[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 40 (Thursday, April 14, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 14, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         LAW ENFORCEMENT CAUCUS

  (Mr. STUPAK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, yesterday 18 Members of the House joined 
with me to announce the formation of the Law Enforcement Caucus. The 
gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Lightfoot] and I will cochair the caucus.
  As we begin the debate on the crime bill, I believe much of the 
debate could have been avoided if we only had input from law 
enforcement officers. During the upcoming debate we will hear about 
victims' rights. We will hear about defendants' rights. But what about 
the men and women who are going to be asked to carry out these new 
policies. Where was their input before we got to the House floor?
  We need to open dialog with law enforcement officers throughout the 
whole Nation. That will be the purpose of the Law Enforcement Caucus. 
From the county sheriff in northern Michigan to the beat cop in New 
York City, we urge you to have input into the Law Enforcement Caucus. 
We urge you to utilize the Law Enforcement Caucus.
  To all of our Members, both Democrats and Republicans, we urge you to 
join the Law Enforcement Caucus.
  I rise today to announce the formation of the Congressional Law 
Enforcement Caucus, a bipartisan organization of House membership who, 
in many cases, have a background in law enforcement and in all cases, 
have a keen interest in issues that affect the law enforcement 
community. Congressman Lightfoot and myself will be serving as cochairs 
of the caucus.
  The main reason for the formation of this caucus is to provide the 
law enforcement community with an avenue to participate in the 
political and legislative process. Upon arriving in Congress I was 
struck by the fact that seemingly every group, from the firefighters to 
the soybean growers, were well represented in Congress. But 
conspicuously absent was the law enforcement community.
  Why? When during almost every session of Congress, the lives and jobs 
of Americans involved in law enforcement change as Congress legislates.
  We believe it will be a benefit to Congress now and in the future to 
have a better dialog with the people that keep America's streets safe. 
This caucus will provide members of the House and the law enforcement 
community with just this opportunity.

  We will serve as a clearinghouse for information and grants, a means 
for holding hearings, and a sounding board for ideas brought forth by 
the law enforcement community. We will seek to build consensus where 
possible understanding that views on issues affecting the community are 
many and varied. Most importantly, the caucus will act as a single 
point of contact for the law enforcement community when they have 
questions about things that take place in Congress.
  My background in law enforcement goes back to the early 1970's. I was 
a State trooper in Michigan from 1973 until 1984. After retiring from 
the force, I became a trial attorney back in my home of Menominee, MI.
  I look forward to working with my House colleagues as well as the law 
enforcement community. I am sure this will be a productive 
relationship.
  Any Members wishing to join the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus 
should not hesitate to contact my office.

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