WASHINGTON – Three pro-police bills backed by Sen.
Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, passed
the House of Representatives today. The bills were initially
passed
out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in May during National Police Week
and cleared the Senate shortly thereafter.
“Day in and day out, the men and women in law
enforcement work tirelessly to protect and serve communities across the
country. This is no easy task, particularly in recent years as police were on
the front lines of a pandemic and continue to respond to a growing wave of
crime and violence. In recent months, Congress has witnessed firsthand the
valor of law enforcement and the toll the job can take. We ought to do our part
to take care of those who answer the call. I’m grateful for the House’s action
to advance these important bills and I look forward to President Biden swiftly
signing them into law,” Grassley said.
The package includes three bipartisan bills aimed at
improving access to financial support for officers permanently disabled in the
line of duty, expanding mental health outlets for law enforcement and promoting
justice for officers lost while serving our nation abroad.
Grassley introduced this bipartisan bill to ensure
that officers who are permanently unable to secure meaningful gainful
employment following a catastrophic injury in the line of duty remain eligible
for federal benefits. It also expands the Justice Department’s ability to more
efficiently secure records needed to swiftly evaluate disability claims. This
bill is endorsed by various law enforcement organizations. The bill was
approved in the House by a
vote of 420-3.
This bill clarifies that federal officers and
employees serving overseas are protected, and that crimes against them may be
tried in a U.S. court of law. The bill is named for U.S. Immigrations and
Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Agents Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila, who
were attacked by drug cartels while working in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The
bill is led by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), and
cosponsored
by Grassley and others. The bill was approved today in the House
by voice vote.
This bill seeks to address the mental stresses
incurred by law enforcement by encouraging the adoption of peer counseling
programs and protecting the privacy of federal officers who participate. This
legislation was introduced by Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and
Grassley. An earlier version of this bill
passed
the Senate last congress. The bill was
approved in the House today by
a vote of 424-3.
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