[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 14, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H2579-H2582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL BLUE ALERT ACT OF 2013

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 180) 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, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 180

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Blue Alert Act of 
     2013''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Coordinator.--The term ``Coordinator'' means the Blue 
     Alert Coordinator of the Department of Justice designated 
     under section 4(a).
       (2) Blue alert.--The term ``Blue Alert'' means information 
     relating to the serious injury or death of a law enforcement 
     officer in the line of duty sent through the network.
       (3) Blue alert plan.--The term ``Blue Alert plan'' means 
     the plan of a State, unit of local government, or Federal 
     agency participating in the network for the dissemination of 
     information received as a Blue Alert.
       (4) Law enforcement officer.--The term ``law enforcement 
     officer'' shall have the same meaning as in section 1204 of 
     the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 
     U.S.C. 3796b).
       (5) Network.--The term ``network'' means the Blue Alert 
     communications network established by the Attorney General 
     under section 3.
       (6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States, 
     the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States 
     Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of 
     the Northern Mariana Islands.

     SEC. 3. BLUE ALERT COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK.

       The Attorney General shall establish a national Blue Alert 
     communications network within the Department of Justice to 
     issue Blue Alerts through the initiation, facilitation, and 
     promotion of Blue Alert plans, in coordination with States, 
     units of local government, law enforcement agencies, and 
     other appropriate entities.

     SEC. 4. BLUE ALERT COORDINATOR; GUIDELINES.

       (a) Coordination Within Department of Justice.--The 
     Attorney General shall assign an existing officer of the 
     Department of Justice to act as the national coordinator of 
     the Blue Alert communications network.
       (b) Duties of the Coordinator.--The Coordinator shall--
       (1) provide assistance to States and units of local 
     government that are using Blue Alert plans;
       (2) establish voluntary guidelines for States and units of 
     local government to use in developing Blue Alert plans that 
     will promote compatible and integrated Blue Alert plans 
     throughout the United States, including--
       (A) a list of the resources necessary to establish a Blue 
     Alert plan;
       (B) criteria for evaluating whether a situation warrants 
     issuing a Blue Alert;
       (C) guidelines to protect the privacy, dignity, 
     independence, and autonomy of any law enforcement officer who 
     may be the subject of a Blue Alert and the family of the law 
     enforcement officer;
       (D) guidelines that a Blue Alert should only be issued with 
     respect to a law enforcement officer if--
       (i) the law enforcement agency involved--

       (I) confirms--

       (aa) the death or serious injury of the law enforcement 
     officer; or
       (bb) the attack on the law enforcement officer and that 
     there is an indication of the death or serious injury of the 
     officer; or

       (II) concludes that the law enforcement officer is missing 
     in the line of duty;

       (ii) there is an indication of serious injury to or death 
     of the law enforcement officer;
       (iii) the suspect involved has not been apprehended; and
       (iv) there is sufficient descriptive information of the 
     suspect involved and any relevant vehicle and tag numbers;
       (E) guidelines--
       (i) that information relating to a law enforcement officer 
     who is seriously injured or killed in the line of duty should 
     be provided to the National Crime Information Center database 
     operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation under section 
     534 of title 28, United States Code, and any relevant crime 
     information repository of the State involved;

[[Page H2580]]

