Dear Representatives Stauber and Bacon,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for H.R. 2654, the “Lifesaving Gear for Police Act.” The FOP has long supported programs like the 1033 program, which is a surplus equipment program administered by the Defense Logistics Agencies (DLA) and the Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Previous Administrations placed restrictions on programs like these, which are used to assist State and local law enforcement agencies in acquiring lifesaving equipment. This lack of access to equipment hindered law enforcement’s ability to protect and serve its communities safely and appropriately, straining local budgets. Fortunately, the previous Executive Order was repealed by the current Administration.
The FOP does not, however, want programs like 1033 to become a “political football” which changes based on the party that controls the White House. Law enforcement is inherently a nonpartisan activity, and the equipment needed to protect our officers and the communities they serve does not change from Administration to Administration.
Your bill will protect the important surplus equipment programs for State and local law enforcement, like the 1033 program, from politically-driven interference and competing Executive Orders, allowing our law enforcement officers to get back to work—with the equipment they need to save lives.
On behalf of the more than 377,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I am proud to offer our support for this legislation. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.