PAX Centurion - Winter 2016 - 2017

Page 46 • PAX CENTURION • Winter 2016-2017 617-989-BPPA (2772) The Washington Report NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POLICE OFFICERS • DECEMBER 5, 2016 NAPO Participates in Trump DOJ Presidential Transition Team Meeting O n December 1, 2016, NAPO Executive Director Bill Johnson and Governmental Affairs Director Andy Edmiston participated in a meeting with President-elect Trump’s transition team for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to discuss law enforcement’s top priorities for the newAdministration. The meeting was run by former Attorney General and TOP COPAwards Selection Committee member Ed Meese and was attended by several staff for the Trump transition team and staff of the next Attorney General, Senator Jeff Sessions. In the meeting, representatives of the major national law enforcement organizations laid out their top priorities for the Trump administration and there was unprecedented unity in the issues every organization wanted to see tackled by the President-elect and the newAttorney General. The issues of consensus ranged from repeal of President Obama’s executive order curtailing state and local law enforcement’s access to surplus military equipment to ending sanctuary cities to federal support for law enforcement through funding, resources and general support for the officers on the street. While all of the organizations present agreed that there must be increased penalties for those who harm or target for harm law enforcement officers, NAPO was alone in our suggestions regarding what the DOJ can do about it. While we all support the Thin Blue LineAct, the Back the BlueAct and the Blue Lives Matter Act, NAPO believes theAttorney General has the power to extend protections to state and local law enforcement without the passage of legislation. NAPO strongly urged the transition team to enact new federal criminal provisions to address (1) the assault and murder of and federally-funded local law enforcement officers, such as those officers whose agencies receive aid from the Departments of Justice or Homeland Security; and (2) the assault and murder of state and local officers engaged in the protection of federally recognized civil rights, such as those officers attacked while safeguarding protests. We also advocated for the appointment of anAssistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division who will work collaboratively with law enforcement and ensure federal prosecution, where applicable, of those who commit crimes against officers. Appointments such as these will make the difference in framing the relationship between the DOJ and state and local law enforcement. NAPO also asked the transition team to consider who the President- elect nominates to the Supreme Court, as the new justice will have a significant impact on many issues faced by law enforcement officers today. After this meeting, NAPO is confident that President-elect Trump has law enforcement’s back and that we will see many changes within the DOJ that will better support the officers on the street. We look forward to continue working with the transition team as they set up the next Administration. If you have any questions about the meeting, please contact Bill Johnson at bjohnson@napo.org. NAPO Victory! Senate Passes PSOB Improvement Act I n a victory for NAPO, the Senate passed the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Improvement Act of 2016 (S. 2944) by unanimous consent on November 30th. The bill, introduced by Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), would tackle the issues of transparency and the timeliness of case determinations within the PSOB program, and protect the ability of survivors, disabled officers and their families to get the benefits they so rightly deserve. Importantly, this bill would return the PSOB Program to a presumptive benefit and restore the “substantial weight” standard that requires PSOB to give substantial weight to the findings of federal, state, and local agencies as to the cause of the public safety officer’s death or disability. It would ensure that children of fallen or disabled public safety officers would still be eligible for education benefits if an adjudication delay causes them to age out of benefit eligibility before their claim is approved. It would increase transparency through weekly and biannual public reports on the status of claims. It is a priority for NAPO that we ensure the PSOB Program is processing and deciding claims in a timely manner and that the process is transparent and straightforward for those who have lost their loved ones or have become seriously disabled in the line of duty. NAPO thanks Senators Grassley, Gillibrand, Leahy and Cornyn for their leadership on this important issue. We are now working diligently with House and Judiciary Committee leadership to get the PSOB Improvement Act out of Committee and on the House floor for a vote before the end of session, which is expected to be December 9th. In addition to the changes this important legislation will bring, the DOJ is working to ensure that the two PSOB proposed rules will go into effect before the end of the ObamaAdministration. The changes these two rules make compliment the PSOB Improvement Act and will significantly improve the PSOB Program, particularly if the PSOB Office takes into account NAPO’s comments in the final rules. The final rules are said to be released sometime before the end of the year. We will keep our members up to date on the status of the legislation and the final PSOB regulations. If you have any questions about the PSOB Program or the PSOB Improvement Act please contact Andy Edmiston at aedmiston@napo.org . NAPO Victory! House Passes NAPO Endorsed Criminal Justice and Mental Health Reforms O n November 30th, the House passed the 21st Century Cures Act, a sweeping medical innovation package that includes new research funding, mental health and criminal justice reforms, and grants to fight opioid abuse. The package also includes language to improve the nation’s mental health system and $1 billion over two years to help fight against opioid abuse, including ensuring law enforcement has access to anti-overdose drugs such as naloxone. The 21st Century Cures Act includes two important mental health and criminal justice measures that NAPO endorsed: (1) the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act which strengthens federal programs related to mental health in the criminal justice system by