{"id":20052,"date":"2014-09-01T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-09-01T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/iacpmag.wp.matrixdev.net\/congress-returns-what-to-expect\/"},"modified":"2016-10-12T16:27:22","modified_gmt":"2016-10-12T20:27:22","slug":"congress-returns-what-to-expect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.policechiefmagazine.org\/congress-returns-what-to-expect\/","title":{"rendered":"Legislative Alert: Congress Returns: What to Expect"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

After spending the month of August on recess, the U.S. Congress will be returning this month for a short fall session in advance of the November 2014 midterm elections. Although little is expected in the way of congressional action before the election, a number of bills of interest to the law enforcement community were introduced prior to the recess and additional bills are anticipated to be introduced in September. Below is an overview of these bills and a roundup of the topics likely to be addressed over the coming months.<\/p>\n

Appropriations<\/b><\/big><\/p>\n

No Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 spending bills were sent to the U.S. president prior to the August recess. The U.S. Senate has yet to pass any FY 2015 spending bills; the U.S. House has approved seven. The House Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Bill passed in the House (H.R. 4660) and funds the U.S. Department of Justice at $27.8 billion, an increase of $383 million above the FY 2014 enacted level. The House bill would fund the Byrne Program at $376 million and the COPS hiring program at $180 million. The version approved by the Senate CJS Appropriations Committee (S. 2437) provides $28 billion to the U.S. Department of Justice, with Byrne funded at $376 million and COPS at $180 million.<\/p>\n

With the federal fiscal year ending on September 30, 2014, it is likely that the U.S. Congress will need to approve a short-term continuing resolution that would provide funding for U.S. federal agencies until Congress returns after the November midterm election. Once Congress returns, it will have the opportunity to complete work on the outstanding appropriations bills, or it may choose to pass another continuing resolution to be addressed by the 114th Congress when it assembles in January 2015.<\/p>\n

Military Surplus Program (1033 Program)<\/b><\/big><\/p>\n

There are significant discussions about reforming the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) 1033 program that permits the transfer of excess DOD supplies and equipment to state and local law enforcement agencies. In light of recent events, the program has received significant scrutiny from Congress, the White House, and the public.<\/p>\n

Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) has been working on the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act for the last several months and plans to introduce the bill in September 2014. In the Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Financial and Contracting Oversight Committee will hold hearings about the future of the 1033 program. The IACP and a broad coalition of law enforcement organizations have been actively discussing the value of the 1033 program with various members of the U.S. Congress. IACP welcomes the opportunity to showcase the value of the equipment provided to state and local law enforcement agencies through the 1033 program. Often this equipment is cost-prohibitive, but essential to providing services to our communities and to protecting law enforcement personnel. Purchasing this equipment outside the 1033 program would ultimately cost local taxpayers a significant amount. If your agency has benefited from the procurement of equipment from this program, please share this with your congressional delegation.<\/p>\n

Immigration<\/b><\/big><\/p>\n

Prior to the August recess, the U.S. House narrowly passed a $694 million emergency supplement to address border security and the influx of unaccompanied children trying to enter the United States illegally. With the U.S. Senate unable to pass similar legislation prior to the break, it is likely that Congress will not pass a supplemental funding bill and address this request for funds in the FY 2015 continuing resolution.<\/p>\n

Recently Introduced Legislation Prior to the August recess, several pieces of legislation were introduced in the U.S. House and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. The IACP is in the process of reviewing these bills.<\/p>\n