National update Feb 2014

05 Feb 2014 4:45 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
Washington Watch: Legislative Update
For the Week of 27 January 2014

I.      Legislative News and Activity
II.     This Week in Congress
III.    Update on Top Legislative Priorities
IV.     DAY ON THE HILL 2014: HOTEL CUT-OFF DATE IS TODAY

     
I.      LEGISLATIVE NEWS AND ACTIVITY
Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with Alejandro Mayorkas, Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, about the Department's law enforcement priorities.

Executive Director Pasco spoke with Brian de Vallance, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Legislative Affairs with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security about immigration issues.

Executive Director Pasco spoke with Michele M. Leonhart, Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, about legalization issues.

Executive Director Pasco spoke with R. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the nominee to be the next Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, about legalization and customs enforcement issues.

Executive Director Pasco and Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson met with Ronald L. Davis, the new Director for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), as well as his top staff.

Executive Director Pasco spoke with Edward Pagano, Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs (Senate), regarding executive nominations.  Pagano is a long-time friend of the FOP and will be leaving the White House for the private sector.  He will be greatly missed.

Executive Director Pasco spoke with Lise Clavel, Special Assistant to the President and Assistant to the Vice President for Intergovernmental Affairs, Public Engagement, and Correspondence, regarding current nominations, immigration reform, prison overcrowding, mandatory minimum sentences and pending appropriations bills.

Legislative Liaison Marie Carchedi met with staff in the offices of Senators Dean A. Heller (R-NV) and Robert P. Corker, Jr. (R-TN) to discuss H.R. 180/S. 357,  the "National Blue Alert Act," and S. 933, the "Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Reauthorization Act."

Legislative Liaison Carchedi represented the FOP at the Take 25 Partner Appreciation event held at the headquarters for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.


II.     THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS
Both the House and the Senate were in session for part of this week.

Action in the House
The House considered and passed H.R. 2642, the "Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act," on a 251-166 vote.  The "farm bill" now goes to the Senate for further action.


Action in the Senate
The Senate considered and passed S. 1926, a bill making changes to flood insurance, on a 67-32 vote.  The measure will now be transmitted to the House for further action.

Action in Senate Committees
The Committee on the Judiciary held an oversight hearing on the U.S. Department of Justice.  U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. testified.

The Committee on the Judiciary considered, amended and favorably reported S. 1410, the "Smarter Sentencing Act," on a 13-5 vote.  The bill, which the FOP is evaluating, is now pending before the full Senate.


III.       UPDATE ON 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.  Support H.R. 1362/S. 1172, the "Law Enforcement Officers' Equity Act"
We have 20 cosponsors on H.R. 1362.

The Senate companion bill, S. 1172, has no cosponsors at this time.

B.  Support H.R. 1795/S. 896, the "Security Fairness Act"
We have 109 cosponsors on H.R. 1795.

We have 16 cosponsors on S. 896.

C.  Support Legislation to Grant Statutory Arrest Authority to Civilian DoD Law Enforcement
There is no actively pending legislation addressing this objective.


IV.    FOP NEWS: DAY ON THE HILL 2014!!!
BOOK YOUR ROOM NOW -- CUT-OFF DATE IS TODAY!

The FOP Day on The Hill 2014 will begin on Monday, 10 February 2014. The National Legislative Office and the National Legislative Committee will host a short briefing on our legislative agenda. The briefing will take place on Monday afternoon at D.C. Lodge #1 and last approximately one hour.

Tuesday and Wednesday, 11-12 February, will be devoted to your meetings with Members from your home States and districts. These appointments should be made in advance!!! Event participants should make every effort to have their Representative or Senator attend the meeting along with the appropriate staff person.

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