       (ii) that a Blue Alert should, to the maximum extent 
     practicable (as determined by the Coordinator in consultation 
     with law enforcement agencies of States and units of local 
     governments), be limited to the geographic areas most likely 
     to facilitate the apprehension of the suspect involved or 
     which the suspect could reasonably reach, which should not be 
     limited to State lines;
       (iii) for law enforcement agencies of States or units of 
     local government to develop plans to communicate information 
     to neighboring States to provide for seamless communication 
     of a Blue Alert; and
       (iv) providing that a Blue Alert should be suspended when 
     the suspect involved is apprehended or when the law 
     enforcement agency involved determines that the Blue Alert is 
     no longer effective; and
       (F) guidelines for--
       (i) the issuance of Blue Alerts through the network; and
       (ii) the extent of the dissemination of alerts issued 
     through the network;
       (3) develop protocols for efforts to apprehend suspects 
     that address activities during the period beginning at the 
     time of the initial notification of a law enforcement agency 
     that a suspect has not been apprehended and ending at the 
     time of apprehension of a suspect or when the law enforcement 
     agency involved determines that the Blue Alert is no longer 
     effective, including protocols regulating--
       (A) the use of public safety communications;
       (B) command center operations; and
       (C) incident review, evaluation, debriefing, and public 
     information procedures;
       (4) work with States to ensure appropriate regional 
     coordination of various elements of the network;
       (5) establish an advisory group to assist States, units of 
     local government, law enforcement agencies, and other 
     entities involved in the network with initiating, 
     facilitating, and promoting Blue Alert plans, which shall 
     include--
       (A) to the maximum extent practicable, representation from 
     the various geographic regions of the United States; and
       (B) members who are--
       (i) representatives of a law enforcement organization 
     representing rank-and-file officers;
       (ii) representatives of other law enforcement agencies and 
     public safety communications;
       (iii) broadcasters, first responders, dispatchers, and 
     radio station personnel; and
       (iv) representatives of any other individuals or 
     organizations that the Coordinator determines are necessary 
     to the success of the network;
       (6) act as the nationwide point of contact for--
       (A) the development of the network; and
       (B) regional coordination of Blue Alerts through the 
     network; and
       (7) determine--
       (A) what procedures and practices are in use for notifying 
     law enforcement and the public when a law enforcement officer 
     is killed or seriously injured in the line of duty; and
       (B) which of the procedures and practices are effective and 
     that do not require the expenditure of additional resources 
     to implement.
       (c) Limitations.--
       (1) Voluntary participation.--The guidelines established 
     under subsection (b)(2), protocols developed under subsection 
     (b)(3), and other programs established under subsection (b), 
     shall not be mandatory.
       (2) Dissemination of information.--The guidelines 
     established under subsection (b)(2) shall, to the maximum 
     extent practicable (as determined by the Coordinator in 
     consultation with law enforcement agencies of States and 
     units of local government), provide that appropriate 
     information relating to a Blue Alert is disseminated to the 
     appropriate officials of law enforcement agencies, public 
     health agencies, and other agencies.
       (3) Privacy and civil liberties protections.--The 
     guidelines established under subsection (b) shall--
       (A) provide mechanisms that ensure that Blue Alerts comply 
     with all applicable Federal, State, and local privacy laws 
     and regulations; and
       (B) include standards that specifically provide for the 
     protection of the civil liberties, including the privacy, of 
     law enforcement officers who are seriously injured or killed 
     in the line of duty and the families of the officers.
       (d) Cooperation With Other Agencies.--The Coordinator shall 
     cooperate with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the 
     Secretary of Transportation, the Chairman of the Federal 
     Communications Commission, and appropriate offices of the 
     Department of Justice in carrying out activities under this 
     Act.
       (e) Restrictions on Coordinator.--The Coordinator may not--
       (1) perform any official travel for the sole purpose of 
     carrying out the duties of the Coordinator;
       (2) lobby any officer of a State regarding the funding or 
     implementation of a Blue Alert plan; or
       (3) host a conference focused solely on the Blue Alert 
     program that requires the expenditure of Federal funds.
       (f) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
     Coordinator shall submit to Congress a report on the 
     activities of the Coordinator and the effectiveness and 
     status of the Blue Alert plans that are in effect or being 
     developed.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte).


                             General Leave

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 180, currently under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Tomorrow, on the west front of the Capitol, we will honor those law 
enforcement officers killed last year in the line of duty. In 2012, 127 
officers gave their lives while protecting America's public safety, 
including three officers in my home State of Virginia.
  Although officer fatalities nationwide decreased by 23 percent from 
the previous year, 66 of those officers were killed in violent or 
deliberate attacks. Ambush attacks on police officers were the leading 
cause in fatal shootings, followed by traffic stops or pursuits, drug-
related crimes, and robberies.
  H.R. 180, the National Blue Alert Act of 2013, encourages an enhanced 
nationwide system for distribution of time-sensitive information to 
help identify a violent suspect when a law enforcement officer is 
injured or killed in the line of duty.
  A Blue Alert broadcasts information and speeds apprehension. Blue 
Alerts use the same principle as Amber Alerts for missing children and 
Silver Alerts for missing seniors. The Blue Alert system is a 
cooperative effort among local, State, and Federal authorities, law 
enforcement agencies, and the general public.
  A Blue Alert provides a description of an offender who is still at 
large and may include a description of the offender's vehicle and 
license plate information. Like Amber Alerts, Blue Alerts will help 
hinder the offender's ability to escape and will facilitate their 
capture.
  This bill directs the Department of Justice to designate an existing 
officer as the Blue Alert national coordinator who will encourage those 
States that have not already done so to develop Blue Alert plans and 
establish voluntary guidelines. As of today, 18 States have Blue Alert 
networks in place. However, there are many examples where an 
integrated, nationwide Blue Alert system would save lives and help 
bring fugitive suspects to justice.
  Following the tragic Boston Marathon bombing last month, one of the 
suspects shot and killed Patrol Officer Sean Collier of the 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police Department. One of the 
subjects approached Officer Collier as he sat in his patrol car and 
opened fire on him without warning, striking him several times. The 
subjects then attempted to steal his service weapon but were thwarted 
by his secured holster.
  The suspects then carjacked a vehicle and led police on a pursuit 
while throwing explosive devices at pursuing units. The pursuit ended 
in Watertown, Massachusetts, where one suspect was killed and a 
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority police officer was shot and 
seriously wounded in a gun battle. The second suspect was captured in 
Watertown the following evening after another tense standoff.
  The immediate aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing demonstrates 
how criminals are becoming even more violent, and their contempt for 
law enforcement and the rule of law is more evident than ever. This 
year is already shaping up to be a devastating year for law enforcement 
fatalities. As compared with this time last year, line-of-duty deaths 
this year are up 21 percent. Law enforcement deaths by gunfire are up 7 
percent compared with May 2012.
  This bill encourages expansion of an integrated Blue Alert 
communications network throughout the United States, which would ensure 
that when tragedy strikes, the public is on notice and suspects can be 
more quickly apprehended and brought to justice. A nationwide

