116th US Congress Update May 2019

Jun 5, 2019

Southern States Police Benevolent Association, Inc.

Governmental Affairs

116^th US Congress Update

May 2019

NEW BILLS of INTEREST

HR 2571 National Right to Work Act

This bill would preserve and protect the free choice of individual employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, or to refrain from such activities.

Intro: 5/8/2019 Rep. Wilson (SC-2) Status: Education & Labor

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: Sponsor Wilson, Allen (GA-12), Meadows (NC-11), Fleischmann (TN-3), Brooks (AL-5), Rice (SC-7), Hice (GA-10), Palazzo (MS-4), Roe (TN-1), Norman (SC-5), Duncan (SC-3), Hudson (NC-8), Massie (KY-4), Crawford (AR-1), Collins (GA-9), Budd (NC-13), Graves (GA-14), Hill (AR-2), Timmons (SC-4), Palmer (AL-6), 

HR 2696 Supporting Health & Safety of Law Enforcement

This bill would provide grants to community mental health centers for the placement of social workers with law enforcement agencies.

Intro: 5/14/2019 Rep. Harder (CA-10) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 2698 Training for Mental Health Crisis Response

This bill would provide for behavioral health crisis response training for law enforcement officers.

Intro: 5/14/2019 Rep. Horn (OK-5) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Cooper (TN-5)

Republicans: none

HR 2812 Protecting First Responders

This bill would provide benefits for officers permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty.

Intro: 5/16/2019 Rep. Pascrell (NJ-9) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 2840 Amend Tax Code for First Responders Benefits

This bill would treat certain benefits as “earned income.”

Intro: 5/20/2019 Rep. Beyer (VA-8) Status: Ways & Means

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Sponsor Beyer

Republicans: none

S 1278 First Responders First

This bill would allow first responders to continue to exclude service-connected disability pension payments after reaching the age of retirement.

Intro: 5/2/2019 Sen. Daines (MT) Status: Finance

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 1394 Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act

This bill would provide collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or their political subdivisions.

Intro: 5/9/2019 Sen. Baldwin (WI) Status: Education & Labor

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 1411 Amicus Act

This bill would amend title 28, United States Code, to require certain disclosures related to amicus activities.

Intro: 5/9/2019 Sen. Whitehouse (RI) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 1464 Training for Mental Health Crisis Response

This bill would provide for behavioral health crisis response training for law enforcement officers.

Intro: 5/14/2019 Sen. Inhofe (OK) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

New Firearm Bills

House

2634 Closing loophole on interstate sales

2670 PLEA Act (restrict certain weapons/ammo)

2671 Regulate Flamethrowers

2708 Restrict ownership from convicted “hate crime” offenders 

2765 Permit officers to purchase service weapons

2805 Permit Uniformed officers to carry weapons in Federal buildings

2867 Require safe storage of firearms

2959 Assault weapons ban

Senate

1462 Restrict ownership from convicted “hate crime” offenders

1519 Address mental illness and firearm possession

BILL UPDATES (Changes in Red)

Labor

HR 1154 ** COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS

This bill would provide for collective bargaining by local/state officers. 

Intro: 2/13/2019 Rep. Kildee (MI-5) Status: Education and Labor

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Cohen (TN-9), Scott (VA-3), Connolly (VA-11), Adams (NC-12), Luria (VA-2)

Republicans: McKinley (WV-1)

S 525 Free Choice

This bill would preserve employee free choice to join labor organization or not.

Intro: 2/14/2019 Sen. Paul (KY) Status: Education & Labor

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: Wicker (MS), Hyde-Smith (MS), Blackburn (TN), Cotton (AR), Scott (SC), Purdue (GA), Boozman (AR)

S 664 Freedom to Organize Act

This bill would amend the National Labor Relations Act to clarify the requirements for meeting the definition of the term “employee.”

Intro: 3/5/2019 Sen. Brown (OH) Status: Health, Ed., and Labor

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

Working Conditions

HR 119 Attorney General to Collect Info on Law Enforcement Deadly Force 

This bill would require the Attorney general to collect and compile info on law enforcement use of deadly force.

