117th US Congress Update February 2021
Mar 1, 2021
Southern States Police Benevolent Association, Inc.
Governmental Affairs
117th 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 #.
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