LEOSA Reform Act

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Madam Speaker, this week, thousands of law enforcement officers, their families, and their supporters from around the country gathered in Washington, D.C., to commemorate National Police Week.

We are here tonight to thank those who put on the uniform every day to protect our communities and put their lives in the breach between the criminal element and the public they protect.

We are also here to recognize those who have completed their service and now enjoy a well-deserved thank-you for their selfless service to their communities.

But, most importantly, we are here to honor the fallen.

Last year, 158 police officers gave their last measure of devotion to their communities. Among these heroes, you will find every gender, every creed, every race, every religion. They hail from every corner of America.

One of those 158 officers was not only from my district, but served at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office with me, where I spent a 41-year career.

Officer Lance Whitaker began his career with the Atlantic Beach Police Department and then served 17 dedicated years at Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. He was tragically killed while responding to a call in the early morning hours of May 15, 2018, almost 1 year ago today.

He left behind his son, Cade; his mother, Lannie; and his sister, Angela. He also left behind a memory and a legacy that will live on in the hearts and minds of those who knew him.

Many of us are here today to honor friends, family, and loved ones like Officer Whitaker, who gave his last full measure of devotion to a community he loved and a community that loved him back.

I now ask that we observe a moment of silence for Officer Whitaker and all of the 158 brave law enforcement officers who lost their lives protecting our community.

Tonight, Madam Speaker, in a very bipartisan fashion, we will hear from Members on both sides of the aisle and from all across the country as we join together to show our unity in supporting our police officers.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Hill), my friend who is from a law enforcement family and brings a strong pro-police voice to Congress.

Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Hill, and I look forward to working with her on some of the bills she just highlighted. I know that her law enforcement family is proud, so I thank her.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Steil), my good friend, who is from Wisconsin's First District.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman and the great State of Wisconsin for their support of law enforcement.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Torres Small), a colleague from New Mexico's Second District. She serves on the Armed Services Committee and the Homeland Security Committee, and, actually, after law school, worked for a U.S. district judge in New Mexico, so she has got that law enforcement background, also.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for the kind words of support for our law enforcement community, and I thank her for her service earlier, as well.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon), my good friend from Nebraska's Second District. He serves on our Agriculture Committee and Armed Services Committee. He is a retired brigadier general and did his deployment in Iraq, and we thank him for that service.

Madam Speaker, I am a proud cosponsor of the gentleman's LEOSA bill, and having been a law enforcement officer, I understand exactly what the gentleman is trying to accomplish. I support him 110 percent in that effort, and I appreciate the words.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. Spanberger), who serves on the Foreign Affairs and Agriculture Committees. She is also--I think we can say this--a former CIA case officer.

Is it safe to say that now?

Madam Speaker, the gentlewoman's father was a career law enforcement officer also.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Virginia and just know that our condolences go to those two officers' families, those heroes that you lost this last year. God bless.

Madam Speaker, I would like to introduce the Member from the great State of Minnesota's Eighth District, Pete Stauber. He serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure and Small Business Committees and was a police officer in Duluth, Minnesota, for 23 years. I thank the gentleman for his service.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).

Madam Speaker, I am grateful for the gentleman's 23 years of service. I know what commitment that is, and God bless him for that.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Gottheimer), who is my good friend.

Josh Gottheimer is from New Jersey's Fifth District who serves on the Financial Services Committee and worked in both the public sector as a White House speechwriter and in the private industry for Ford and Microsoft. I thank the gentleman for being here this evening.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey for having the backs of police officers who have our back, and I thank the gentleman very much for being here tonight to show that support for law enforcement that is so important across the country.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cline). Representative Ben Cline serves on the

House Judiciary and Education and Labor Committees. He is a lawyer and serves as an Assistant Commonwealth Attorney and was also chief of staff and--I didn't know this--chief of staff for my good friend, Bob Goodlatte, who is one of my heroes from Congress.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia.

