On Sept. 19, the discharge petition for H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, reached the necessary 218 signatures needed to force a vote on this important bill. The petition is now closed and there is a seven legislative day waiting period after which the bill’s sponsors, Representatives Garret Graves (R-LA) or Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), can call it to the floor for a vote. House Speaker Mike Johnson then has two legislative days to schedule the vote.
It’s your last chance to get the NAPO Room Rate for NAPO’s 2024 Fall Seminar in Corpus Christi, Texas, which will focus on media relations and officer mental health and wellness. Click here for registration information for the Oct. 20–22, 2024 seminar.
In a victory for NAPO, the Senate Armed Services Committee released its version of the Fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Sept. 20, which includes one of NAPO’s priority amendments – the Law Enforcement and Victim Support Act amendment. The Law Enforcement and Victim Support Act is comprised of nine bills that passed in the Senate unanimously, including several priority bills for law enforcement: the Fighting PTSD Act, the American Law Enforcement SAVER Act, Project Safe Neighborhoods Reauthorization Act, the Strong Communities Act, and Project Safe Childhood Act.
After sending letters to President Joe Biden and the Administration urging executive action to close the de minimis loophole, NAPO was pleased to see the Administration announce on Sept. 13 that it is taking action to reform de minimis. The de minimis loophole allows packages valued at less than $800 to enter the U.S. through the international mail system without taxes, fees, or inspection. This cripples domestic manufacturers and workers, undermines retailers, strains law enforcement resources, and facilitates the movement of illegal and dangerous products and illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl and its precursors, into the country. NAPO participated in a press conference on Sept. 11, hosted by Representatives Rosa De Lauro (D-CT), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), and Tom Suozzi (D-NY), to promote a letter to the President that they led and was signed by 126 members of Congress, urging the President to take executive action and close the de minimis loophole.
In a victory for NAPO, the House passed the DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act (H.R. 8663) on Sept. 9 by voice vote. This bipartisan bill would authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct research and development, testing, and evaluation on equipment that would help law enforcement better detect fentanyl, xylazine, and other illicit drugs.
NAPO worked closely with Representative Michael Waltz (R-FL) on the reintroduction of the Lifesaving Gear for Police Act of 2024, a priority bill for us that would restore state and local law enforcement’s unfettered access to surplus military equipment through the Department of Defense’s 1033 Program and Departments of Justice and Homeland Security grant programs.
NAPO endorses Empowering Law Enforcement to Combat Financial Fraud Act (H.R. 9480) which will help support law enforcement investigations into financial scams against retirees.
For more on these and other legislative issues, please click here for the Sept. 20, 2024 Washington Report.