HOUSE PASSES INTERNET POLICE PROTECTION ACT

On October 27, 2005, Congressman Anthony Weiner successfully added the “Internet Police Officers Protection Act” to H.R. 1751, the “Secure Access to Justice and Court Protection Act of 2005” during the markup of the bill in the House Judiciary Committee. On November 9, 2005, H.R. 1751 passed the House by a vote of 375-45.

Back in January of this year, NAPO approached Congressman Weiner with the concern, shared by many of our members, regarding personal information about police officers and their families being accessible to the public on the internet, including names and addresses. The posting of personal information about cops could easily be used to intimidate the officers and perhaps endanger their families. It is important to prohibit publication of personal information about police officers, as well as other law enforcement and justice officials, on the internet. The “Internet Police Officer Protection Act” will do just that by making it illegal to publish such information on the Internet if the subject opts out by sending a notice to the website purveyor, as well as make it a crime to keep that information up after being notified to take it down.

NAPO worked with Congressman Weiner and his staff to develop the language of the “Internet Police Officers Protection Act,” and we strongly support all of his efforts to move this legislation forward. NAPO will work with the Senate Judiciary Committee to ensure the passage of the House bill.

HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES HELPS

RETIREES ACT AS PART OF PENSION BILL

On Wednesday, November 9, the House Ways and Means Committee approved the HELPS Retirees Act of 2005, H.R. 2177, as part of an overall pension reform bill, H.R. 2830. The health care bill was incorporated into Chairman Thomas’ bill, the Pension Protection Act of 2005, as Title X, Sec. 1003. The committee voted 23-17 to send the bill to the House floor for consideration.

Many law enforcement retirees lose their employer-provided health insurance and are years away from being Medicare-eligible, which forces them to spend their retirement money on health insurance premiums. The HELPS Retirees Act of 2005, which was introduced by Representatives Chris Chocola (R-IN) and Richard Neal (D-MA) back in May of this year, would allow retired public safety officers to use up to $5,000 annually from their pension funds, including defined benefit plans and defined contribution plans, to pay for qualified health insurance premiums without taxing these distributions. This bill would help preserve the retirement security and the health of those public servants who selflessly serve and protect our communities.

NAPO has been a supporter of this important legislation since the beginning and included information about H.R. 2177 in our Legal Rights and Legislative Seminar 2005 booklet. NAPO will continue to work hard for the passage of this legislation as part of the Pension Protection Act of 2005.

CONGRESS FUNDS MENTALLY ILL OFFENDER

TREATMENT AND CRIME REDUCTION ACT

The FY 2006 Science, State, Justice Appropriations bill, H.R. 2862, which Congress passed on November 16, 2005, and has been sent to the President’s desk for signature, contains $5 million in funding for the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act. Although this is a far cry from the $50 million authorized in the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act, it is nevertheless a sign that Congress and the President value the importance of jail diversion, correctional mental health treatment and community re-entry services in a time when funding for new programs is hard to come by.

The Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act encourages mental health and criminal justice systems to work together in devising new, more effective ways to assist the mentally ill. NAPO strongly supported this legislation and worked hard with Senator DeWine and his staff to fight for its passage last year. It was a significant victory when President Bush signed the bill into law on October 30, 2004. NAPO is happy to announce the continued funding of this important Act in the FY 2006 Appropriations bill.

HOUSE TO VOTE ON ANTI-METH LEGISLATION

On November 15, 2005, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a bill, H.R. 3889, sponsored by Representative Mark Souder (R-IN), that is designed to address problems associated with the production, sale and abuse of methamphetamine.

Because pseudoephedrine is found in many over the counter cold and sinus medicines such as Sudafed, meth cooks are able to purchase the ingredient in large quantities. The “Methamphetamine Epidemic Elimination Act” will address this problem by reducing the amount of pseudoephedrine that can be sold per transaction. Pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient of most cold medicines, is often used in the production of methamphetamine. The legislation will also establish procedures that will allow United States law enforcement to better track the shipment of precursor chemicals into the country. H.R. 3889 is an important first step in fighting against the abuse and trafficking of methamphetamine.

DIGITAL SPECTRUM FOR FIRST RESPONDERS ADDED

TO BUDGET RECONCILIATION BILL

The language within the FY 2006 Budget Reconciliation bill would provide the necessary digital spectrum for public safety use in order to enhance the interoperability of their communications systems, as was the original intent of Congress in the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

The 9/11 Commission has specifically recognized the importance of clearing the designated spectrum for first responders to use for interoperable communications, especially following the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, and more recently the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina. The country’s local, state, and federal first responders need access to digital channels in order to better communications between each other during such national tragedies.

The broadcasters of the digital bands designated for public safety use will continue to delay the handoff of the channels to first responders until Congress moves this legislation forward.

LEGISLATION TO ADD HEALTHCARE TO PSOB INTRODUCED

Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) has introduced a bill that will make family members of public safety officers killed in the line of duty eligible for coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEMB) program. Providing healthcare coverage as part of the Public Safety Officer Benefit (PSOB) program would remove a great financial burden from the families of those police officers who have so selflessly given their lives for the safety of our communities. NAPO has been working with Congressman Stupak and his staff in developing this legislation and commends the Congressman on his steadfast support for this nation’s law enforcement community.

The PSOB Act was designed to offer peace of mind to men and women seeking careers in public safety and to make a strong statement about the value that American society places on the contributions of those who serve their communities in potentially dangerous circumstances. The tragic loss of a spouse in the line of duty does not provide the surviving family any opportunity to plan for the financial needs that they will face, and in some cases they are unable to continue working and thus provide health insurance for themselves or their children. Healthcare coverage as a PSOB benefit would be a highly valued benefit, as well as an added comfort for eligible survivors of public safety officers and their families.

Please join NAPO in supporting this legislation by contacting your Congressional Representatives and letting them know the importance of this bill to the law enforcement community.