[[Page H2581]]

Blue Alert network will be particularly effective when a suspect flees 
across State lines.
  I thank Mr. Grimm of New York and Mr. Reichert of Washington for 
their work on this bipartisan, bicameral legislation. An identical 
Senate measure is pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
  Supporters of this legislation include the National Fraternal Order 
of Police, the National Sheriffs' Association, the Federal Law 
Enforcement Officers Association, the Sergeants Benevolent Association, 
and the National Association of Police Organizations.
  This bill reaffirms our commitment to ensure the safety of our law 
enforcement men and women and the communities they serve to protect 
every day.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 180, the National Blue Alert 
Act. H.R. 180 will establish a coordinator within the Department of 
Justice to facilitate the issuance of Blue Alerts to help apprehend 
individuals suspected of killing or seriously injuring police officers. 
I support the bill because it provides critical support for a system 
that protects police officers and the public.
  It's particularly timely that we consider this measure during 
National Police Week. National Police Week is a special occasion during 
which we recognize law enforcement officers and honor those who have 
lost their lives in the line of duty.
  Since the first known line-of-duty death in 1791, more than 1,900 
U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice. Today, 
there are more than 900,000 sworn law enforcement officers serving in 
the United States and, regrettably, on average one is killed in the 
line of duty every 57 hours.
  Currently, 15 States, including my home State of Virginia, have Blue 
Alert systems that use media broadcasts and roadside message signs to 
disseminate, within their respective borders, time-sensitive 
information about those suspected of killing or seriously injuring 
Federal, State, or local law enforcement officers. In addition to those 
States, two more States are establishing Blue Alert systems this year.
  The information disseminated by these systems--which can include 
descriptions of the suspect, the vehicle, and the license plate 
number--enables the public to assist the police in locating these 
perpetrators. H.R. 180 will enable more States to institute these 
valuable programs and require the Department of Justice to facilitate 
the dissemination of Blue Alerts across State lines and throughout 
specific geographic areas.