Intro: 1/3/2019 Rep. Cohen (TN-9) Status: Judiciary 

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Sponsor Cohen, Connolly (VA-11), Johnson (GA-4)

Republicans: none

HR 125 Sensitivity Training and Independent Investigation of Deadly force

This bill would provide grants to states that require law enforcement officer sensitivity training and independent investigation and prosecution of use of deadly force by officers

Intro: 1/3/2019 Rep. Cohen (TN-9) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Sponsor Cohen, Scott (VA-3), Thompson (MS-3), Johnson (GA-4), Scott (GA-13), McEachin (VA-4), Richmond (LA-2), Sewell (AL-7), Yamuth (KY-3), Cooper (TN-5)

Republicans: none

HR 608 School Resource Officer Federal Training Guidelines

This bill would establish federal Training Guidelines for School Resource Officers 

Intro: 1/16/2019 Rep. Higgins (LA-3) Status: Education & Labor 

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: Sponsor Higgins 

HR 2329 Law Enforcement Immersive Training

This bill would develop real-life training scenario training for law enforcement 

Intro: 4/15/2019 Rep. Ryan (OH-13) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 1135 Protecting Our Heroes

This bill would enhance penalties for attacks on law enforcement officers

Intro: 4/10/2019 Sen. Sullivan (AK) Status: Judiciary 

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

Benefits

HR 141 Repeal Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination

This bill would repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provision.

Intro: 1/3/2019 Rep. Davis (IL-13) Status: Ways and Means 

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Price (NC-4), Connolly (VA-11), Cohen (TN-9), Yarmuth (KY-3), Bishop (GA-2), Richmond (LA-2), Scott (VA-3), Wexton (VA-10), Luria (VA-2)

Republicans: Massie (KY-4), Graves (LA-6), Comer (KY-1), Rogers (KY-5), Abraham (LA-5), Higgins (LA-3), McKinley (WV-1), Johnson (LA-4), Guthrie (KY-2), Barr (KY-6), Byrne (AL-1), Scalise (LA-1)

HR 372 Provide Public Safety Death Benefits to TSA Employees

This bill would provide TSA employees the public safety officers death benefits 

Intro: 1/9/2019 Rep. Brownley (CA-26) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Beyer (VA-8), Johnson (GA-4), McEachin (VA-4), Cohen (TN-9), Luria (VA-2)

Republicans: Brooks (AL-5)

HR 816 Death Benefits to Campus Police

This bill would provide federal death/disability benefits to campus police officers

Intro: 1/28/2019 Rep. King (NY-2) Status: Judiciary 

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Cohen (TN-9), Cooper (TN-5)

Republicans: none

HR 983 Sarah Grace-Farley-Kluger Act

This bill would amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to provide leave because of the death of a son or daughter.

Intro: 2/5/2019 Rep. Schneider (IL-10) Status: Education & Labor

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Beyer (VA-8)

Republicans: Riggleman (VA-5)

HR 1210 Reforms to Public Safety Officers Benefits Program

This bill would make changes to the federal benefits program

Intro: 2/13/2019 Rep. Ruiz (CA-36) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Wexton (VA-10), Sewell (AL-7), Spanberger (VA-7), Richmond (LA-2), Luria (VA-2)

Republicans: none

HR 1256 Disabled Officers Retirement Benefits 

This bill would permit disabled officers to receive retirement benefits as if they were not disabled.

Intro: 2/14/2019 Rep. Connolly (VA-11) Status: Intelligence 

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Sponsor Connolly, McBath (GA-6)

Republicans: Riggleman (VA-5)

HR 1325 Punish Offenses Targeting Law Enforcement

This bill would enhance punishment for officer targeted offenses.

Intro: 2/22/2019 Rep. Rutherford (FL-4) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: Guthrie (KY-2), Barr (KY-6), Scalise (LA-1)

HR 1646 Hero Act 

This bill would improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues among public safety officers.

Intro: 3/8/2019 Rep. Bera (CA-7) Status: Energy and Commerce

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

S 413 Law Enforcement Training in Behavior Crisis Response

This bill would require law enforcement training in behavior crisis response.

Intro: 2/7/2019 Sen. Klobucher (MN) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 465 Reforms to Public Safety Officers Benefits Program

This bill would make changes to the federal benefits program

Intro: 2/12/2019 Sen. Duckworth (IL) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 531 Disabled Officers Retirement Benefits 

This bill would permit disabled officers to receive retirement benefits as if they were not disabled.

Intro: 2/14/2019 Sen. Tester (MT) Status: Homeland Security

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 572 Amend Family Medical Leave Act to include Death of Child

This bill would make changes to the FMLA to include leave for child death.

