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Steve Gaynor
Legislative Committee Chairman
U. S. Congress Information
We will post the Grand Lodges “Grassroots Report” each week on this site. It contains information on what your Grand Lodge is doing for you in Washington and updates you on FOP legislation. Contact President Carlton Stallings to become a member of the Grassroots Program.
Washington Watch: Legislative Update
For the Week of 12 April 2010
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Executive Director Jim Pasco met with Bruce Cohen, Majority Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, regarding the public safety component of the recently announced National Broadband Plan, as well as other issues at the U.S. Department of Justice.
Executive Director Pasco also met with U.S. Secret Service Assistant Director Michael Stenger to discuss security issues.
Executive Director Pasco also met with Robert Chaney, Senior Advisor for State, local and tribal law enforcement in the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison, to discuss issues at the U.S. Department of Justice.
Executive Director Pasco continued to coordinate our efforts on the collective bargaining legislation with Kevin O'Connor, Assistant to the General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
Executive Director Pasco met with J. Michael Hickey, Vice President of Government Affairs for National Security Policy at Verizon, to discuss the recently announced National Broadband Plan.
Senior Legislative Liaison Tim Richardson met with staff in the Office of the Minority Whip, Representative Eric I. Cantor (R-VA), to discuss the pending House action on H.R. 413, the "Public Employer-Employee Cooperation Act."
Legislative Liaison Jon Gentile represented the FOP on a conference call with the Homeland Security Advisory Committee (HSAC) for a briefing on the Nuclear Security Summit held by the President in Washington, DC this week.
II. THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS
Both the House and the Senate were in session this week.
Action in the House
The House considered and passed H.R. 4715 the “Clean Estuaries Act,” on a 278-128 vote. This legislation would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes.
The House also considered and passed H.R. 4851, the “Continuing Extension Act of 2010,” which was amended and passed by the Senate, on a 289-112 vote. The bill is a package of short-term extensions of several Federal programs — including unemployment benefits — that lapsed recently. After the House action, H.R. 4851 was transmitted to the President, who signed it into law.
Action in House Committees
The Committee on Homeland Security marked up and favorably reported H.R. 4842, the “Homeland Security Science and Technology Authorization Act,” on a 26-0 vote.
Action in the Senate
The Senate considered, amended and passed H.R. 4851, the “Continuing Extension Act of 2010,” on a 59-38 vote. The legislation consists of a package of short-term extensions of several Federal programs — including unemployment benefits — that lapsed recently. The amended bill was then passed by the House and was transmitted to the President, who signed it into law..
Action in Senate Committees
The Committee on the Judiciary marked up and favorably reported S. 3031, the “Drug Free Communities Enhancement Act,” on a 14-5 vote.
III. UPDATE ON FOP 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. Social Security Issues
(1) Support H.R. 235/S. 484, the "Social Security Fairness Act"
We added two (2) cosponsors to H.R. 235, bringing our current total to three hundred and eleven (311)--more than a House majority! Please note that this total differs slightly from THOMAS, as we are not including in our count former Representatives Nathan Deal (R-GA), Eric Massa (D-NY), John M. McHugh (R-NY), Ellen O. Tauscher (D-CA), and Robert Wexler (D-FL), all of whom who resigned their seats, as well as John P. Murtha (D-PA), who recently died. In addition, Delegates Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-Guam), Pedro R. Pierluisi (D-Puerto Rico) and Gregorio Sablan (D-MP), who have limited voting rights on the floor, are also not included in our total.
We added one (1) cosponsor, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), to S. 484, bringing our current total to thirty (30). Please note that this total differs slightly from THOMAS, as we are not including in our count Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), who died last year.
(2) Opposing any legislation that would require the participation of public employees in Social Security
The FOP will continue to lobby against this scheme and oppose any legislation which would mandate participation in Social Security.
B. Support H.R. 413/S. 1611/S. 3194, the "Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act"
Senator Harry M. Reid (D-NV), the Majority Leader, reintroduced S. 1611, the "Public Safety Employer-Employee Act," and, as a result, there is now a second bill with a new number: S. 3194. Senator Reid took this step and initiated a first reading of the bill, which will allow it to be considered directly on the floor without having to be referred to a committee. Either bill, S. 1611 or S. 3194 could be taken up by the Senate, but the latter may prove to be more expeditious. (See Item V. for more details.)
Of course if the House passed H.R. 413, the Senate would take up that bill.