In particular, I want to offer, again, our condolences to those officers, those heroes from Virginia, who gave their lives in service.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Representative Clay Higgins from the great State of Louisiana, their Third District. He was a National Guard military police officer for many years, a SWAT operator. I am sure he will have some great words for us.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins).

Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from Louisiana for all his service those many years.

I would like to recognize, again, my cohost for tonight, Representative Katie Hill. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Hill).

Madam Speaker, it has been an honor to be here with the gentlewoman tonight to recognize our law enforcement community.

Madam Speaker, I will close with this. It is from Ralph Waldo Emerson. He said:

The purpose in life is not to be happy. It is to be useful,

to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some

difference that you have lived and lived well.

Madam Speaker, the 158 lives that we honor tonight, all the thousands of law enforcement officers serving this moment, they live well. For that, we are grateful.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Rutherford, a great friend and colleague, for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize a bipartisan issue that threatens the safety of our law enforcement officers and our communities in which they serve, and we have a solution for it.

Enacted in 2004, the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, known as LEOSA, established clear guidelines allowing experienced retired or off-duty officers who maintain proper training to obtain certification allowing him or her to carry concealed firearms. The desired purpose was to create a shared national policy between States allowing off-duty and retired officers to carry their firearms wherever they are, granted they are qualified and received appropriate credentials.

As many of my colleagues know, LEOSA has enjoyed a long history of support from both sides of the aisle. When it was first proposed by a Republican, LEOSA was cosponsored by more than half of the House.

Subsequent amendments signed into law in 2010 and 2013 under Democratic President Barack Obama expanded LEOSA's coverage to include law enforcement officers in most Federal agencies as well as military police. In both instances, reforms were sponsored by Democratic Senators.

LEOSA has always been a bipartisan priority because it is a law enforcement and public safety issue. It is not a Second Amendment or gun rights issue. The same is true about improvements in H.R. 1156, the LEOSA Reform Act, which I am sponsoring.

The LEOSA Reform Act seeks to correct a number of unintended gaps and weaknesses in the original LEOSA bill. These gaps and weaknesses are not due to intentional restrictions in the original statute. Rather, they are areas in which the original statute is silent, resulting in conflicting interpretations and unintended restrictions which effectively limit the ability of off-duty and retired officers to carry their firearms, and we want them to do it in a manner that is safest for them and the public.

This lack of specific language defeats the original intent of the law, which is to allow off-duty and retired officers to carry their firearms wherever they go. Granted, they have to be qualified and have to have received appropriate credentials. That is a given.

It also created an inconsistent implementation across States, leaving many officers to either assume intended risk when carrying in accord with LEOSA or decide not to carry at all.

The LEOSA Reform Act adds specific language to address these unintended weaknesses, and in doing so will make existing law stronger and more workable for those who seek its benefit while maintaining the rigorous standards that currently apply.

The bill does not put more guns into our communities. Individuals affected by this legislation already have the authority to carry concealed weapons in most locations. Rather, H.R. 1156 will help ensure guns that are already in the hands of trained and certified law enforcement officers and retired officers can safely and legally be carried wherever they may be.

In fact, the LEOSA Reform Act will help ensure firearms do not end up in the hands of criminals by allowing law enforcement officers and retired officers to keep their firearms safely on their person, rather than being forced to leave them unattended in vehicles in parking lots of locations that are currently restricted from carrying.

The public's need for rapid intervention by off-duty and retired officers is made clear by the recent incident in California, where the heroic actions of an off-duty Federal officer who ran and shot at the synagogue gunman saved countless lives. It is an example that we see repeatedly. With the rise of tragic shootings in our Nation, empowering trained professionals to carry will allow them to respond more quickly to emergencies and provide years of expertise to these situations.

I have heard from law enforcement officials throughout Nebraska's Second District and the Nation on the importance these changes will have on the lives of our community's heroes and their ability to protect themselves and others. In fact, the LEOSA Reform Act has been endorsed by 20 professional law enforcement organizations whose membership, when combined, is representative of well over half of all law enforcement in our country.

