Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have introduced the National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act. The bipartisan bill aims to create a formal program within the U.S. Department of the Interior to provide grants for community outreach, public education, and officer safety and wellness initiatives at the National Law Enforcement Museum. These grants would be administered through the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
Senator Tillis stated, “Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe, and they deserve our full support. This bipartisan legislation honors the sacrifice of fallen officers while strengthening officer safety, wellness, and public education through the National Law Enforcement Museum and Memorial. I’m proud to stand with our law enforcement officers to ensure these vital programs continue and grow.”
Senator Blumenthal said, “Our bipartisan measure brings law enforcement closer to the communities they serve. By investing in programs that support community outreach and honoring the service of fallen officers, our legislation fosters stronger bonds between law enforcement and the public.”
Lori Sharpe Day, Chair of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), expressed gratitude for the bill’s introduction: “On behalf of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), I want to express our sincere thanks to Senators Tillis and Blumenthal for taking the lead in authoring the National Law Enforcement Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act. The fact that Congress saw fit to create the National Law Enforcement Memorial and the National Law Enforcement Museum set a powerful precedent for Congress recognizing the vital importance of our mission. This legislation is a logical next step for Congress to take to ensure that the vital mission of NLEOMF continues and, in these challenging times for law enforcement, that the important educational and outreach programs run by NLEOMF and the National Law Enforcement Museum are expanded and enhanced. This bill will save police lives and help forge a closer relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve. It’s an important pro-law enforcement bill – one that we strongly endorse and support.”
The proposed legislation would allocate $6 million annually over seven years to fund efforts such as memorializing fallen officers, collecting data on law enforcement fatalities and injuries, promoting public understanding of law enforcement roles, supporting officer safety programs, and enhancing relationships between police agencies and their communities.
The bill has received backing from several organizations including Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Fraternal Order of Police, International Brotherhood of Police Officers, International Union of Police Associations/AFL-CIO, Motorola Solutions, Verizon, National Association of Police Organizations, National Sheriffs’ Associations, COPS, DuPont, National Black Police Association, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Policing Institute, National Troopers Coalition, Police Executive Research Forum, Police Unity Tour, United Federation of Police Officers as well as board member organizations affiliated with NLEOMF.
Thom Tillis has previously won two U.S. Senate elections: In 2020 he defeated Cal Cunningham with 48.7% of votes compared to Cunningham’s 46.9%, while in 2014 he won against Kay Hagan with 48.8% over Hagan’s 47.3%.
The full text of the bill is available HERE.
