We count on our members to help us get the word about TOP COPS out and obtain nominations for officers nationwide. Join us in honoring America’s Finest by nominating a case today. The nomination form, which can be found on NAPO’s website, must be postmarked or faxed to (703) 684-0515 by Jan. 12, 2024.
Congress passed the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2023. The inclusion of the 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) funding was a top priority for NAPO and this is a significant victory for us. The provision helps to close the impending funding shortfall facing the WTCHP by providing an additional $444 million over the next ten years. It also provides $232 million for the newly created Pentagon and Shanksville Fund to cover active-duty Department of Defense military or civilians, along with other Federal employees, who responded to the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania sites on Sept. 11, 2001.
On Dec. 11, the House passed the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, H.R. 5378, by a vote of 320-71. This legislation would promote price transparency in the health care sector, including for prescription drugs. NAPO supports the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act because it requires hospitals, insurance companies, labs, imaging providers, and ambulatory surgical centers to publicly list the prices they charge patients, empowering patients to make educated choices on the treatment and services available.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office released a revised version of its report, Recruitment and Retention for the Modern Law Enforcement Agency, that reviews the issues and possible solutions and strategies that were discussed in the April 18, 2023 Recruitment and Retention Convening held by the DOJ. The purpose of the meeting was identifying short-term responses and long-term strategies for recruiting and retaining qualified professionals. While NAPO agreed with many of the recommendations in the publication, we voiced our strong opposition to a proposal suggesting agencies consider shifting away from traditional defined benefit pension plans towards defined contribution or 401(k) plans that are more portable.
NAPO has pledged our support for the Postal Police Reform Act, S. 3356, which would restore PPOs to their full, authorized duties to protect our nation’s postal workers and mail system. NAPO’s letter of support can be found by clicking on the link below.
Register today and join us Jan. 28 – 30, 2024 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for NAPO’s 35th Annual Police, Fire, EMS & Municipal Employee Pension & Benefits Seminar.
Please click here for the complete Dec. 15, 2023 Washington Report for more details about these and other legislative issues.
