Majority

April 9, 2003

MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE NOW SUPPORTS H.R. 218
F.O.P. Credits Strong Grassroots Effort

Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, welcomed the latest news on H.R. 218, the "Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act," which now boasts two hundred and eighteen (218) cosponsors--a majority of the House of Representatives.

"There's no question that this is an incredible milestone for us," said Canterbury. "At the close of the last Congress, we had more than two hundred and seventy (270) cosponsors; to approach that total and secure a House majority this early in the first session is a real accomplishment."

Canterbury credits this achievement to the F.O.P.'s growing strength at the grassroots level. The F.O.P. asked its members to contact by phone, e-mail and fax, a target list of more than seventy (70) Representatives who had previously cosponsored the legislation. More than thirty (30) from that target list are now cosponsors of the bill, with more expected to be added before the House goes into a two week recess on 11 April.

"We're very pleased to be where we are with this legislation in both the House and the Senate," Canterbury said. "In addition to having a majority of the House, we also have a majority of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the bill--Representative Howard Coble (R-NC), its Chairman, is an original cosponsor. We are also very close to a majority on the full Committee as well."

The Senate companion bill, S. 253, has forty-five (45) cosponsors and was approved on 6 March by the Judiciary Committee on an 18-1 vote.

"The sponsor of H.R. 218, Representative Randy 'Duke' Cunningham, has been tireless in his efforts to push this legislation," Canterbury said. "He and his staff are working hard every day to help the rank-and-file officers get this bill to the President's desk. The F.O.P. is fortunate to have such a friend on Capitol Hill."

The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement labor organization in the United States, with more than 305,000 members.

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For more information or elaboration, please do not hesitate to contact the National F.O.P. Legislative Office at 202.547.8189 or via e-mail.