117th US Congress Update February 2021

Mar 1, 2021

Southern States Police Benevolent Association, Inc.

Governmental Affairs

117^th US Congress Update

February 2021

NEW BILLS of INTEREST

HR 677 Justice Act

This bill would attempt to improve and reform policing practices, accountability and transparency.

Intro: 2/1/2021 Rep. Stauber (MN-8) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: Hudson (NC-8), Miller (WV-3),Rice (SC-7), Fleischman (TN-3), Aderholt (AL-4), Allen (GA-12), Hill (AR-2), Scott (GA-8), Crawford (AR-1), Burchett (TN-2), Foxx (NC-5), Rouzer (NC-7), Womack (AR-3), Guest (MS-3), Barr (KY-6), Scalise (LA-1)

HR 830 Amend Fail Labor Standards Act of 1938

This bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit States and municipalities from adopting certain laws and ordinances (text not yet released).

Intro: 2/4/2021 Rep. Peters (CA-52) Status: Education & Labor

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 1031 White Supremacy in Law Enforcement

This bill would require the Attorney General to prepare and release an intelligence assessment on white supremacy in law enforcement (text not yet released).

Intro: 2/11/2021 Rep. Torres (CA-35) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Johnson (GA-4), Cooper (TN-5)

Republicans: none

HR 1159 De-escalation

This bill would require that States and localities receiving grants under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program require law enforcement officers to undergo training on and thereafter employ de-escalation techniques to assist in reducing the need for the use of force by such officers (text not yet released).

Intro: 2/18/2021 Rep. Moore (WI-4) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 1163 Federal Law Enforcement Body Cameras

This bill would require federal officers to wear body cameras (text not yet released).

Intro: 2/18/2021 Rep. Norton (DC) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Wexton (VA-10), Beyer (VA-8)

Republicans: none

HR 1275 Labor Organization Membership

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 (text not yet released).

Intro: 2/24/2021 Rep. Wilson (SC-2) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: Sponsor Wilson, Norman (SC-5), Bishop (NC-9), Allen (GA-12), Loudermilk (GA-11), Timmons (SC-4), Hill (AR-2), Massie (KY-4), Palazzo (MS-4), Cawthorn (NC-11), Fleischmann (TN-3), Hice (GA-10), Wittman (VA-1), Palmer (AL-6), Duncan (SC-3), Cline (VA-6), Kelly (MS-1), Budd (NC-13), Womack (AR-3), Carl (AL-1), Guest (MS-3), Scott (GA-8), Rice (SC-7), Mace (SC-1), Guthrie (KY-2), Greene (GA-14)

HR 1280 George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021

This bill would hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection, and reform police training and policies.

(eg. qualified immunity reform/independent investigations/national oversight/national police misconduct registry/national law enforcement officer certification/etc.)

Intro: 2/24/2021 Rep. Bass (CA-37) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Clyburn (SC-6), Cohen (TN-9), Johnson (GA-4), McBath (GA-6), Ross (NC-2), Adams (NC-12), Beyer (VA-8), Bishop (GA-2), Bourdeaux (GA-7), Butterfield (NC-1), Connolly (VA-11), Cooper (TN-5), Manning (NC-6), McEachin (VA-4), Price (NC-4), Scott (VA-3), Scott (GA-13), Sewell (AL-7), Thompson (MS-2), Williams (GA-5), Yarmuth (KY-3), Wexton (VA-10), Luria (VA-2)

Republicans: none

HR 1337 Independent Investigation and Prosecution Deadly Force

This bill would provide for grants for States that require sensitivity training for law enforcement officers of that State and to incentivize States to enact laws requiring the independent investigation and prosecution of the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers (text not yet released).

Intro: 2/25/2021 Rep. Cohen (TN-9) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Sponsor Cohen

Republicans: none

HR 1347 Amend Section 242 of Title 18 to Prohibit Chokeholds

This bill would prohibit the use of chokeholds (text not yet released).

