Law Enforcement

Today's News from the Lawmakers

Reschenthaler, Dean Introduce Bill to Support Law Enforcement Officers, Improve Mental Health Care
Source: Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA, 14th)
April 29, 2019
“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities,” said Reschenthaler. “These men and women routinely endure extremely stressful situations, yet the federal government does little to address the consequences of this taxing work. This stress can cause high blood pressure and post-traumatic stress disorder, and has resulted in a suicide rate that is 50 percent higher than the national average. I am proud to work with Congresswoman Dean to fix this wrong and support police officers and their families.”

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Law Enforcement Immersive Training Bill Introduced

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by: Tim Ryan (D-OH, 13th)

Washington, D.C. - April 18, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) introduced the Law Enforcement Immersive Training Act of 2019 (H.R. 2329). The bill would require the U.S. Department of Justice to create an immersive, real-life, scenario-based training curriculum to address key issues raised by law enforcement officers and the communities they serve. These include improving community-police relations, officer safety and resilience, situational awareness, physical and emotional responses to stress, critical decision-making and problem-solving, de-escalation and use of force, and crisis intervention. The bill would also create a grant program to support public and private entities that train law enforcement officers using a substantially similar immersive curriculum. The FOP and NAACP have both endorsed the legislation. To view the full text of the bill, click here.

“Trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve and protect is an absolute necessity. It makes citizens feel respected, officers feel supported, and allows communities to work together to fight crime and keep everyone safe. Across the country, we have seen what happens when that trust is tested or broken. Unfortunately, the lack of standardized police training can lead to negative outcomes for officers and citizens,” said Congressman Ryan. “Policing is a difficult job, and law enforcement training should reflect and prepare officers for the unique challenges of 21st century policing. All officers—in departments large and small, rural and urban—should have access to the state-of-the-art immersive training that saves lives and rebuilds trust. This bill is an important step toward addressing related concerns and finding common ground.”

“This training will not only better equip officers to ensure their own safety, but it will enhance their ability to serve and protect their communities by using current immersive technology to better prepare officers for real-life situations on the beat. This kind of training will improve officer safety, de-escalation, and community-police relations,” said Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police.

“The NAACP strongly supports the Law Enforcement Immersive Training Act,” said Hilary O. Shelton, Director of the NAACP Washington Bureau and the Senior Vice President for Policy and Advocacy. “We are very appreciative of all of the hard work Congressman Ryan and others have put forth to ensure that law enforcement officers receive training on the culture of the communities with whom they interact. The majority of law enforcement officers are hard working men and women, whose concern for the safety of those they are charged with protecting and serving is often paramount, even when their own lives are on the line. However, if and when even one of their colleagues engages in unethical or problematic behavior, whether it be conscious or subconscious, the trust of the entire community can be, and will be, lost. The result can only lead to trouble for the communities and the officers. This training will go a long way in ensuring smooth, mutually beneficial relations.”

President Trump Signs Young, Donnelly Bill to Improve Mental Health Services for Law Enforcement

By Senator Todd Young (R - IN)



Washington, D.C. - January 11, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- President Trump signed into law U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Joe Donnelly’s (D-Ind.) Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act. Donnelly and Young introduced the bill in the Senate in early April and it passed unanimously in May. U.S. Representatives Susan Brooks (IN-05) and Val Demings (FL-10) introduced the companion bill in the House of Representatives in late April, and it passed the House in November and cleared the Senate on December 21.

Senator Young said, “Our law enforcement officers put their lives at risk every day in order to keep us safe, and they can face significant stress and trauma. The President signing our bipartisan bill into law means that these brave men and women will have greater access to mental health services when they need them.”

Senator Donnelly said, “Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to serve and protect our communities, and it’s important we ensure they have access to mental health services. I’m proud President Trump has signed our bipartisan legislation into law because it will provide tools for law enforcement agencies to help support the mental health and wellness of these brave men and women.”

Representative Brooks said, “I’m grateful that the President signed into law an important bill I led in the House to support law enforcement. Our hardworking men and women in law enforcement deserve better access to mental health services that will allow them to safely cope with the stress and trauma they experience on the job. We place so much emphasis and attention on our police officers’ physical fitness, but we need to do more to ensure they are mentally healthy as well. This law makes grants available to initiate peer mentoring pilot programs, develops training for mental health providers specific to law enforcement mental health needs, and supports law enforcement officers by studying the effectiveness of crisis hotlines and annual mental health checks. It directs the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to share best practices used by the military to help soldiers with PTSD and other mental health challenges with local law enforcement agencies to better address mental health challenges faced by officers. Ensuring the safety of the law enforcement community in Indiana and across the country is critically important. I am proud to have led this bipartisan effort to support our nation’s police officers with my colleagues in the House, specifically Representatives Demings, Collins, Pascrell and Reichert as well as fellow Hoosiers in the Senate, Senators Donnelly and Young.”

