WASHINGTON WATCH: GRAND LODGE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE ...
Friday June 25th 2010 9:38 AM
... For the Week of 21 June 2010 ...
I. Legislative News and Activity
II. This Week in Congress
III. Update on FOP Top Legislative Priorities
IV. Update on LEOSA
I. LEGISLATIVE NEWS AND ACTIVITY
Executive Director Jim Pasco met with Robert Chaney, Senior Advisor for State, local and tribal law enforcement in the Office of Intergovernmental and Public Liaison, to discuss border security and immigration reform.
Executive Director Pasco met with Kevin O'Connor, Assistant to the General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters regarding our mutual position on the FCC's National Broadband Plan and our joint efforts to move the collective bargaining bill.
II. THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS
The House and the Senate were in session this week.
Action in the House
The House considered and passed H.R. 5175, the "Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act," on a 219-206 vote. The bill hopes to mitigate the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which determined that corporations have the same free-speech rights as individuals and can spend corporate funds during elections.
Action in House Committees
The House Committee on Homeland Security considered and favorably reported H.R. 5498, the "WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act," on a 26-0 vote. This legislation is now pending before other committees with jurisdiction over the bill.
Action in the Senate
The Senate continued its consideration of H.R. 4213, the "American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act."
Action in Senate Committees
The Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs considered and favorably reported an amendment in the nature of a substitute to S. 3480, the "Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act." The bill is now pending before the full Senate.
The Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs favorably reported the nomination of John S. Pistole to be the next head of the Transportation Security Administration.
III. UPDATE ON FOP TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
For the complete list of cosponsors for all of our top legislative priorities, or to find out if your Representative and Senators are cosponsors of specific bills, check out http://thomas.loc.gov .
A. Social Security Issues
(1) Support H.R. 235/S. 484, the "Social Security Fairness Act"
We added three (3) cosponsor to H.R. 235 this week, bringing our current total to three hundred and seventeen (twenty-one)--more than a House majority! Please note that this total differs slightly from THOMAS, as we are not including six (6) Representatives who are no longer serving in Congress, nor the three (3) Delegates, who have limited voting rights on the floor..
We currently have thirty (30) cosponsors on S. 484. Please note that this total differs slightly from THOMAS, as we are not including in our count Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), who died last year.
(2) Opposing any legislation that would require the participation of public employees in Social Security
The FOP will continue to lobby against this scheme and oppose any legislation which would mandate participation in Social Security.
B. Support H.R. 413/S. 1611/S. 3194, the "Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act"
We currently have two hundred and eighteen (219) cosponsors on H.R. 413--more than a House majority! Please note that this total differs slightly from THOMAS, as we are not including in our count three (3) Representatives no longer serving in Congress, nor the three (3) Delegates, who have limited voting rights on the floor.
We currently have twenty-three (23) cosponsors on S. 1611. Please note that this total differs slightly from THOMAS, as we are not including in our count Senators Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), who died last year, or Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), who resigned his seat last year. Senator Scott P. Brown (R-MA), who succeeded Senator Kennedy is now a cosponsor, but Senator George LeMieux (R-FL), who succeeded Senator Martinez, is not.
In addition to S. 1611, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-NV) introduced S. 3194, which is identical to S. 1611.
Staff in the National Legislative Office are working on a daily basis with our IAFF partners and with both majority and minority staff in the House and Senate to find ways to move these bills as stand alone measure or as amendments to an appropriate legislative vehicle.
C. Support H.R. 1972, the "Law Enforcement Officer�s Procedural Bill of Rights Act"
We currently have (9) cosponsors on H.R. 1972.
The Senate companion bill has not yet been introduced.
D. Support H.R. 673, the �Law Enforcement Officers� Equity Act"
We currently have thirty-two (32) cosponsors on H.R. 673. Please note that this total differs slightly from THOMAS, as we are not including in our count two (2) Representative no longer serving in Congress.
The Senate companion bill has not yet been introduced.
IV. UPDATE ON LEGISLATION AMENDING LEOSA
Last month, the Senate passed S. 1132 by unanimous consent. This legislation has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary for further consideration.
We currently have twelve (12) cosponsors on H.R. 3752. Please note we are not including in our count two (2) Representatives who are no longer serving in Congress. The bill is similar in most respects to the Senate companion bill, S. 1132. The House bill includes language that would also clarify the status of retired military personnel that served as law enforcement officers in their respective branch of service.
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