Help is on the Way!
New Congressional bills that offer a glimmer of hope
It’s easy to get swept up by the drama dominating our political landscape, the mind-numbing stupidity prevalent on social media, and the bias of mainstream media. I’m not saying this to trivialize our current situation. We’re indeed a nation in deep distress.
A steady diet of negativity and doom, however, can lead to feelings of hopelessness. We then start checking out, which is not only harmful to us as individuals, but to our nation’s health.
It’s why I’m inviting you to change the channel for a moment and look past the circus acts. You’ll find that some of our elected officials are doing the actual work of the people. Without fanfare or pageantry.
I’m betting you haven’t heard about the newly-introduced House bills I’ll be telling you about in a moment. That’s because these are solution-driven endeavors, and solutions, dear reader, are sadly not as profitable as division and chaos.
If you’re looking for a glimmer of hope, you’ve landed in the right place.
New! Congressional Police & Public Safety Bills
Housing for Heroes Act of 2023 (H.R. 6863)
Introduced last month in the House, the Housing for Heroes Act of 2023 would make home ownership more affordable to a greater number of police officers.
Officers currently qualify to purchase a single-family property at 50% off the list price through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Good Neighbor Next Door program. One catch is that the officer must live in a Federal “revitalization area.” The Housing for Heroes Act would close this loophole by removing the residency requirement.
In some areas, officer salaries aren’t keeping pace, making home ownership out of reach. If we can’t pay our heroes properly, we can at least ensure that they can afford to buy a home.
You can read more about H.R. 6863 via my press release for National Police Association.
I’m in the process of gathering information and speaking to Congressional staffers about the following two bills. I’ll fill you in once I have more intel. : )
Safe and Open Streets Act of 2023 (H.R. 6926)
The Safe and Open Streets Act was introduced in the House in January and in the Senate last December. This bill makes it a Federal crime to intentionally obstruct roads or highways. Penalties consist of fines or sentences of up to five years in prison.
Given the rise in demonstrators employing these tactics, this bill is critical. These acts are not just a nuisance - they endanger lives and disrupt commerce. Peaceful assembly is protected by the U.S. Constitution. Disrupting other people’s lives and causing harm, isn’t. Enough already!
Holding Prosecutors Accountable Act (H.R. 6999)
Another welcome bill that’s long overdue is the Holding Prosecutors Accountable Act, introduced this past month on the House side. It would make district attorneys’ offices that fail to prosecute at least 67% of arrests for violent crimes, ineligible for Byrne Grants. These grants, which are distributed by the Department of Justice, are a top source of Federal justice funding for state and local government units.
This bill needed to pass yesterday. There’s something wrong when prosecution rates for violent offenses are hovering in the 30% to 50% range. One of the primary -if not the primary- obligations of government is to protect the citizenry from harm. From where I sit, they’re failing at their job.
Protect & Serve Act (H.R. 743) Updates
The Protect & Serve Act gained two new sponsors since my last update: Reps Michael Lawler (NY), who also authored the Housing for Heroes Act and Harold Rogers (KY). The bill now has 94 House sponsors!
We still have an arduous road ahead, though. The bill is stalled in the Judiciary Committee and has yet to be introduced on the Senate side.
Here’s where you can help!
If you live in a district of one of these Committee members, please urge them to prioritize this bill. No more playing political games with officer lives.
If you’re new here (welcome!) or haven’t already, please urge your Congressperson to co-sponsor the Protect & Serve Act (H.R. 743). FOP has a convenient automated form. I’m also working with my women’s network to create our own petition.
Share Cops Under Fire, my new short video that outlines why we need H.R. 743 and contains a call to action.
I’m working on creating a “cheat sheet” to help make understanding this bill more digestible.
While there’s a good chance these bills may not pass this cycle, I’m still heartened. Their introduction signals to me that at least some of our elected officials understand the severity of our policing and public safety issues, and that the citizenry have reached their limits. These bills are a solid foundation from which we can build, and that is indeed something to be hopeful about.
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Best. : )
For the Blue is a solutions-based initiative. I’m just an American patriot asking questions. I don’t work with any political party and I answer to nobody. For me, the health of the nation, due process (including for police officers), the rule of law, and respect for individual liberties, will always transcend party affiliation. I welcome your thoughts, even if you disagree; though personal attacks will be ignored. You can reach me at fortheblue@substack.com.