H.R. 218 (S.2480) Passes Senate Judiciary Committee
November 14, 2002

The Senate Judiciary Committee today voted to unanimously pass S. 2480, the Senate version of H.R. 218. From here the bill goes to the full Senate floor, however it is unclear if the bill will be voted upon before the close of the 107th Congress just a few days away.

The Senate first introduced the bill in May, When Judiciary Committee Chairman Leahy and ranking Member Hatch jointly backed the Senate version.

In July, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the bill, with LEAA Member and Deputy chief of Police David Johnson testifying to the Committee along with representatives from the Fraternal Order of Police and Federal Law Enforcement Officers' Association.

Several mark-up hearings were held on the bill and it appeared dead after opponents derided the bill for outrageous claims, including when Senator Kennedy suggested that passage would lead to police officers carrying concealed hand grenades.

The bill was finally voted upon at a meeting of the Committee Thursday morning, November 14th, 2002. With only a few short days remaining in the session, it will be difficult for the bill to be passed by the full Senate and in the House, H.R. 218, number 1 legislative priority of America's rank and file police officers continues to be held hostage by Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI).

Despite the overwhelming bi-partisan majority of 272 cosponsors, the House version has been bottled up in Committee, refused even a simple hearing.

The House has yet to take action in support of America's men and women in law enforcement, as H. R 218, supported by over 100 local, state and national police organizations and with 270 House cosponsors, sits idle in the House Judiciary Committee.

Supporters are urged to send a letter via fax to House Speaker Dennis Hastert and urge him to take immediate action, stand up for America's men and women in law enforcement and get H.R. 218 rolling.

You can fax the Speaker at: (202) 226-1996 or (202) 225-0697

You can also contact your Senators and urge their support for S. 2480