[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 28, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E161-E162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          LAW ENFORCEMENT STATUS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 28, 2009

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I recently re-introduced, along with my 
colleague John McHugh, The Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act (H.R. 
673). The purpose of this bill is simply to give law enforcement status 
to all federal law enforcement officers!
  Many federal officials--for example, the Border Patrol--are 
classified as ``law enforcement officers,'' for the purposes of 
determining salary and retirement benefits. But many other officers--
such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Inspectors, Veterans' 
Affairs Police Officers, U.S. Mint Police Officers, Internal Revenue 
Officers, Customs and Border Protection Seized Property Specialists, 
and police officers in about two dozen other agencies--do not have 
equal pay and benefits status.
  The tragic irony, Madam Speaker, is that the only time these officers 
are classified as law enforcement officers is when they are killed in 
the line of duty. Then their names are inscribed on the wall of the 
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial right here in Washington.
  Let me say that again. It is only when they are killed that they are 
called law enforcement officers, and that is a tragic irony.
  My district encompasses the entire California-Mexico border and is 
home to two of the busiest border crossings in the entire world, so I 
am very familiar with the work of our nation's border inspectors. They 
wear bulletproof vests, they carry firearms, and, unfortunately, have 
to use them. Most importantly, these inspectors are subject to the same 
risks as other officers with whom they serve side-by-side. However, 
they are not eligible for early retirement and other benefits, which 
are designed to maintain a young and vigorous law enforcement workforce 
that we need to combat those who pose life-threatening risks to our 
society.
  The Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act will provide well-deserved 
pay and retirement benefits to the officers protecting our borders, our 
ports of entry, our military and veterans' installations and other 
sensitive government buildings. The costs of these benefits would 
likely be off-set by savings in training costs and increased revenue 
collection. The bill will also reduce turnover, increase yield, 
decrease recruitment and development costs and enhance the retention of 
a well-trained and experienced workforce.
  Madam Speaker, the simple fact is that these officers have dangerous 
jobs and deserve to be recognized as law enforcement officers, just 
like others with whom they serve,

[[Page E162]]

side by side, and who share the same level of risk. I encourage my 
colleagues to join me and Mr. McHugh in co-sponsoring, the Law 
Enforcement Officers Equity Act. The valiant officers who protect us 
deserve no less.

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