HR 218 COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT:
NEW CONGRESS, MORE SPONSORS, FRESH CHALLENGES
Shield, Summer/Fall 2001

The Community Protection Act (H.R. 218)—the centerpiece of LEAA’s legislative efforts—was introduced to the legislative docket of the 107th Congress early this year and received a head start on building co-sponsorshipÉand it’s working. Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA) introduced the pro-law enforcement bill weeks before the new president was inaugurated and, working closely with him, we have so far managed to garner an all-time high of 185 co-sponsors (at the time of publication, the total includes sponsor Rep. Cunningham).

Amassing the most-ever co-sponsors at such an early stage in the process is a good omen considering the contentious aftermath of the presidential election and the unsurprising partisan friction that flourished in the sharply, yet near-evenly, divided House. Whether the early record-breaking support is directly linked to the new President, the persuasive ability of long-time lead sponsor Rep. Cunningham, the overwhelming support from law enforcement professionals, or a combination of all of these things it is nevertheless very good news for cops across the country.

Support for H.R. 218 is coming from many familiar offices and from many new—sometimes unexpected—offices as well. Of the 185 co-sponsors nearly 30 percent are Democrats, including House Judiciary Committee Member Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY). Unlike last year, the bill now has co-sponsors in Hawaii, Iowa, Massachusetts, and Utah. A full 25 percent of the current co-sponsors are new, including freshmen Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and James Langevin (D-RI). House leaders are also supporting H.R. 218, including, Republican Policy Chairman Rep. Christopher Cox (R-CA), Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Martin Frost (D-TX), and Majority Whip Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX).

But as good as the news is we cannot look past the fresh challenges ahead. There are many former supporters, like Reps. Kay Granger (R-TX), and Rob Portman (R-OH), who have yet to sign-on as a co-sponsor and need to receive encouraging contacts from you to nudge them to take active support. There are freshman representatives, like Reps. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Michael Rogers (R-MI), who require educational letters and testimonials to help them make the right decision and join the growing list of co-sponsors.

There is a new chairman of the Crime Subcommittee, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), who has always been in full support of H.R. 218 and will need letters, calls, visits and faxes to demonstrate to him the widespread support and need for this legislation. We have to help educate the new Judiciary Committee Chairman, Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), to strongly support this bill, schedule a hearing, and take committee action. LEAA is asking Wisconsin officers and their families to courteously write, email, fax, and call Chairman Sensenbrenner to let him know the facts about the bill and how urgently it is needed.

H.R. 218 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Crime where it awaits a hearing, mark-up, and vote before it is sent to the full committee and then on to the House floor. It will take at least the three steps mentioned above and then Senate approval to get the measure passed and then put before President Bush for his signature into law.

The 185 congressmen and women who have registered their support for the Community Protection Act so far in the 107th Congress are listed below by state. If your U.S. Representative is not on this list then you need to begin regular contact urging them to support the measure. Contact LEAA’s Federal Legislative Division to get more information on how interested associations can help make a difference.

Alabama

5th District — Robert E. (Bud) Cramer, Jr. (D)

6th District — Spencer Bachus (R)

Alaska

At Large District — Don Young (R)

Arizona

3rd District — Bob Stump (R)

4th District — John B. Shadegg (R)

6th District — J. D. Hayworth (R)

Arkansas

3rd District — Asa Hutchinson (R)

California

2nd District — Wally Herger (R)

3rd District — Doug Ose (R)

4th District — John T. Doolittle (R)

11th District — Richard W. Pombo (R)

19th District — George Radanovich (R)

21st District — William M. Thomas (R)

22nd District — Lois Capps (D)

23rd District — Elton Gallegly (R)

24th District — Brad Sherman (D)

26th District — Howard L. Berman (D)

27th District — Adam B. Schiff (D)

39th District — Edward R. Royce (R)

41st District — Gary G. Miller (R)

43rd District — Ken Calvert (R)

44th District — Mary Bono (R)

47th District — Christopher Cox (R)

48th District — Darrell E. Issa (R)

50th District æ Bop Filner (D)

51st District — Randy "Duke", Cunningham (R)

52nd District — Duncan Hunter (R)

Colorado

5th District — Joel Hefley (R)

6th District — Thomas G. Tancredo (R)

Connecticut

2nd District — Rob Simmons (R)

4th District — Christopher Shays (R)

5th District — James H. Maloney (D)

Florida

1st District — Joe Scarborough (R)

5th District — Karen L. Thurman (D)

6th District — Cliff Stearns (R)

8th District — Ric Keller (R)

9th District — Michael Bilirakis (R)

14th District—Porter Goss (R)

15th District — Dave Weldon (R)

16th District — Mark Foley (R)

21st District — Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R)

Georgia

1st District — Jack Kingston (R)

3rd District — Mac Collins (R)

7th District — Bob Barr (R)

8th District — Saxby Chambliss (R)

9th District — Nathan Deal (R)

10th District — Charlie Norwood (R)

11th District — John Linder (R)

Hawaii

1st District — Neil Abercrombie (D)

Idaho

2nd District — Michael K. Simpson (R)

Illinois

3rd District — William O. Lipinski (D)

5th District — Rod R. Blagojevich (D)

7th District — Danny K. Davis (D)

11th District — Jerry Weller (R)

12th District — Jerry F. Costello (D)

13th District — Judy Biggert (R)

16th District — Donald A. Manzullo (R)

18th District — Ray LaHood (R)

20th District — John Shimkus (R)

Indiana

2nd District — Mike Pence (R)

5th District — Steve Buyer (R)

