WASHINGTON
– Three pro-law enforcement measures backed by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)
were signed into law this morning. Grassley shepherded all three bills through
the Senate Judiciary Committee during National Police Week in May, and
subsequently passed both houses of Congress with his support.
“Supporting
law enforcement is just common sense. And it’s especially important after
departments faced misguided defunding efforts, difficulties maintaining morale
and workforce, and an increase in crime. These bills will help ensure that
public safety officers receive the support and resources they need from the
federal government as they continue to keep our communities safe,” Grassley
said.
Grassley
authored 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 numerous law
enforcement organizations.
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
bill clarifies that U.S. federal law makes it a crime to kill federal officers
and employees serving overseas, 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.
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