Intro: 2/26/2019 Sen. Tester (MT) Status: Health, Education, Labor & Pensions

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 710 Social Security Fairness for Officers

This bill would exempt firefighters and police officers from the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provisions under the Social Security Act.

Intro: 3/7/2019 Sen. Toomey (PA) Status: Finance

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 2126 State/Local Pensions Accountability & Security 

This bill would prohibit federal bailout of state/local pensions

Intro: 4/8/2019 Rep. Babin (TX-36) Status: Education & Labor 

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: Norman (SC-5), Hice (GA-10), Roe (TN-1)

HR 2368 Support/Treat Officers in Crisis

This bill would expand federal support for mental health programs for officers

Intro: 4/25/2019 Rep. Reschenthaler (PA-14) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: Collins (GA-9)

HR 2379 Reauthorize Bulletproof Vest Grants

This bill would reauthorize the vest grant program

Intro: 4/29/2019 Rep. Pascrell (NJ-9) Status: PASSED (Public Law 116-18)

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Spanberger (VA-7)

Republicans: Collins (GA-9), Byrne (AL-1)

S 998 Support/Treat Officers in Crisis

This bill would expand federal support for mental health programs for officers

Intro: 4/3/2019 Sen. Hawley (MO) Status: Passed Senate, to House

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: Tillis (NC), Blackburn (TN), Cotton (AR), Capito (WV)

S 1208 Protecting First Responders

This bill would amend federal line-of-duty disability program 

Intro: 4/11/2019 Sen. Grassley (IA) Status: Passed Senate, to House

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 1231 Reauthorize Bulletproof Vest Grants

This bill would reauthorize the vest grant program

Intro: 4/30/2019 Sen. Leahy (VT) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: Graham (SC), Tillis (NC)

Firearm Bills

House

8 Background Check for All Firearm Sales

33 Gun Trafficking Prohibition

38 Conceal Carry Reciprocity

155 Amen IRS Code to Remove Silencers from Firearm Definition

167 Prohibit Transfer of Firearm at Gun Show by Unlicensed Dealer

282 Sensible Reform to Firearm Regulations

569 Protect Stalking Victims from Firearm Violence

686 Regulation of Ammunition

687 National Handgun Registration & License

717 Restrict firearm sales to 21 Year Olds and Above

820 Background Checks for Gun Show Purchases

822 Require Liability Insurance to Purchase Firearm

869 Undetectable Firearms Act Revisions

930 Firearm Identity Markings and Stolen Reporting Required

952 Regulate Armor Piercing Ammo

971 Bill to Avert Future Gun Violence

1072 Limit States to Regulate Rifles/Shotguns

1112 Strengthen Background Checks

1115 Include Firearms in Consumer Product Safety

1116 Prohibit Firearms by “High-Risk” Individuals

1156 Law Enforcement Concealed Carry

1186 Regulate Large-Feed Magazines

1236 States Authority to Regulate Firearms

1262 Raise Age for Rifle/Shotgun Purchase

1263 Semi-Auto Rifle with Magazine Feed Under Fed Firearms Act

1266 Firearm Assembly Kits Regulated as Firearms

1279 BJA Grants for Gun Buy-Back Programs

1296 2^nd Amend not Unlimited

1297 Armor Piercing Ammo in Fed Firearms Act

1339 Create Mass Violence Prevention Center

1454 3-Day Wait to Receive a Firearm

1501 Allow Officers Carry Concealed on School Property

1531 Deny Firearms to Dangerous Terrorists

1670 Prevent Gun Trafficking

1671 Background Denial Notification

1705 Prevent Purchase of Ammunition by Prohibited Persons

1745 Prohibit Firearm Possession by Certain Persons

2071 Second Amendment Protection

2179 Federal Firearms License Protection

2303 Violent Gun Offender Registry

Senate

7 Extreme Risk Protection Order and Violence Prevention Act of 2019

42 Background Check for All Firearm Sales

66 Regulate Assault Weapons

69 Conceal Carry Reciprocity

320 Securing Firearms Act

443 Redefine Antique Firearms

447 Regulate Large capacity Magazines

459 Regulate “Ghost” guns

506 Remove Firearms from Dangerous Individuals

730 Prevent Gun Tafficking

To read text of listed bills click on the Library of Congress link below then enter bill #.

http://thomas.loc.gov/