Congresswoman Tenney Releases Comprehensive Police Plan for National Police Week
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) recognized the heroic work of law enforcement officers across the nation in commemoration of National Police Week, which began on May 10. Tenney also unveiled her plan in Congress to support law enforcement through commonsense policies that keep illegal firearms off the street, boost community-based policing, and increase support of law enforcement officers.
"This is National Police Week: a time for us all to come together as a community to recognize the outstanding service and sacrifice of our nation’s law enforcement officers.
The rhetoric against police is making our communities less safe. Too many politicians here in Washington are pushing dangerous policies like eliminating qualified immunity and defunding the police, these reckless policies are putting our police officers at greater risk.
Law enforcement officers should be commended, not attacked and demonized. When most people run away from danger, they run toward it. They’ve sworn an oath to protect and serve our communities, and they do so knowing the risks they face. It is the very definition of bravery.
During National Police Week, it is important that we not only thank those who continue to serve, but also pause to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. In 2021 alone, 49 police officers were tragically killed in the line of duty, making it the deadliest year on record for police in decades. Our thoughts and prayers are with these officers and their families.
Today, I have released a plan to Back the Blue, which includes several important bills in Congress that I support to protect qualified immunity, to strengthen community policing programs, and increase penalties against those who target law enforcement officers. I hope you will take a look at this plan, which stands up to the radical left and protects our police officers.
Please join me again in honoring our men and women in Blue—for their dedication, their courage, and their sacrifice."
Tenney is honored to stand with the men and women in law enforcement and is prioritizing policies that support police and bring communities back together. Specifically, Tenney supports the following legislation in Congress:
Keeping Illegal Firearms off the Street
- H.R. 1518, 21st Century NICS Act: This legislation improves the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in order to search the National Data Exchange database when conducting criminal background checks. This bipartisan change will prevent criminals from buying guns even if they committed crimes in different jurisdictions, keeping our streets, communities, and police safer.
Boosting Community-Based Policing
- H.R. 677, JUSTICE Act: This commonsense legislation works to rebuild trust between police and their local communities through providing additional funds for body cameras and grants to police departments to implement community policing best practices. It also funds programs to encourage more individuals to serve their local communities as police officers.
Backing the Blue
- H.R. 288, Qualified Immunity Act of 2021: This legislation codifies the defense of qualified immunity for law enforcement officers in federal law, giving them explicit protections in federal court. Eliminating qualified immunity throws fairness out the door and would remove good-faith legal protections for police officers.
- H.Res. 283, Establishing a Law Enforcement Bill of Rights: This resolution states that all police officers have the right to defend themselves, to not suffer from verbal use, to due process, and to protections under the Fifth Amendment, among other things. It also reiterates how important policing is to our communities and condemns any calls to disband or abolish the police.
- H.R. 377, the Patrick Underwood Federal Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2021: This legislation supports our police officers by increasing penalties for assault on a federal officer, heightening fines and establishing a mandatory imprisonment for assault with a deadly weapon.
- H.R. 1210, the LEOSA Reform Act: This legislation, widely endorsed by police organizations nationally, amends the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) to allow well-qualified off-duty and retired officers to carry their firearms for the protection of themselves, their families, and our communities.
- H.R. 1690, the Defending our Defenders Act: This legislation makes the murder of a state or federal law enforcement officer a federal crime that would be punishable either by life imprisonment or the death penalty.