Cornyn will highlight POLICE Act other legislation to support law enforcement in Congress
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) will speak to the Texas Fraternal Order of Police State Conference in Austin tomorrow to address efforts in Congress to support and protect law enforcement in Texas and across the country.
Among the bills Sen. Cornyn will highlight is the
POLICE Act legislation he introduced with
U.S. Rep. John Carter (R-TX) that was signed into law last month and enables local law enforcement and first responders to use federal grant funding for active shooter response training. He will also discuss the
Back the Blue Act a bill he introduced which would increase penalties against violent criminals who intentionally target law enforcement officers provide new tools to help law enforcement protect themselves and open up grant funding to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and their communities. Background on both bills is below.
Following his remarks Sen. Cornyn will be available for media interviews.
WHO:
- U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
- Dennis Koch President Texas Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge
WHEN:
- Friday August 12 2016
- 10:55am President Dennis Koch introduces Sen. Cornyn
- 11:00am Sen. Cornyn speaks
- 11:15am Audience Q&A
- 11:20am Media availability
WHERE:
- DoubleTree by Hilton Austin Northwest Nelson Room
- 8901 Business Park Dr.
- Austin TX 78759
Background on the POLICE Act:
The Protecting Our Lives through Initiating COPS Expansion (POLICE) Act allows local law enforcement and other first responders to use Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) federal grants to train and better prepare for active shooter situations encouraging participation in programs like ALERRT. Specifically it promotes new integrated response training for local law enforcement fire and EMS departments. The bill was signed into law by the President on July 22 2016 and
is supported by the Texas Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge and many other law enforcement groups.
Background on the Back the Blue Act:
Creates New Criminal Provisions to Protect Law Enforcement Officers
- Creates a new federal crime for killing attempting to kill or conspiring to kill a federal judge federal law enforcement officer or federally-funded public safety officer. The offender would be subject to the death penalty and a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years for murder and a minimum sentence of 10 years for attempted murder.
- Creates a new federal crime for assaulting a federally-funded law enforcement officer with escalating penalties including mandatory minimums based on the extent of any injury and the use of a dangerous weapon.
- Creates a new federal crime for interstate flight to avoid prosecution for killing attempting to kill or conspiring to kill a federal judge federal law enforcement officer or federally-funded public safety officer. The offender would be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.
Creates a Specific Aggravating Factor for Federal Death Penalty Prosecutions
- Clarifies that the murder or attempted murder of a law enforcement officer or first responder is a statutory aggravating factor for purposes of the federal death penalty.
Opens Up Grant Funding to Help Strengthen Relationships Between Law Enforcement and Their Communities
- Expands opportunities to use grant funding to promote trust and improve relations between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Expands Self-Defense and Second Amendment Rights for Law Enforcement Officers
- Allows law enforcement officers subject to limited regulation to carry firearms into federal facilities and other jurisdictions where such possession is otherwise prohibited.
Limits Federal Habeas Relief for Murders of Law Enforcement Officers
- Imposes time and substantive limits on federal courts review of challenges to state-court convictions for crimes involving the murder of a public safety officer when the officer was performing official duties. These changes are consistent with the fast-track procedures created in 1996 which are applied to federal death penalty cases.
Limits Recovery of Certain Civil Damages and Fees for Individuals Engaged in Felonies
- Limits the type of civil damages and attorneys fees recoverable by a criminal as a result of purported injuries incurred during the commission of a felony or crime of violence.