6th District — Dan Burton (R)

8th District — John N. Hostettler (R)

Iowa

1st District — James A. Leach (R)

Kansas

4th District — Todd Tiahrt (R)

Kentucky

1st District — Ed Whitfield (R)

2nd District — Ron Lewis (R)

3rd District — Anne M. Northup (R)

4th District — Ken Lucas (D)

6th District — Ernie Fletcher (R)

Louisiana

1st District — David Vitter (R)

6th District — Richard H. Baker (R)

7th District — Christopher John (D)

Maryland

2nd District — Robert L., Ehrlich, Jr. (R)

6th District — Roscoe G. Bartlett (R)

Massachusetts

3rd District — James P. McGovern (D)

4th District — Barney Frank (D)

Michigan

1st District — Bart Stupak (D)

5th District — James A. Barcia (D)

6th District — Fred Upton (R)

7th District — Nick Smith (R)

11th District — Joe Knollenberg (R)

Minnesota

3rd District — Jim Ramstad (R)

Mississippi

1st District—Roger Wicker (R)

2nd District — Bennie G. Thompson (D)

3rd District — Charles W. "Chip", Pickering (R)

4th District—Ronnie Shows (D)

Missouri

4th District — Ike Skelton (D)

5th District — Karen McCarthy (D)

7th District — Roy Blunt (R)

9th District — Kenny C. Hulshof (R)

Nevada

1st District — Shelley Berkley (D)

2nd District — Jim Gibbons (R)

New Hampshire

1st District — John E. Sununu (R)

New Jersey

1st District — Robert E. Andrews (D)

2nd District — Frank A. LoBiondo (R)

3rd District — Jim Saxton (R)

4th District — Christopher H. Smith (R)

5th District — Marge Roukema (R)

6th District — Frank, Pallone, Jr. (D)

8th District — Bill, Pascrell, Jr. (D)

12th District — Rush D. Holt (D)

New Mexico

1st District — Heather Wilson (R)

2nd District — Joe Skeen (R)

3rd District — Tom Udall (D)

New York

1st District — Felix J., Grucci, Jr. (R)

3rd District — Peter T. King (R)

4th District — Carolyn McCarthy (D)

7th District — Joseph Crowley (D)

14th District — Carolyn Maloney (D- NY)

19th District — Sue W. Kelly (R)

20th District — Benjamin A. Gilman (R)

24th District — John M. McHugh (R)

25th District — James T. Walsh (R)

26th District — Maurice D. Hinchey (D)

North Carolina

3rd District — Walter B. Jones (R)

5th District — Richard Burr (R)

6th District — Howard Coble (R)

8th District — Robin Hayes (R)

9th District — Sue Myrick (R)

11th District — Charles H. Taylor (R)

Ohio

1st District — Steve Chabot (R)

3rd District — Tony P. Hall (D)

4th District — Michael G. Oxley (R)

5th District — Paul E. Gillmor (R)

6th District — Ted Strickland (D)

8th District — John A. Boehner (R)

12th District — Patrick J. Tiberi (R)

15th District — Deborah Pryce (R)

16th District — Ralph Regula (R)

18th District — Robert W. Ney (R)

19th District — Steven C. LaTourette (R)

Oklahoma

1st District — Steve Largent (R)

5th District — Ernest J., Istook, Jr. (R)

6th District — Frank Lucas (R)

Pennsylvania

4th District — Melissa A. Hart (R)

5th District — John E. Peterson (R)

6th District — Tim Holden (D)

7th District — Curt Weldon (R)

8th District — Jim Greenwood (R)

15th District — Patrick J. Toomey (R)

17th District — George W. Gekas (R)

18th District — Michael F. Doyle (D)

20th District—Frank Mascara (D)

21st District — Phil English (R)

Rhode Island

2nd District — James R. Langevin (D)

South Carolina

1st District — Henry E., Brown, Jr. (R)

2nd District — Floyd Spence (R)

3rd District — Lindsey O. Graham (R)

Tennessee

1st District — William L. Jenkins (R)

2nd District — John J. Duncan, Jr. (R)

3rd District — Zach Wamp (R)

4th District — Van Hilleary (R)

5th District — Bob Clement (D)

6th District — Bart Gordon (D)

7th District — Ed Bryant (R)

Texas

4th District — Ralph M. Hall (D)

5th District — Pete Sessions (R)

8th District — Kevin Brady (R)

16th District — Silvestre Reyes (D)

17th District — Charles W. Stenholm (D)

22nd District — Tom DeLay (R)

23rd District — Henry Bonilla (R)

24th District — Martin Frost (D)

29th District — Gene Green (D)

Utah

1st District — James V. Hansen (R)

3rd District — Chris Cannon (R)

Virginia

1st District — Jo Ann Davis (D)

2nd District — Edward L. Schrock (R)

4th District — J. Randy Forbes (R)

5th District — Virgil H. Goode, Jr. (I)

6th District — Bob Goodlatte (R)

7th District — Eric Cantor (R)

9th District — Rick Boucher (D)

Washington

2nd District — Rick Larsen (D)

3rd District — Brian Baird (D)

4th District — Doc Hastings (R)

5th District — George R. Nethercutt, Jr. (R)

9th District — Adam Smith (D)

West Virginia

2nd District — Shelley Moore Capito (R)

3rd District — Nick J. Rahall, II (D)

Wisconsin

1st District — Paul Ryan (D)

4th District — Gerald D. Kleczka (D)

6th District — Thomas E. Petri (R)

8th District — Mark Green (R)

Wyoming

At Large District — Barbara Cubin (R)