Don’t let your TOP COPS nominations get lost in the holiday shuffle! The Jan. 12 deadline for nominations will be here before you know it. Please take the time to nominate examples of outstanding police work for this prestigious award. The nomination form can be found on NAPO's website and must be postmarked or faxed to (703) 684-0515 by Jan.12, 2024.  

The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security held a field hearing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Nov. 20 on “Social Security’s Disservice to Public Servants: How the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset Mistreat Government Workers”. The hearing focused on the negative impact the WEP and GPO have on public retirees, including whether current retirees impacted by the provisions had any advanced notice or education on the GPO and WEP, and how these provisions affect their retirement security. To help our efforts, the Committee needs to hear from you if you or a family member are impacted by the GPO and WEP. The Committee is accepting comments from the public through close of business Monday, Dec. 4. Please support our efforts by submitting comments now to WMSubmission@mail.house.gov with the subject line “Social Security’s Disservice to Public Servants: How the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset Mistreat Government Workers.” You must submit your comments as a Word document attached to the email and be sure to include a list of all persons and/or organizations who are submitting the comments in the Word document. Your email must include your name, organization (if applicable), address, and telephone number.  Please copy NAPO’s Governmental Affairs Director, Andy Edmiston, at aedmiston@napo.org when submitting your comments.

In a victory for NAPO, the Senate passed the American Law Enforcement Sustaining Aid and Vital Emergency Resources (SAVER) Act (S. 2644) by voice vote Nov. 29. This bill would help equip law enforcement officers with quality trauma kits so they can respond immediately and effectively if a civilian or fellow officer experiences a traumatic injury during a call. 

The final NDAA conference report is expected to be released as soon as next week. NAPO has two significant priorities that were passed as part of the Senate version of the NDAA – the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2023 (Section 1087) and the FEND Off Fentanyl Act (Title LXVIII) – and we continue to push for their inclusion in the final conference report. 

NAPO is making a cosponsor push for the Recruit and Retain Act (H.R. 3325), which will help remove financial obstacles to the law enforcement application process and aid in the recruitment of community police officers through the creation of a Pipeline Partnership Program. This bill is a top priority for the NAPO, and we need to build support for the bill – particularly Republican support – in the House for it to gain traction with leadership and move forward. NAPO is working to move the Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act (S.1514), which establishes a first-time homebuyer program through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to provide mortgage assistance to law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders. 

Register today for NAPO’s 35th Annual Police, Fire, EMS & Municipal Employee Pension & Benefits Seminar Jan. 28 – 30, 2024 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

For additional details on these and other legislative issues, please click here for the Dec. 1, 2023 Washington Report.