[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 24 (Thursday, February 14, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S782-S783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. Graham, Mr. Leahy, Ms. Klobuchar, 
        Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Heitkamp, and 
        Mr. Durbin):
  S. 357. A bill to encourage, enhance, and integrate Blue Alert plans 
throughout the United States in order to disseminate information when a 
law enforcement officer is seriously injured or killed in the line of 
duty; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the National 
Blue Alert Act of 2013.
  Every day, more than 900,000 Federal, State and local law enforcement 
officers put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe. 
Unfortunately these officers can become targets for criminals and those 
seeking to evade our justice system, and we must make sure our officers 
have all the tools they need to protect themselves and each other.
  Each year thousands of law enforcement officers are assaulted while 
performing their duties and dozens lose their lives. According to the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, 72 law enforcement officers were 
feloniously killed in the line of duty in 2011. This

[[Page S783]]

is an unacceptable level of violence against our law enforcement 
officers, and we must act now to better protect them.
  This is why I am introducing the National Blue Alert Act of 2013 
today, and thank Senators Graham, Leahy, Klobuchar, Boxer, Blumenthal, 
Whitehouse, Heitkamp, and Durbin for joining me as co-sponsors of this 
important legislation.
  The Blue Alert system provides for rapid dissemination of information 
about criminal suspects who have injured or killed law enforcement 
officers. The Blue Alert system would only be used in the case of the 
death or serious injury of a law enforcement officer, where the suspect 
has not been apprehended, and where there is sufficient descriptive 
information of the suspect and any vehicles involved. This information 
can be used by local law enforcement, the public and the media to help 
facilitate capture of such offenders and ultimately reduce the risk 
they pose to our communities and law enforcement officers.
  A National Blue Alert will encourage, enhance and integrate blue 
alert plans throughout the United States in order to effectively 
disseminate information notifying law enforcement, media and the public 
that a suspect is wanted in connection with an attack on a law 
enforcement officer.
  Currently there is no national alert system that provides immediate 
information to other law enforcement agencies, the media or the public 
at large. Many states have created a state blue alert system in an 
effort to better inform their local communities. The State of Maryland, 
under the leadership of Governor Martin O'Malley, created their Blue 
Alert system in 2008 after the murder of Maryland State Trooper Wesley 
Brown. Blue Alert programs have been created in 18 states so far 
including: Washington, California, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, 
Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South 
Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Montana, and Delaware.
  The National Blue Alert Act will provide police officers and other 
emergency units with the ability to react quickly to apprehend violent 
offenders and will complement the work being done by Attorney General 
Holder in his Law Enforcement Officer Safety Initiative.
  The purpose of our National Blue Alert legislation is to keep our law 
enforcement officers and our communities safe. And based on the success 
of the AMBER Alert and the SILVER Alert, I believe this BLUE Alert will 
be equally successful in helping to apprehend criminal suspects who 
have seriously injured or killed our law enforcement officers.
  I am also pleased to say this legislation has the endorsement of the 
Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police 
Organizations, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the 
Concerns of Police Survivors, and the Sergeants Benevolent Association 
of the New York City Police Department. Passing this legislation can 
help us live up to our commitment to help better protect those who 
serve us.
                                 ______