On National Police Week, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in providing greater public safety for law enforcement and our communities at home by cosponsoring the LEOSA Reform Act. Officer safety and public safety is a bipartisan issue, and together we must and can do better.

Madam Speaker, I will close with this: If I am in a situation where I am being victimized, who do I want near me?

I would love to have a retired or off-duty policeman who is armed, and this bill makes that more likely.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Florida for joining forces with me this evening to host this bipartisan Special Order hour in honor of National Police Week.

As you are about to see, supporting our law enforcement is an issue that unifies us across geography and political party, bringing together diverse perspectives and deep gratitude. I am so proud to rise in support of our law enforcement and the professional peace officers who work tirelessly every single day for the safety and security of our communities.

I represent California's 25th Congressional District, which is home to many of the police officers who serve all of Los Angeles County. My community is rooted in service. It is a value that I grew up with, and one of the reasons that I chose to serve my community by running for office.

My dad is an Air Force veteran and has spent three decades in law enforcement. In fact, he was here with us this week as part of a large group from our district who flew out for Police Week.

As a little girl, I remember what it was like to wonder if my dad would make it home at night. I remember being so scared for his life because he was on the front lines protecting mine and all of the other members of our community. I was proud of him then, and I am proud of him now.

But unlike then, I now have the opportunity to fight for him and the men and women serving just like him. Protecting and supporting our law enforcement should not be partisan. The speakers joining us today demonstrate that we can have meaningful, legislative reform that works across the aisle.

I want to briefly touch on several pieces of legislation that I believe will protect and support our police officers, including H.R. 838, the Threat Assessment, Prevention, and Safety Act, or TAPS, which institutes a process that will identify, investigate, assess, and mitigate threats before they happen.

Fighting for law enforcement also means supporting legislation like H.R. 2070, the POWER Act, to develop new grants for chemical screening; H.R. 1236, the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, to empower police to keep guns out of the wrong hands; and H.R. 2379, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership, to increase the number of lifesaving bulletproof vests accessible to our law enforcement. Through these bills and others in development, we can keep our communities and officers safe.

Most importantly, I am standing here today to honor the life of Officer Johnathan Tanner. He is a true public servant from the Antelope Valley in my district, who passed away, tragically, at the age of 28 years old after battling cancer. He will be remembered for his steadfast devotion to his community, his church, and his family.

Officer Tanner proudly served the California Highway Patrol with a dedication to the safety of the Antelope Valley. In just his first year out of training, he received the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Award for Excellence in removing impaired drivers from the road, and he was known for his efforts to build public trust in law enforcement.

Out of uniform, Officer Tanner served his community by volunteering his time at Lancaster Baptist Church, where he was a lifelong member. He taught youth ministry classes, coached sports teams, and led a bus route that gives children rides to church.

Officer Tanner leaves behind his wife, Jessie, their two young sons, and a baby girl who is expected to arrive later this month. He is also survived by his parents, two older brothers, and a younger sister.

I am proud to have represented Officer Tanner, and I know that his loved ones and the community will carry on the legacy of his light in the world.

Today, in honor of Police Week and in honor of all of the members of our law enforcement community, I am proud to stand in support of the men and women who put their lives on the line every single day like Officer Tanner and like my dad.

Thank you for all you do.

Madam Speaker, I wanted to finish out by thanking the 2,200 Capitol Police officers here who protect us and the 3 to 5 million people who visit the U.S. Capitol every single year.

They do the job that often goes unnoticed, but we are ensured our safety and protection, and that of every single person who comes to visit us, because of their hard work and service.

To every single law enforcement professional who dedicates their life every single day, we are eternally grateful. I am so proud to be working with my colleagues to continue to fight for recognizing our officers and to take this forward for many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Rutherford, my good friend, and Congresswoman Hill of California for co-hosting this bipartisan Special Order hour in honor of our law enforcement officers. I am proud to serve with you both as a member of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, co-chaired by our friend, Congressman Bill Pascrell.

Madam Speaker, we are here today to commemorate Police Week and to honor all the brave law enforcement officers in New Jersey and across the country who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities. They get our backs, and we should always get theirs. There is nothing partisan about that.