We added six (6) cosponsors to H.R. 413, bringing our current total to two hundred and three (203) cosponsors. This means we need only fourteen (14) additional cosponsors to reach a House majority! Please note that this total differs slightly from THOMAS, as we are not including in our count Representatives John M. McHugh (R-NY) and Robert Wexler (D-FL), who resigned their seats, or John P. Murtha (D-PA), who recently died.
We currently have eighteen (18) cosponsors on S. 1611. Please note that this total differs slightly from THOMAS, as we are not including in our count Senators Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), who died last year, or Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), who resigned his seat last year.
C. Support H.R. 1972, the "Law Enforcement Officer’s Procedural Bill of Rights Act"
We currently have three (3) cosponsors on H.R. 1972.
The Senate companion bill has not yet been introduced.
D. Support H.R. 673, the “Law Enforcement Officers’ Equity Act"
We currently have twenty-one (21) cosponsors on H.R. 673. Please note that this total differs slightly from THOMAS, as we are not including in our count Representative John M. McHugh (R-NY) and Robert Wexler (D-FL), who resigned their seats.
IV.
The Senate Committee on the Judiciary considered and adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute to S. 1132, the "Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act Improvements Act." The substitute amendment was offered by Chairman Leahy and Senators Jefferson B. Sessions (R-AL), the Ranking Member of the Committee, and Jon Kyl (R-AZ). The substitute amendment made a few "tweaks" to the existing bill, including a provision clarifying the status of the Federal Reserve Police.
The amendment was agreed to on a unanimous voice vote, which Chairman Leahy noting that no Member present voted "no" on the bill. No further amendments were offered.
The FOP is working with the staff of Chairman Leahy and Ranking Member Sessions on the report language to accompany the bill as well as working with Senate leadership in an effort to get the bill considered by the full Senate.
We have three (3) cosponsors on S. 1132.
We currently have nine (9) cosponsors on H.R. 3752. Please note we are not including in our count Representatives Eric Massa (D-NY), who resigned his seat, or John P. Murtha, who died earlier this year. The bill is similar in most respects to the Senate companion bill, S. 1132. The House bill includes language that would also clarify the status of retired military personnel that served as law enforcement officers in their respective branch of service. We will continue to work with Rep. Forbes' office to get this bill moved through subcommittee.
V. FOP NEWS : FOP’s Collective Bargaining Bill Reintroduced in Senate; Senate Majority Leader Lays Groundwork for Floor Vote
Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, hailed the introduction of S. 3194, the “Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act,” an updated version of H.R. 413 and S. 1611 reflecting changes that had been agreed to as the bill moved forward.
“Senate leadership is readying this legislation for a vote,” Canterbury said. “Reintroducing the bill makes it easier from a procedural perspective. Floor votes in the Senate can be arduous and protracted so we want to limit the ability of the bill’s opponents to play parliamentary games.”
The new bill was introduced by the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Harry M. Reid (D-NV), a former U.S. Capitol Police Officer.
“Senator Reid and the original sponsor of the bill, Senator Judd Gregg, have been working very hard to get this bill through the Senate,” Canterbury said. “They have been true champions for us, and we are deeply appreciative for their support and leadership on this issue.”
The legislation, which recognizes the right of public safety employees to form and join unions and to bargain collectively with their employers, passed the House in the previous Congress on an overwhelming 314-97 vote. In 2008, the legislation also won a strong majority in the Senate during a procedural “test vote,” though efforts to move the bill were ultimately thwarted by parliamentary tactics. In this Congress, the House companion bill, H.R. 413, was discharged from the Committee on Education and Labor without a vote to expedite its consideration on the House floor–which could be as early as the end of this month.
“This bill is moving, and I am confident that it will pass and that the FOP and our colleagues at the International Association of Fire Fighters will be able to join the President at a signing ceremony before the end of this Congress,” Canterbury said. “Our two groups have worked long and hard for more than a decade to enact this legislation, and the finish line is in sight!”
VI. UPDATE: Day on the Hill RESCHEDULED!!!
At the Spring Board Meeting of the National Board of Trustees, the Board voted to reschedule our annual Day on the Hill event to 12-13 May 2010.
At 4pm on Wednesday, 12 May, the National Legislative Office and the National Legislative Committee will host a short briefing, which will last approximately one hour. Additional details will be forthcoming in coming weeks.
The following Thursday 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.
Obviously, we recognize that the abbreviated nature of the Day on the Hill may mean you have to be more selective with whom you choose to visit. Make these decisions wisely based on the availability of the Member, your relationship with that Member, and the Members committee assignments and/or position on our top priorities (if known).
You can click on the below link to write to your government representatives
To locate contact information for your elected officials and
send a letter, please visit
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/state/main/?state=GA
Click here to email Steve Gaynor
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