of Justice should use to prosecute individuals targeting officers for violence. NAPO also encouraged Congress to pass the Back the Blue Act, the Protect and Serve Act, and the Justice for Fallen Law Enforcement Act to provide more protections for officers.
The Back the Blue Act would help stop senseless violence against law enforcement officers by adding new criminal provisions to address the assault, attempted murder or murder of federally-funded law enforcement officers. It would also create a new federal crime for interstate flight to avoid prosecution for these crimes and increase penalties by making the murder or attempted murder of a local police officer, firefighter, or first responder an aggravating factor in death penalty determinations.
Congressmen Eugene Vindman (D-VA) and Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) reintroduced the NAPO-backed Targeting Online Sales of Fentanyl Act, H.R. 5744, which would require the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on the online sale of fentanyl, synthetic opioids, and methamphetamine.
Register now for NAPO’s Annual Pension & Benefits Seminar at Ceasar’s Place in Las Vegas, Nevada Jan. 25 – 27, 2026, which focuses on the policies of the second Trump Administration, Executive Orders, lawsuits and the new Congress.
Click on the link below for full details in the Dec. 5, 2025 Washington Report.