In 1962 President John F. Kennedy declared May 15 to be Police Officers Memorial Day and this week to be Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. Already this year, 43 police officers have died in the line of duty across the United States. We will never forget their bravery, service, and sacrifice. May God bless them and their families.

Madam Speaker, police officers are America's heroes, and I am so deeply grateful to all law enforcement officers, Federal, State, and local, for what they do day in and day out, especially those in New Jersey's Fifth District, my district, and across our State.

That is why, in Congress, I am committed to fighting for all our sworn officers and first responders by making sure that our municipalities and police departments have the resources, equipment, and training they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. That includes critical programs like the COPS and JAG grants, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership program, and the Law Enforcement Support Office excess equipment program.

We should also support the Thin Blue Line Act, which was referenced, because our officers rely on us to get their backs and to make sure we give them the resources they need to protect our families from violent crimes, drug trafficking, domestic violence, homegrown terrorism, and countless other threats.

I especially want to recognize all the men and women who took part in the annual Police Unity Tour, riding some 300 miles to Washington in honor of our fallen officers, and all of New Jersey's finest who are here in Washington this week, including friends from the New Jersey PBA, the New Jersey State Troopers, the Port Authority PBA, and many, many others.

Just yesterday I was glad to spend some time with my friends, the Port Authority Police and members of the Fair Lawn Police Department Honor Guard who came to remember those whose names are forever inscribed at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial here on the Mall. Others from the State PBA and PBA police officers were here this week as well. Together we are all fighting to fully fund and reauthorize the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund in memory of the 37 Port Authority police officers and countless others whom we lost that day and for all the injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors whom we must do right by today.

Madam Speaker, I thank, again, my colleagues across the aisle who have the backs of our first responders. But most of all, I am grateful for every law enforcement officer for their solemn commitment to protect and serve. We live in the greatest country in the world. With our brave law enforcement protecting our communities, we are ensuring always that our best days are ahead of us.

God bless our law enforcement officers and first responders, and may God bless the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, I got my deployment declassified. It is.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman so much for the opportunity to stand here in solidarity with our colleagues across the aisle in honor of Police Week and in honor of our police officers and peace officers across this country.

I rise today to remember the remarkable lives of two Virginia State police officers, one from our district in Midlothian and one from nearby New Kent County. They were both killed in the line of duty.

On August 12, 2017, Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen and Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates were not responding to an ordinary call. Instead, they were flying via helicopter to an event that became infamous as one of the darkest days in modern Virginia history.

Cullen and Bates were en route to Charlottesville to monitor the events transpiring around the Unite the Right white nationalist rally. Forces of hate had gathered, and law enforcement was called in to help end the chaos.

After police had canceled the event as an unlawful assembly, Cullen and Bates were instructed to assist their fellow officers. They were to circle over Charlottesville, and their mission was to provide surveillance of the violence, restore order, and help the community end the nightmare that had transpired. However, mid-flight, their helicopter crashed on the outskirts of Charlottesville, and both Cullen and Bates were killed in action.

In the wake of the tragedy and the stress of the Charlottesville protests,

Executive Director Wayne Huggins of the Virginia State Police Association said: ``I don't know if State police, in its 85 years, has had a more excruciating time.''

The pain of the families of Lieutenant Cullen and Trooper-Pilot Bates is unimaginable, and the loss experienced by the Virginia State Police and their fellow brothers and sisters in the law enforcement community is still felt to this day.

This is National Police Week. We remember the brave and dedicated service of Lieutenant Cullen and Trooper-Pilot Bates. They died in an effort to protect their fellow Virginians, and their sacrifice will always be remembered.

As a former Federal agent, the daughter of a career law enforcement officer, and, most respectfully, as a grateful American and Virginian, I thank the law enforcement officers and peace officers who dedicate their lives to keeping us safe. This week and every week we stand with our law enforcement officers, and we will never forget those who laid down their lives for their neighbors.