Bryan Roach, Chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, said, “The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) is excited that legislation to assist and support Law Enforcement Wellness and Mental Health has passed the necessary review and rigor to be incorporated into law. The value of our officers’ mental health and wellness to the individual officer, the Department and the citizens they serve is meaningful. We strive to provide the best opportunities to succeed in our noble profession, and appreciate efforts of everyone involved with the creation and advocacy of this bill.”

Marion County Sheriff John Layton said, “With each passing year, law enforcement agencies across the country are strengthening their embrace and understanding of the role that mental health care plays in the communities that they serve. Critical Intervention Training - special training that helps law enforcement officers recognize and respond to individuals with mental health needs - is now a common component of training for new officers. Still, placing the needs of their communities above their own, a gap has occurred in mental health and wellness services for these heroic men and women who face dangerous, and even deadly, situations on a daily basis. The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act goes a long way to close that gap. It is imperative that we provide robust mental health and wellness care to our law enforcement officers, so they can continue to serve each of their communities at their best. I am so pleased with the passage of this bill, and I’m grateful to Senator Joe Donnelly and Senator Todd Young, and all of Indiana’s representatives in Congress for their support.”

Rick Snyder, Indianapolis FOP President, said, “This is a significant step forward for our law enforcement profession in addressing the mental trauma officers suffer due to acute and repeated exposure to violence, threats of violence and traumatic events. This legislation will allow our communities to better understand these challenges so proper support may be made available to those on the front lines in our cities and towns across America. This legislation is also a great example of bipartisan work within Congress. We value and appreciate the leadership of Senator Donnelley, Senator Young, Congresswoman Brooks and Congresswoman Demings. We are collectively grateful to President Trump for signing this legislation into law and once again demonstrating his support for law enforcement nationwide.

Chuck Canterbury, National President of the FOP, said, “Our officers wear protective clothing and other equipment to keep themselves safe from physical harm, but they also face challenges to their mental health and well-being. It is time we take care of those who watch over and protect us. The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act is now law and will help better support the men and women behind the badge. The FOP has been a leader on mental health for law enforcement officers, and we have been proud to work with Senators Donnelly and Young on this effort. The passion Senators Donnelly and Young show for the mental health and wellness of our law enforcement officers should be the standard for every member of Congress.”

Bill Johnson, Executive Director, National Association of Police Organizations, said, “State and local law enforcement officers are our nation’s first responders. They respond to our country’s greatest tragedies as well as violent and abhorrent crimes that unfortunately occur with some frequency in our communities. They have seen and experienced horrors that they cannot forget, yet they still put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve our communities. The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act recognizes the stress and strain of the job and gives officers the support and resources they need to address their emotional and mental wellbeing. The enactment of this vital legislation is a victory for officers across the nation and we offer our sincere appreciation to Senators Donnelly and Young for their leadership on this issue and their commitment to ensuring officers have access to the best mental health services available.

William Owensby, President of the Indiana State Fraternal Order of Police, said, “Senator Donnelly’s support of Indiana law enforcement reached new heights as legislation authored by him was signed into law. The Senator was approached by the Fraternal Order of Police about helping to provide assistance to law enforcement who suffer from the effects of the stresses of their jobs and he immediately rose to the occasion. With strong bipartisan support from Indiana, the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act was made a reality. Many thanks for the unwavering support Senator Donnelly!"

The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act authorizes grants to initiate peer mentoring pilot programs, directs the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services to develop resources for mental health providers based on the specific mental health challenges faced by law enforcement, and supports law enforcement officers by studying the effectiveness of crisis hotlines and annual mental health checks.

It also directs the Departments of Defense (DoD), Justice, and Veterans Affairs (VA) to confer about existing DoD and VA mental health practices and services that could be adopted by law enforcement agencies.

The legislation had the support of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Indiana State Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Officers (NAPO), the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), and the Sergeants Benevolent Association.

Recognizing the stress and trauma that law enforcement officers experience and in an effort to support officers, IMPD created initiatives through the Office of Professional Development and Officer Wellness and started a peer mentoring program. These efforts by IMPD helped inspire Donnelly’s and Young’s bill.



See more headlines at The Ponder News Web Site

Law Enforcement

Fox News Op-Ed: Sen. Paul, Scott Bullock: Civil forfeiture has ruined countless lives. It's long overdue for reform
Senator Rand Paul - (R - KY)
April 21, 2017
Justice Clarence Thomas made headlines last month when he criticized civil forfeiture, a notorious police practice that allows law enforcement to confiscate property, even from people who have never been charged with a crime. “This system,” he wrote, “has led to egregious and well-chronicled abuses.” Hearing one of the Supreme Court’s most conservative members denounce such a shameful violation of our civil liberties gives us hope that civil forfeiture can be drastically curtailed.
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Planned Parenthood, Foster Children, Law Enforcement, Copyright Office, Department of Education, Central America, Pre-Existing Conditions, OIRA, Postal Employees, regulations, Obamacare, ALS, EPA, and Medicare

Legislation was passed on Thursday (February 16) that eliminates an Obama Administration rule prohibiting the redirecting of Title X funding away from Planned Parenthood to health care centers that don’t provide abortions. The bill, H.J. Res. 43, uses the Congressional Review Act to eliminate the ‘midnight rule’ from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that was finalized just two days before the end of President Obama’s second term. That regulation blocks states from diverting Title X family planning grants away from Planned Parenthood to community health centers, county health departments, or other providers. Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), member of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus and steadfast pro-choice advocate, claimed it would restrict a woman’s access to abortion.

