WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 
For the Week of 11 May 2001 

I. THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS:

Both the House and Senate were both in session this week.

The House considered the Department of State authorization bill and related amendments.  The House also passed the conference report on the President's budget.

The Senate continued to debate the Administration's education bill (S. 1).  The Senate also voted to pass the conference report on the President's budget.

II. UPDATE ON TOP PRIORITIES:

One new cosponsor was added to H.R. 21 (Lautenberg), bringing our current total to fourteen (14).

One new cosponsor was added to H.R. 218 (Concealed Carry), bringing our current total to one hundred and five (105). Since the cancellation of the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime hearing by Full Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), it has become imperative for us to boost our cosponsorship of this legislation. Please review the list below to see if your Member is a cosponsor of H.R. 218. If they are not, please contact them as soon as possible and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 218!!!   In the next few days, Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham will be sending out a "Dear Colleague" letter along with Representatives Ramstad (R-MN), Stupak (D-MI) and McCarthy (D-NY) to all members of Congress seeking their support.

Cosponsors of H.R. 218 as of 11 May 2001:

CA-51 Cunningham
AL-5  Cramer
AR-3  Hutchinson
AZ-3  Stump
AZ-4  Shadegg
AZ-6  Hayworth
CA-04 Doolittle
CA-11 Pombo
CA-19 Radanovich
CA-24 Sherman
CA-39 Royce 
CA-41 Miller 
CA-43 Calvert 
CA-44 Bono 
CA-47 Cox 
CA-48 Issa 
CA-52 Hunter 
CO-6  Tancredo 
CT-2  Simmons 
CT-4  Shays 
CT-5  Maloney 
FL-05 Thurman 
FL-09 Bilirakis 
FL-16 Foley 
GA-07 Barr 
GA-08 Chambliss 
GA-09 Deal 
GA-10 Norwood 
GA-11 Linder 
IL-03 Lipinski 
IL-16 Manzullo 
IL-20 Shimkus 
IN-02 Pence 
IN-05 Buyer 
IN-06 Burton 
IN-08 Hostettler 
KY-2  Lewis 
KY-3  Northup 
KY-4  Lucas 
LA-6  Baker 
MA-04 Frank 
MD-2  Ehrlich
MD-6  Bartlett 
MI-05 Barcia 
MN-3  Ramstad 
MO-5  McCarthy, K 
MO-7  Blunt 
MO-9  Hulshof 
MS-3  Pickering 
NC-03 Jones 
NC-05 Burr 
NC-06 Coble 
NC-11 Taylor 
NH-1  Sununu 
NJ-01 Andrews 
NJ-02 LoBiondo 
NJ-03 Saxton 
NJ-05 Roukema 
NJ-06 Pallone 
NJ-12 Holt 
NM-2  Skeen 
NV-1  Berkley 
NV-2  Gibbons 
NY-03 King 
NY-04 McCarthy, C 
NY-19 Kelly 
NY-20 Gilman 
NY-26 Hinchey 
OH-05 Gillmor 
OH-06 Strickland 
OH-15 Pryce 
OH-18 Ney 
OH-19 LaTourette 
PA-05 Peterson 
PA-06 Holden 
PA-07 Weldon 
PA-15 Toomey 
PA-17 Gekas 
PA-21 English 
SC-3  Graham 
TN-1  Jenkins 
TN-2  Duncan 
TN-3  Wamp 
TN-4  Hilleary 
TN-5  Clement 
TN-6  Gordon 
TN-7  Bryant 
TX-04 Hall 
TX-05 Sessions 
TX-17 Stenholm 
TX-23 Bonilla 
TX-29 Green, G
VA-01 Davis 
VA-04 Sisisky 
VA-05 Goode 
VA-06 Goodlatte 
VA-07 Cantor 
VA-09 Boucher 
WA-2  Larsen 
WA-3  Baird 
WA-4  Hastings 
WA-5  Nethercutt 
WA-9  Smith 
WI-1  Ryan 
WI-4  Kleczka 
WI-8  Green, M

If you do not know the phone number for your Member of Congress, contact the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or look online at the Member Directory on www.house.gov.

No new cosponsors were added to H.R. 1475 (Collective Bargaining). Our current total is one hundred and thirty-four (134). We are continuing to work with Senators Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA), who intend to drop the Senate companion bill before the end of the month.

One new cosponsor was added to H.R. 1626 (Due Process), bringing our current total to two (2). Senators Joe Biden (D-DE) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY)  introduced the Senate companion bill, S. 840, on 8 May (See FOP Press Release at No. III).

Seven new cosponsors were added to H.R. 664 (Gov't Pension Offset), bringing our current total to two hundred and eighteen (218). We now have a majority of the House of Representatives. Thanks to all of you who contacted your members of Congress and encouraged them to cosponsor this bill.

One new cosponsor was added to S. 611 (Gov't Pension Offset), bringing our current total to seventeen (17).

Eight new cosponsors were added to H.R. 848 (Windfall). Our current total is seventy-two (72).

III. DUE PROCESS FOR POLICE OFFICERS INTRODUCED IN SENATE;
FOP CONTINUES PUSH FOR THIS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT LEGISLATION

Gilbert G. Gallegos, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, hailed yesterday's introduction of legislation in the Senate which he described as "critical" for law enforcement officers. The bill, S. 840, provides due process protections for law enforcement officers in noncriminal proceedings.

"This legislation is the product of a great deal of work by not only the F.O.P., but other rank and file police groups as well," said Gallegos. "The strong support for this bill in the law enforcement community is a powerful argument for its passage."

The legislation, entitled the "Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability and Due Process Act," was introduced by Senators Joe Biden (D-DE) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as the companion bill to H.R. 1626, which was introduced last week in the House by Congressmen Jim Ramstad (R-MN) and Tom Davis (R-VA).

As police officers, we are used to placing our own lives in danger to protect another's--it's in the job description," said Gallegos.

"Unfortunately, rank-and-file police officers are sometimes subjected to abusive and improper procedures and conduct on the part of the very departments or agencies they serve. In a startling number of jurisdictions throughout this country, law enforcement officers have no procedural or administrative protections whatsoever. This must be corrected."

"But one thing is certain," Gallegos continued, "we should not have to accept adversity and confrontation in the squad room as well as on the street.  The men and women of law enforcement have their rights and protections overlooked too often by police managers who are more interested in administrative expediency or political posturing. Adoption of this legislation will go a long way toward ensuring that America's police officers continue to meet the highest standards of conduct and still be afforded fair and equitable treatment as employees."

The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement labor organization in the United States, with over 293,000 members.

IV. OTHER LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY:

On Thursday, 10 May, the full Senate Judiciary Committee favorably reported two F.O.P. supported measures, clearing the bills for action on the Senate floor:

S. 166, the "James Guelff Body Armor Act": Floor action may occur during National Police Week, which would send the bill to the House.

H.R. 802, the "Public Safety Medal of Valor Act" passed the House of  Representatives on 22 March by a 414-0 vote. The bill was reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with its Senate companion, S. 39. We are currently pushing to have the Senate vote on the House bill during National Police Week, which would enable it to go directly to the President for his signature.

Fraternal Order of Police  (O) (202) 547-8189
National Legislative Office (F) (202) 547-8190
309 Massachusetts Ave., NE
Washington, DC 20002
FOP National Legislative Office

Fraternal Order of Police Grand Lodge

 

 

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Last Updated: Wednesday, December 21st, 2005