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117th US Congress Update March/April 2021

Southern States Police Benevolent Association, Inc.

Governmental Affairs

 

117th US Congress Update

March/April 2021

 

 

NEW BILLS of INTEREST

 

HR 1465 Right to Remain Silent Act

This bill would require a local government to waive sovereign immunity to receive any grant funds from the Department of Justice if such local government has defunded a municipal police department.

Intro: 3/1/2021 Rep. Malliotakis (NY-11) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

 

HR 1470 Ending Qualified Immunity

This bill would amend the Revised Statutes to remove the defense of qualified immunity in the case of any action under section 1979.

Intro: 3/1/2021 Rep. Pressley (MA-7) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Adams (NC-12), Johnson (GA-4), Williams (GA-5), Scott (GA-13), Beyer (VA-8)

Republicans: none

 

HR 1481 Cost of Police Misconduct

This bill would require Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies to report information related to allegations of misconduct of law enforcement officers to the Attorney General.

Intro: 3/2/2021 Rep. Beyer (VA-8) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

 

HR 1489 Civil Rights Enhancement and Law Enforcement Accountability Improvement Act

This bill would permit vicarious liability claims against an employer of a person who, under color of law, subjects another to the deprivation of rights.

Intro: 3/2/2021 Rep. Cohen (TN-9) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

 

HR 1570 George Floyd Trust and Integrity Act

This bill would encourage greater community accountability of law enforcement agencies, and for other purposes.

Intro: 3/3/2021 Rep. Jackson Lee (TX-18) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Connolly (VA-11), Williams (GA-5), Bishop (GA-2), Adams (NC-12), Price (NC-4), Yarmuth (KY-3), Thompson (MS-2), Johnson (GA-4), Butterfield (NC-1)

Republicans: none

 

HR 2640 Amend Labor-Management Reporting & Disclosure Act

This bill would require the authorization of members of a labor organization before such organization may make certain political expenditures.

Intro: 4/19/2021 Rep. Huizenga (MI-2) Status: Education and Labor

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

 

HR 2892 Amend Title 18 US Code

This bill would clarify the penalty for use of force.

Intro: 4/28/2021 Rep. Omar (MN-5) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

 

HR 2893 National Police Misuse of Force Investigation Board

This bill would establish the National Police Misuse of Force Investigation Board.

Intro: 4/28/2021 Rep. Omar (MN-5) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

 

HRes 283 Law Officers Bill of Rights

This resolution would establish a “Bill of Rights” to support United States law enforcement personnel nationwide in their work to protect our communities.

Intro: 3/26/2021 Rep. Zeldin (NY-1) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: Scott (GA-8), Good (VA-5)

 

HR 2936 Line of Duty Disability Benefits

Text of bill not yet available.

Intro: 4/30/2021 Rep. Pascrell (NJ-9) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

 

S 492 Ending Qualified Immunity

This bill would amend the Revised Statutes to remove the defense of qualified immunity in the case of any action under section 1979.

Intro: 3/1/2021 Sen. Markey (MA) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: none

 

S 540 Cost of Police Misconduct Act

This bill would require Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies to report information related to allegations of misconduct of law enforcement officers to the Attorney General.

Intro: 3/2/2021 Sen. Kaine (VA) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Sponsor Kaine (VA)

Republicans: none

 

S 597 ERRPA

This bill would seek to eliminate racial, religious, and other discriminatory profiling by law enforcement, and for other purposes.

Intro: 3/4/2021 Sen. Cardin (MD) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Kaine (VA)

Republicans: none

 

S 738 Police Training and Independent Review Act

This bill would provide for grants for States that require fair and impartial police 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.

Intro: 3/11/2021 Sen. Duckworth (IL) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: Kaine (VA)

Republicans: none

 

S 774 Protect and Serve Act

This bill would amend title 18, United States Code, to punish criminal offenses targeting law enforcement officers.

Intro: 3/16/2021 Sen. Tillis (NC) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: Sponsor Tillis (NC), Burr (NC), Boozman (AR), Capito (WV), Blackburn (TN), Wicker (MS), Cotton (AR), Graham (SC)

 

S 1502 Federal Officer Peer Support Confidentiality

Text of bill not yet available.

Intro: 4/29/2021 Sen. Cortez Masto (NV) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: Tillis (NC)

 

S 1511 Line of Duty Disability Benefits

Text of bill not yet available.

Intro: 4/29/2021 Sen. Grassley (IA) Status: Judiciary

Cosponsors from SSPBA states: 

Democrats: none

Republicans: Blackburn (TN), Tillis (NC)

 

New Firearm Bills

 

House

 

1446 Background Checks

1454 Ghost Guns

1477 Undetectable Firearms

1534 Second Amendment Protection

1604 Forbid Straw Purchases

1680 Regulate Interstate Transportation of Firearms

1752 3-Day Wait for Firearm Purchase

1782 Give Law Enforcement Head 90-Day Deny Firearm Purchase

1808 Regulate Assault Weapons

1906 Prohibit Possession Firearm by Misdemeanor Domestic Convict

1923 Prohibit Possession Firearm by Misdemeanor Domestic Convict

2280 Prohibit Straw Purchase

2426 Prohibit Transfer Firearm to Unlawful Subject

2544 Regulate Silencers/Mufflers

2715 Prohibit Ammo Purchase by Non-Permitted Persons

2890 Reduce Firearm Purchase Age from 21 to 18

 

Senate

 

525 Regulate Interstate Transportation Firearms

529 Expand Background Checks

736 Assault Weapons Ban

878 Stop Firearm Trafficking

1108 Regulate Large Capacity Magazine

1131 Regulate Silencers/Mufflers

1237 Prohibit Ammo Purchase by Non-Permitted Persons

1373 Reduce Firearm Purchase Age from 21 to 18

1522 Concealed Carry Reciprocity

 

BILL UPDATES (Changes in Red)

 

Labor

 

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 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)

 

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)

 

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

 

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 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 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

 

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

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

 

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

https://www.congress.gov

 

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