Southern States PBA
117th US Congress Update January 2021
Feb 16, 2021
Southern States Police Benevolent Association, Inc.
Governmental Affairs
117th US Congress Update
January 2021
NEW BILLS of INTEREST
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 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 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
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
New 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
None
To read text of listed bills click on the Library of Congress link below then enter bill #.
May 6, 2026
Hayden Linton was born in San Diego, California but has called Rogers, Arkansas home since the age of three when his dad retired from the Navy. His hometown offers a powerful sense of community that Hayden appreciates. "No matter where you go or what you are doing, you will always be greeted by happy people, with a smile on their face. In Rogers as a kid, it was also very rare to be bored." He continues, "We have countless hidden gems behind every corner that make this city so entertaining to live in and so easy to call home."
moreApril 29, 2026
To say Hannah Williams is actively active might be an understatement. She is one of 20 students across 11 SSPBA divisions to receive a PBF scholarship this year through a parent's membership in PBA. Her stepfather is Robert J. Maxbauer III, a K9 handler of K9 J�ger at Louisburg (N.C.) Police Department for almost a year.
moreApril 22, 2026
Jackson Patterson is a freshman at the University of South Alabama with several big ambitions. He's just not sure which ones he will follow yet. "Right now, my biggest challenge is deciding what I want my future to look like," he told me. He's studying engineering, and it's possible that he chooses to go straight into building a career in the aerospace industry after college. But it's also possible that he takes an even more interesting path ? he's interested in traveling the world and performing on stage, for example ? because if one thing's for sure about Jackson, it's that he's willing to branch out and try new things that he finds exciting ? even if they're unconventional.
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