House and Senate pass NAPO priority bills
during Police Week
The House and Senate took up and passed several
NAPO-endorsed bills on May 10. In addition to the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program Reauthorization
Act and the Fallen Heroes Flag Act, which were subsequently signed into law, the House and Senate passed the
following bills:
•
The Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act:
Passed by unanimous consent, this bill eliminates the
expected family contribution used to determine financial
need in the case of a Pell Grant-eligible student whose parent
or guardian died in the line of duty. Children of public safety
officers who died in the line of duty would qualify for the maximum Pell Grant award of $5,815 if he or she were less than 24
years old, or enrolled at an institution of higher education at
the time of the parent or guardian’s death. NAPO is working
with members of the House Education and Workforce Committee to move this important legislation.
•
The Recovering Missing Children Act: Passed by the House,
this bill amends current law to add the case of a missing child
to the list of exceptions that allow the IRS to release tax return
information to law enforcement, which helps to combat child
abductions.
NAPO’s Lobby Day and Legislative Luncheon
NAPO’s annual Lobby Day and Legislative Recognition Luncheon on
May 12 was a success as members from across the country lobbied their
respective Senators and Representatives on top legislative priorities.
NAPO members focused their lobbying on four major issues: Public
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Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program reform, protecting public safety officers’ social security benefits, the
Thin Blue Line Act and state and local law enforcement
access to surplus military equipment.
At the luncheon, NAPO honored six members of
Congress and staff for their tireless work on behalf of
the law enforcement community. NAPO is proud to
have recognized two representatives from New Jersey, Congressman
Frank LoBiondo (R) and Dylan Sodaro who works for Representative
Bill Pascrell (D).
LoBiondo’s leadership in the House was key to the Bulletproof Vest
Partnership Grant Program Reauthorization Act bein