Last week, we recognized National Police Week, an annual commemoration leading up to May 15th, which was coined Peace Officers Memorial Day in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy. We owe much gratitude to our law enforcement officers at the local, state, and federal levels, who put themselves in danger on a daily basis.
There are over 900,000 sworn law enforcement officers across our great nation who make tremendous sacrifices each day to selflessly protect us. While working in the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office in Pittsylvania County, I had the opportunity to work closely with a number of these brave men and women and saw firsthand their dedication to keeping our communities safe. Their heroic service to our local communities across Virginia’s Fifth District and this country is profoundly important, and we are forever grateful for their commitment to protect us each and every day.
Last week, the House of Representatives passed the National Blue Alert Act of 2015, which would require the Attorney General to establish a national Blue Alert communications network to disseminate information about suspects among law enforcement agencies when a law enforcement officer is seriously injured or in danger. Similar to Amber Alerts, these Blue Alerts will help distribute time-sensitive information to help quickly identify and apprehend violent criminals. This is a major step forward in expanding the alert system, and reaffirming our commitment to ensure the safety of those who risk their lives protecting us. It has already passed the Senate, and will now go to the President’s desk, where it is expected to be signed into law.
We also passed bills to ensure flags flown over the Capitol are sent to the immediate family of public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty and to amend the IRS code to exclude certain compensation received by public safety officers and their dependents from gross income. Each of these bipartisan pieces of legislation had my full support, and I was pleased to see them pass the House of Representatives. It is my hope that the Senate and the President join us in our support of this legislation. I remain committed to doing all we can to honor the men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving and protecting our communities.
We remain deeply indebted to our law enforcement officers for the protection they provide us. I hope you will join me in thanking them for their selfless service and remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
If you need any additional information or if we may be of assistance to you, please visit my website at hurt.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-4711, Charlottesville office: (434) 973-9631, Danville office: (434) 791-2596, or Farmville office: (434) 395-0120.
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