Intro: 2/25/2021 Rep. Jeffries (NY-8) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Beyer (VA-8), Bishop (GA-2), Johnson (GA-4), Sewell (AL-7), Cohen (TN-9), Scott (GA-13), Thompson (MS-2), McBath (GA-6), Williams (GA-5), Bourdeaux (GA-7)

Republicans: none

HR 1368 Mental Health Professional First Responders

This bill would authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to States and political subdivisions of States to hire, employ, train, and dispatch mental health professionals to respond in lieu of law enforcement officers in emergencies involving one or more persons with a mental illness or an intellectual or developmental disability, and for other purposes (text not yet released).

Intro: 2/25/2021 Rep. Porter (CA-45) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

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

Republicans: none

S 244 Excessive Force Prevention Act

This bill would amend section 242 of title 18, United States Code, to include the use of chokeholds and carotid holds as a deprivation of rights and as a punishment, pain, or penalty, and for other purposes.

Intro: 2/4/2021 Sen. Gillibrand (NY) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

S 406 Labor Organization Membership

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 (text not yet released).

Intro: 2/24/2021 Sen. Paul (KY) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: Sponsor Paul, Scott (SC), Boozman (AR), Wicker (MS), Burr (NC)

New Firearm Bills

House

647      Interstate Firearm Sales

748      Firearm Safe Storage Requirement

880      Consumer Product Safety Firearm Action

882      Prohibit Firearms for “High Risk” Persons

993      Remove Federal Funding of Gun Control

1004    Require Liability Insurance to Own Firearm

1006    Background Checks at Gun Shows

1007    Prevent Gun Trafficking

1008    Require Safety Technology in Firearms

1132    Second Amendment Protection

1207    License Ammunition Dealers

1210    Improve Law Enforcement Safety Act Regarding Concealed Carry

Senate

190      Firearm Safe Storage Requirement

281      CDC Action on Gun Control

292      Prevent Gun Violence

BILL UPDATES (Changes in Red)

Labor

Working Conditions

HR 72 Thin Blue Line Act

This bill would provide additional aggravating factors for the imposition of the death penalty based on the status of the victim.

Intro: 1/4/2021 Rep. Buchanan (FL-16) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 155 POLICE Act

This bill would establish licensing standards for law enforcement.

Intro: 1/4/2021 Rep. Rush (IL-1) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

HR 169 Driver and Officer Safety Education Act

This bill would establish a grant program for States that establish specific standards for education and training programs concerning civilian and law enforcement encounters during traffic stops and other in-person encounters.

Intro: 1/4/2021 Rep. Green (TX-9) Status: Transportation

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

Benefits

HR 82 Social Security Fairness Act

This bill would amend title II of the Social Security Act to repeal the Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions.

Intro: 1/4/2021 Rep. Davis (IL-13) Status: Ways & Means

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Spanberger (VA-7), Cohen (TN-9), Price (NC-4), Luria (VA-2), Yarmuth (KY-3)

Republicans: Graves (LA-6), Comer (KY-1), Massie (KY-4), Higgins (LA-3), Guthrie (KY-2)

HR 483 Reform to Federal Benefits

This bill would make reforms to the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act for officers. Details not yet published.

Intro: 1/25/2021 Rep. Ruiz (CA-36) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Spanberger (VA-7)

Republicans: none

HR 521 Disabled Officers Receive Retirement Benefits as If Retired

This bill would permit disabled officers to receive retirement benefits in the same manner as if they had not been disabled.

Intro: 1/28/2021 Rep. Connolly (VA-11) Status: House Oversight

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: Sponsor Connolly, Wexton (VA-10)

Republicans: none

S 129 Disabled Officers Receive Retirement Benefits As If Retired

This bill would permit disabled officers to receive retirement benefits in the same manner as if they had not been disabled.

Intro: 1/28/2021 Sen. Tester (MT) Status: Homeland Security

Cosponsors from SSPBA states:

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

Firearm Bills

House

30        Gun Trafficking Act

38        Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act

121      Gun Violence Reduction Act

125      “Not Sorry” Gun Safety Act

127      Firearms Licensing

130      Safe Storage of Firearms

135      Firearm Transfer Regulations

137      Firearms and Mental Health

167      Gun Show Transfer – License Dealers Only

Senate

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

https://www.congress.gov