National update

15 Feb 2015 1:15 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

 Washington Watch: Legislative Update
For the Week of 26 January 2015

I.               Legislative News and Activity
II.             This Week in Congress
III.    Update on Top Legislative Priorities
IV.     FOP News
: FOP Frustrated by FCC Failure on Location Accuracy Rule
V.      DAY ON THE HILL 2015!!!
VI.     Follow the FOP National Legislative Office on Twitter

     
I.      LEGISLATIVE NEWS AND ACTIVITY
Executive Director Jim Pasco spoke with officials at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and key members of the Senate Committee on Appropriations about S. Amdt. 67 offered by Senator Daniel S. Sullivan (R-AK) to S 1., the "Keystone XL Pipeline Act."  The amendment, which the FOP strongly opposed, would have stripped law enforcement officers employed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of their authority to carry firearms.  The amendment was not considered and was rendered moot after cloture was invoked on the underlying bill.

Executive Director Pasco discussed law enforcement views and concerns with the issue of Internet gaming with officials at the DOJ.

Executive Director Pasco responded to numerous media inquiries with respect to the activities of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing and the officer safety implications of the application Waze.

Jay McDonald, President of the Ohio State Lodge, and Kathy Harrell, President of the Queen City Lodge #69, gave testimony to the "Policy and Oversight" Listening Session of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing on " Use of Force Investigations and Oversight" and "Law Enforcement Culture and Diversity," respectively.  You can read their testimonies here: http://www.fop.net/legislative/testimony/index.shtml

Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson and Legislative Liaison Marie Carchedi participated in a conference call with other law enforcement and stakeholder groups regarding legislation to combat human trafficking.


II.     THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS
Both the House and the Senate were in session this week, although the House went into recess on Wednesday afternoon to allow for the annual Democratic retreat.

Action in the House
The House considered and passed H.R. 246 on a 411-0 vote.  The bill, which goes to the Senate for further consideration, amends the Missing and Exploited Children Act to expand the definition of "child prostitution" to include trafficking and exploitation.

The House considered and passed H.R. 469, the "Strengthening Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act," on a 410-0 vote.  The bill, which now goes to th Senate for further action, expands the eligibility of certain grant programs under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.


Action in the Senate
The Senate considered a number of amendments to S. 1, the "Keystone XL Pipeline Act," and then passed that legislation on a 62-36 vote.  The bill will now go to the House or a conference committee for further action.

Action in Senate Committees
The Committee on the Judiciary  held two hearings on the nomination of U.S. Attorney Loretta E. Lynch to be the next Attorney General of the United States.


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 the "Law Enforcement Officers' Equity Act"
This bill has not yet been introduced.

B.  Support the "Social Security Fairness Act"
This bill has not yet been introduced.

C.  Support Legislation to Grant Statutory Arrest Authority to Civilian DoD Law Enforcement
This bill has not yet been introduced.


IV.     FOP NEWS : FOP Frustrated by FCC Failure on Location Accuracy Rule
Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, expressed frustration with news that the final rule adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) failed to require cellular telephone companies to improve indoor wireless location accuracy.

The technology exists and its use would have greatly improved the ability of law enforcement and other public safety officers to locate cell calls made indoors, Canterbury explained.  The blended indoor-outdoor standard that appears in the final rule is a huge loophole for the carriers.

While the text of the final rule is not yet available, information from the FCC indicates that it lacks a provision the FOP supported that would have required location accuracy requirements on cellular calls to within fifty meters horizontally and three meters vertically.  This requirement is of particular importance in urban areas with large numbers of multistory buildings.

The location accuracy requirements would have reduced response times to emergency calls and  increased the safety of law enforcement and other public safety officers executing searches in hazardous environments, Canterbury said.  The FCC really missed the mark here and did public safety a grave disservice.


V.  FOP NEWS: DAY ON THE HILL 2015!!!
Your participation in this year's Day on the Hill is of critical importance as our profession is in crisis.  The FOP is ready to wage an intense campaign to get the attention of the Administration and Congress and to focus their attention on OUR issues and OUR safety.  We need you to help make sure our voice is heard!

WE NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION AT DAY ON THE HILL!!!

The FOP Day on The Hill 2015 will begin on Monday, 9 February 2015. The National Legislative Office and the National Legislative Committee will host a short briefing on our legislative agenda. The briefing will take place at 3pm on Monday afternoon at D.C. Lodge #1 and last approximately one hour.

Tuesday and Wednesday, 10-11 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.

The information material that will be distributed to all Day on the Hill attendees can be found here: http://www.fop.net/legislative/index.shtml


VI.     Follow the FOP National Legislative Office on Twitter!
Sign up today for the latest news from Capitol Hill:  https://twitter.com/FOPLegislative

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