The House will consider a continuing resolution to fund the federal government for the beginning of fiscal year 2012, until full FY12 appropriations can be completed. The House will also consider a series of non-controversial resolutions.

The Senate will consider a bill regarding trade preferences.

On September 15, Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced S. 1562 - the State and Local Law Enforcement Hatch Act Reform Act of 2011 in the U.S. Senate. S. 1562 is the companion legislation to Rep. Latta (R-OH) and Rep. Holden's (D-PA) bill in the House, H.R. 498.

As you are aware, S. 1562/H.R. 498:

1. allows state and local law enforcement officers to be a candidate for the Office of Sheriff-an elected Office-without being forced to quit their jobs;
2. clarifies current law to allow sheriffs to endorse political candidates without fear of potentially violating the Hatch Act; and
3. establishes a statute of limitations of 6 months to file a claim against a state or local law enforcement officer for alleged violation of the Act.

We continue to work with Rep. Latta's office and the Oversight and Government Reform Committee in the House; and work with Sens. Lugar and Collins offices' and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in the Senate to pass the two bills in the 112th Congress.

SHERIFFS: please continue to reach out to both your U.S. House of Representatives Members, and now U.S. Senators, and encourage them to cosponsor H.R. 498 & S. 1562.  

Fact sheet on the Hatch Act Reform bill 

Sample letter for H.R. 498 

Sample letter for S. 1562 

NSA applauds Reps. Latta and Holden and Sens. Lugar and Collins for their strong support for the nation's sheriffs!

The Senate waited until September to craft their FY12 CJS Appropriations bill. The Senate bill included significantly more funding for critical state and local law enforcement programs than the House. Current, Senate CJS funding levels are:

1. Byrne JAG - $395M
2. COPS - $232M (including $200M for COPS Hiring)
3. SCAAP - $273M
4. COPS Meth - $10M

The Senate CJS Appropriations bill was approved by both the Senate CJS Subcommittee and Full Appropriations Committee the week of September 12th. The Senate bill can now be brought to the Floor for a vote (by the full Senate) at any time.

Additionally, the Senate unveiled its FY12 Homeland Security bill during the week of Sept. 5th. While the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee has marked-up the legislation, the full Appropriations Committee has yet to take up the measure.

The HS Subcommittee recommends approximately:

1. SHSGP - $430M
2. USAI - $400M for UASI
3. Public Transportation Security Assistance - $200M
4. Bus Security, Port Security Grants - $200M
5. Interoperable Emergency Communications Grants - $15M
6. Operation Stonegarden - $50M
7. Secure Communities - $184M

NSA continues work with our law enforcement and state and local intergovernmental partners to advocate for the importance of these critical law enforcement programs within the CJS and HS Appropriations bills - particularly in the House.

On September 8th, President Obama - in a joint session of Congress - outlined the American Jobs Act, a series of initiatives aimed at creating and preserving jobs throughout the United States.

This proposal would provide $4B in funding for the COPS Hiring Program to enable the new hiring and rehiring of thousands of law enforcement officers across the nation, as well as the prevention of officer lay-offs.

Additionally, the American Jobs Act also includes funding for the D Block and the creation of a nationwide public safety interoperable mobile broadband network. The American Jobs Act proposes the sale of alternative spectrums to provide the $10B necessary for the public safety network.

SHERIFFS: The National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) has received a COPS grant regarding law enforcement contract services. In order to fulfill this grant, the NSA needs to collect data about the contracting of law enforcement services from your Office.

The NSA would very much appreciate your help in collecting data to support this grant. Would you please respond to these questions below regarding contracting services and consolidation.

1. Does your Office provide contract services to incorporated municipalities? If so, how many areas do you provide contract services?
2. If not, is your Office currently looking at providing contract services for incorporated municipalities?
3. Has your Office consolidated with any other law enforcement agency? If so, how many and which agencies?

We are looking to collect the data as quickly as possible, so your prompt response would be much appreciated! Please respond with the information to: intern@sheriffs.org.

Thank you again for your assistance and please do not hesitate to contact either Stephanie Garlock (703)-838-5316 or Fred Wilson (703) 838-5322 with NSA if you have any questions.

NSA's 2012 Winter Conference will be held from January 18-21, 2012 at the J.W. Marriott in Washington, D.C.

The conference is the perfect opportunity for the nation's sheriffs, deputies, and other law enforcement professionals to convene and discuss critical criminal justice and homeland security issues.

For more information regarding the conference (including a schedule of events and conference speakers), please visit http://www.sheriffs.org/content/conferences.

See you in January!