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Congresswoman Lawrence introduced H.R. 1069, “The Timely Mental Health for Foster Youth Act”, with five original cosponsors. This bill would require mental health screenings for all children entering foster care. The legislation calls for an initial mental health assessment to take place within 30 days of a child entering foster care with a comprehensive follow-up assessment if deemed necessary.

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On Tuesday, Feb. 14, the Jacksonville City Council voted to amend the city’s human rights ordinances to protect gay and transgender people from discrimination.

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After The Hill reported that the White House Transition Team has proposed a budget blueprint, which would eliminate the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Representative Sean Patrick Maloney joined local civic and law enforcement officials to call on President Donald Trump to keep his campaign promise to support our law enforcement community and refrain from eliminating the federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office. In addition, Rep. Maloney wrote a letter to the President asking him to protect the program. The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) COPS program provides investments to allow state and local police departments to hire police officers, test new strategies, and acquire cutting-edge technology.

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The House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 387, The Email Privacy Act. This bill requires the federal government to acquire warrants before accessing an individual’s digital content.

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Congressman Tom Marino (PA-10) and Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27) reintroduced (H.R. 890) the Copyright Office for the Digital Economy Act or the CODE Act. The CODE Act makes several improvements to the copyright office that reflect a consensus across various industries and public interest groups.

These improvements include:

Housing the Copyright Office in the Legislative Branch

Requiring ongoing technology studies to ensure the office remains current with technology to be more user friendly which includes improving upon the searchable database

Establishing an advisory board representing a variety of interests and views tasked with providing the office with candid feedback on the current field of copyright to ensure neutrality and objectivity

Technical provisions to ensure a more seamless transition away from the Library of Congress

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Representative Thomas Massie introduced H.R. 899, a bill to abolish the federal Department of Education. The bill, which is one sentence long, states, “The Department of Education shall terminate on December 31, 2018.”

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Reps. Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and John R. Moolenaar (R-MI), Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), and Albio Sires (D-NJ), introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to reaffirm the United States Congress’s commitment to fighting corruption in Central America.

The resolution states that efforts to fight corruption must remain at the center of U.S. policy in Central America, that the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH) and the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) are important contributions to these efforts, and that the governments of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador should cooperate with MACCIH and CICIG and the Attorneys General of the region.

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The Bill, Pre-Existing Conditions Protection Act of 2017, was introduced in the House today.

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Representative Paul Mitchell (MI-10) introduced the OIRA Insight, Reform, and Accountability Act (H.R. 1009) to strengthen congressional insight and accountability over the regulatory process by putting the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) into statute.

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Representatives David B. McKinley, P.E. (WV-1) and Gerry Connolly (VA-11) introduced H.R. 942, the Postal Employees Appeal Rights Amendments Act to expand U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeals rights to mid-level U.S. Postal Service Management. Under current law, approximately 7,500 USPS employees do not have this protection.

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U.S. Representative Martha McSally introduced legislation to mandate federal agencies report to Congress about regulations that did not comply with the Congressional Review Act (CRA). According to the text of the CRA, regulations that did not comply with mandated reporting requirements may be subject to overrule by Congress with majorities in both chambers.

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Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and Rep. Mark Sanford’s (R-SC) created an Obamacare replacement plan—endorsed by the House Freedom Caucus.

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Congressmen Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Peter King (R-NY) re-introduced The ALS Disability Insurance Access Act, bipartisan legislation they spearheaded to ensure that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients are provided vital support and benefits in a more timely manner. The legislation would waive the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) five-month waiting period for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

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Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-2) introduced H.J.Res. 59, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution that blocks the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Accidental Release Prevention Requirements: Risk Management Programs under the Clean Air Act Rule (RMP rule).

The Congressional Review Act, passed in 1996, allows Congress to vote to overturn any regulation during a period of 60 days after the regulation was created. Regulations created at the end of the Obama Administration are subject to be overturned, so long as it is within the 60-day “in-session” period of Congress.

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Congressman Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to improve the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) statute and clarify its application to the Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) program.

The Secondary Payer Advancement, Rationalization, and Clarification (SPARC) Act, replaces ambiguous and uncertain Part D MSP requirements with a simplified, commonsense approach that provides beneficiaries with improved access to the care. The legislation also allows Part D Prescription Drug Plans to recover prescription drug cost deficits more quickly from primary payers.