Register Today for NAPO’s Annual Lobby Day & Legislative Luncheon

Don’t miss the opportunity to join NAPO on May 14th for our Annual Lobby Day & Legislative Luncheon on Capitol Hill. This is a great opportunity to lobby Congressional Representatives, Senators, and their staffs, on behalf of your members concerning the issues which affect law enforcement officers and their families, their safety, working conditions, and retirement. Prior to lobbying Capitol Hill, plan to attend NAPO’s Legislative Breakfast for an update on NAPO’s legislative priorities, results to date from the 119th Congress, and to receive handouts to use during your Hill visits.

Please Register online or complete the attached registration form and return to NAPO at aedmiston@napo.org or eloranger@napo.org by MAY 1, 2026.

If you want assistance setting up your Capitol Hill meetings, contact NAPO’s Director of Government Affairs, Andy Edmiston, no later than May 1 at aedmiston@napo.org or (703) 549-0775.

The registration fee of $150.00 per person includes the Legislative Update Breakfast, handouts for your Congressional visits, and the Legislative Luncheon. Advanced Registration is required. Please contact Elizabeth Loranger, NAPO’s Director of Events, at (800) 322-6278 or eloranger@napo.org if you have any questions regarding registration or hotel arrangements.

May 14th will be here before you know it. Register today!

Senate Judiciary Committee Begins Consideration of Bill to Combat Illicit Xylazine

On March 19, the Senate Judiciary Committee began consideration of the NAPO-backed Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, S. 545, sponsored by Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), advancing it to the full Senate. NAPO sent a letter to the Committee on March 16 urging their support and quick approval of the bill.

Xylazine, a common pharmaceutical drug used in veterinary care, is increasingly contributing to the opioid crisis that plagues our nation’s communities. A drug that is meant for sedation and anesthesia in horses and cows has followed the trend of fentanyl and is being used as an additive to illicit drugs. Xylazine is now found in more than a third of all fentanyl powder tested by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – up from 12 percent in 2021 to over 37 percent at the end of 2024.

This drug has serious and deadly consequences and there is currently no approved drug to reverse its effects on humans. The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act would classify xylazine as a Schedule III drug, invoking penalties on those who choose to illegally use and distribute the drug, giving law enforcement the tools necessary to fight the spread of this deadly poison in our communities.

The final Committee vote on the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act was delayed over an amendment offered by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) that would have delayed the implementation of the bill. As the Committee debated the amendment, Senator Booker was asked if he would support the underlying bill if his amendment was adopted and he stated that he would not. The markup then adjourned before the Committee could vote on the amendment and final consideration of the bill. We expect the Committee to pick up where it left off on March 26.

We continue to advise the Committee of our support for the bill and are urging members to approve the bill as is, without amendment.  

NAPO on the Hill: National Police Week Priorities

Every year, NAPO works in conjunction with other national law enforcement organizations – both management and labor – to push a list of bills we all agree on and support to move during National Police Week. We began our efforts with a meeting with the staff of Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) to discuss the pro-law enforcement legislation we want to see moved during National Police Week 2026 to honor the law enforcement profession.

We discussed the need for legislation to enhance officer safety by increasing penalties for the murder, attempted murder, or assault of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, the LEOSA Reform Act, and the Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program Expansion Act, amongst others. We are also prioritizing final passage of the bills that the Senate Judiciary Committee approved last Police Week that have not yet passed the Senate, including the Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis (STOIC) Act, the Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act, and the Strong Communities Act.

On March 13, the Department of Justice endorsed the NAPO-backed Thin Blue Line Act, stating “[c]ombatting violent crime remains a priority of this Administration and holding violent criminals who attack and murder law enforcement accountable is paramount to those efforts.” The Act increases penalties on those who harm or target for harm public safety officers by making the murder or attempted murder of a local police officer, firefighter, or first responder an aggravating factor in death penalty determinations in federal court.  This would be applicable whether they were targeted or murdered on duty, because of the performance of their duty, or because of their status as a public official.

NAPO also supports moving the Protect and Serve Act and the Back the Blue Act, both of which would help to bring federal resources to bear in the prosecution of those who attempt to harm or murder any public safety officer. As this issue has been a top priority for the Administration since President Trump took office last year, we strongly feel that now is the time for Congress to take up and pass one of these important officer protection bills.

The LEOSA Reform Act would ensure the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) is more fairly and broadly implemented.  The bill would expand the areas qualified, current or retired, officers are allowed to carry a firearm, including on state, local and private property otherwise open to the public, and in certain federal facilities. Furthermore, it would allow qualified officers and retired officers to carry an ammunition magazine of any capacity that is not prohibited by federal law. Importantly, it will reform qualifications standards to alleviate undue burdens for those carrying under LEOSA.

The Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program Expansion Act would make vital changes to the PSOB Program to increase transparency and accountability and ensure the Program honors and supports officers and their families who have sacrificed so much in service to their communities.

We will meet next with staff of the Senate and House Judiciary Committee members to highlight our priorities and gain support for our efforts to move these important bills during National Police Week.

DHS Remains Shutdown as Funding Stalemate Continues

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been shut down for nearly five weeks as Democrats in Congress and the Administration continue to trade proposals over reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Both sides are blaming the other for their lack of compromise.

The Administration has stated it is willing to agree to legislation that does the following:

• Expand the use of body-worn cameras by DHS law enforcement participating in immigration enforcement operations, except for undercover officers, and require the      retention of body-camera footage

• Limit civil immigration enforcement at "sensitive" locations, including hospitals and schools, subject to a “narrow carve-out for immediate needs like national      security… and public safety.”  

• Require agents to wear clearly visible identification and state their name and agency when asked during their duties, with the exception of undercover officers.

• Adhere to “existing law and practice” of not deporting U.S. citizens and not detaining U.S. citizens except when the person violates a state or federal law that makes      the citizen subject to arrest.

While these reforms touch on many of the Democrats’ demands, the major remaining sticking points are their requests that immigration agents remove their masks and that they must obtain judicial warrants to enter private property. The Administration has so far been unwilling to agree to those policy changes as they view it would make it more difficult and dangerous for federal officers to do their jobs. Given the increase in doxxing against officers and their families, NAPO strongly feels that officers engaging in immigration enforcement efforts should be allowed to wear masks for their own personal protection.

During his confirmation hearing to be the next Secretary of Homeland Security on March 18, Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) promised to require agents obtain judicial warrants to enter people’s homes or businesses, unless officers are actively pursuing someone who enters that location. It is yet to be determined if Senator’s comments during the hearing will sway Democrats and allow negotiations to reopen DHS to move forward in a meaningful way.

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs voted to advance Senator Mullin’s nomination to the full Senate for consideration. He is expected to win confirmation from the full Senate, largely along party lines.

NAPO continues to monitor the impact of the shutdown as well as the policies proposed to reform ICE operations as any new requirements for ICE agents could very well impact state and local law enforcement officers.

TOP COPS Law Enforcement Sponsorship

~ Deadline April 16 ~

We hope you will help us this year in honoring America’s Finest at the Thirty-Third Annual TOP COPS Awards®, which will take place on Tuesday, May 12.  We will be presenting the TOP COP Awards® at a Reception and Dinner at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.

To support our efforts in producing a deserving tribute, we are asking all NAPO members to please consider becoming a Law Enforcement Organization Sponsor. We are offering several sponsorship levels, which are listed on the attached form.

To support this year’s TOP COPS Awards® please return the attached sponsorship form to NAPO by April 16, 2026.

We hope you will be able to join us in Washington, D.C. to honor these outstanding men and women. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact NAPO’s Director of Events, Elizabeth Loranger, at (800) 322-6276 or eloranger@napo.org with any questions or concerns.  We look forward to seeing you in May!

DOJ Announces Byrne JAG Solicitation

FY25 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program – Local Formula

The Edward Bryne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) Program is the only comprehensive federal crime-fighting program. It allows for a system side approach that enables communities to target resources to their most pressing local needs. This important program funds state and local law enforcement, including multi-jurisdictional drug and gang task forces, information sharing and technology, county jails, prosecutors, and drug courts.

This funding opportunity will provide formula funding to eligible units of local government to, in general, support hiring additional personnel and/or purchase equipment including body armor and body-worn cameras, supplies, contractual support, training, technical assistance, and information systems for criminal justice or civil proceedings, including for any one or more of the following program areas:

1. Law enforcement programs.

2. Prosecution and court programs.

3. Prevention and education programs.

4. Corrections and community corrections programs.

5. Drug treatment and enforcement programs.

6. Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs.

7. Crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation).

8. Mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams.

9. Implementation of state crisis intervention court proceedings and related programs or initiatives, including but not limited to mental health courts, drug courts, veterans courts, and extreme risk protection order programs.

10. Programs to purchase and operate unmanned aircraft systems to benefit public safety.

11. Programs to purchase and operate counter-UAS systems.

Eligible Applicants: Designated district governments, city or township governments, county governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.    

The FY 25 JAG local allocations are available at Allocations | JAG | Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Application Deadlines: April 7, 11:59PM EST for submission to Grants.Gov and April 14, 5:00PM EST for submission to JustGrants.

‍