Dear Senator Casey,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for S. 1157, the “Tax Fairness for Workers Act.”
This legislation would establish an “above-the-line” deduction for law enforcement and other public safety officers for certain employee-related expenses, including union dues. There are still some jurisdictions in which officers must purchase and maintain their own uniforms. In many jurisdictions, professional development training or classes, like learning a second language or advanced criminology courses, are also out-of-pocket expenses that many of our officers incur. This legislation will enable, or perhaps encourage, officers to not only join or maintain their union membership, but to also invest in themselves, thereby making them more valuable to their agency and, ultimately, better officers for their community.
On behalf of the more than 364,000 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.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President