                              {time}  1710

  The Blue Alert program is similar to the Amber Alert program that 
helps us find missing children, and it makes sense that we would 
encourage similar expansion for the Blue Alert programs.
  Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to support this important public 
safety measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, at this time, it is my pleasure to yield 
5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Grimm) and thank him for 
his authorship and sponsorship of this legislation.
  Mr. GRIMM. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
  Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciate the opportunity to speak in 
support of my bill, H.R. 180, the National Blue Alert Act of 2013. As a 
former FBI special agent, it is a very unique honor for me to have the 
House consider this important legislation during National Police Week, 
where thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world 
converge on our Nation's Capitol to honor those that have paid the 
ultimate sacrifice to protect our citizens here at home.
  On a personal note, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to 
New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and to all the brave men and 
women of the NYPD for their service to our great city. I encourage all 
my colleagues to treat every week as if it were National Police Week.
  Truly, it is the sacrifices made by these great individuals that 
inspired me to introduce this important legislation. During my career 
as a special agent in the FBI, I witnessed firsthand the danger posed 
by criminals who attack law enforcement officers, and the particular 
danger they pose on our communities. Time and time again, we have seen 
that if criminals are willing to attack a police officer to avoid 
apprehension, then there is absolutely no limit to the lengths they 
will go or the victims they will target to avoid justice.
  According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 127 
officers have been killed in the line of duty during 2012. We can take 
a look at States that had officers killed in the line of duty from 
Texas to Pennsylvania.
  While it is impossible to completely transform the hazardous nature 
of the work our law enforcement officers do day in and day out, there 
are steps that we can take to enhance their safety and quickly 
apprehend those who put them at risk. The National Blue Alert Act does 
this by creating a national Blue Alert communications network within 
the United States Department of Justice. This will disseminate 
information on suspects who are being sought in connection with the 
death or injury of law enforcement officers.
  I have had the distinct pleasure of working with some of the bravest 
men and women this country has to offer. I really believe that, similar 
to Amber Alert, Blue Alert would rapidly notify our law enforcement 
agencies. It will notify the media and the public so that we can have 
the help that we need to aid in the apprehension of some of the most 
violent criminals.
  Additionally, this legislation would further encourage the expansion 
of the Blue Alert program beyond the handful of States where it is 
currently existing by helping the development of Blue Alert plans, 
regional coordination, and the development and implementation of new 
technologies to improve Blue Alert technologies.
  This legislation is supported by many. It's supported by a number of 
law enforcement organizations, including the Sergeants Benevolent 
Association, the National Sheriffs' Association, the National 
Association of Police Officers, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers 
Association, as well as the Fraternal Order of Police.
  I am certain that the National Blue Alert Act will enhance the safety 
of our communities as well as the law enforcement officers who protect 
them, and I encourage its swift passage today in the full House of 
Representatives.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Does my colleague from Virginia have further 
speakers?
  Mr. GOODLATTE. I do not have any further speakers at this time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Grimm), my colleague from 
Virginia, Chairman Goodlatte, and the ranking member of the full 
committee, Mr. Conyers, for their cooperation in bringing this bill to 
the floor during National Police Week.
  As we join together on this bill, it is my hope that we can continue 
to work in a bipartisan fashion on other measures that will assist law 
enforcement officers and find sensible solutions to the problems of 
crime that face our communities.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I thank my friend and colleague from Virginia, the ranking member of 
the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, 
Homeland Security, and Investigations, for his leadership on this 
bipartisan effort, as well as Ranking Member Conyers, Mr. Grimm, and 
Chairman Sensenbrenner of the subcommittee as well for their efforts.
  I can't think of a more appropriate time to honor police, during 
National Police Week, or in a more appropriate way than by passage of 
this legislation, which will not only allow law enforcement to more 
effectively communicate in these situations where police officers are 
in jeopardy or have been harmed, but also in circumstances that will 
allow everyone in this country to become involved.
  With the availability of smartphones and other devices and social 
media like Twitter and Facebook and YouTube

[[Page H2582]]

and other means that people now have of communicating that they didn't 
have just a few years ago, the word can get out to everyone to be on 
the lookout for people who are committing crimes. This will help us to 
apprehend criminals and prevent crimes, and we very much urge our 
colleagues to support it.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Judiciary 
Committee and the representative from Houston, which lays claim to one 
of the most effective police departments in the nation, and a co-
sponsor of the legislation, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 180, 
the ``National Blue Alert Act of 2013.'' I support this bill as a good 
and necessary measure. Everyday, more than 900,000 officers protect and 
serve the people of the United States. Every 57 hours, one of these men 
and women die in the line of duty. These officers deserve nothing less 
than a system that ensures an efficient method to support and protect 
them, and to bring justice to those who would harm them. It is for this 
reason that I support the legislation before us.
  The National Blue Alert Act directs the Attorney General to establish 
a national communications network within the Department of Justice to 
disseminate information when an officer is seriously injured or killed 
in the line of duty, and assign a Department of Justice officer to act 
as the national coordinator of the Blue Alert Network. The Blue Alert 
system is modeled after the Amber Alert and the Silver Alert programs, 
which have been very successful in finding abducted children and 
missing seniors. Currently 18 states, including my home state of Texas, 
have local Blue Alert programs in operation.
  The National Blue Alert Coordinator will provide assistance to states 
and local governments using Blue Alert plans; establish voluntary 
guidelines for states and local governments for developing these plans; 
develop protocols for efforts to apprehend suspects; work with states 
to ensure regional coordination of various elements of the network; and 
establish advisory groups, to assist states, local governments, law 
enforcement agencies and other entities in initiating, facilitating, 
and promoting Blue Alerts through the network.
  The National Blue Alert Coordinator will determine what procedures 
and practices to use in notifying law enforcement and the public when a 
law enforcement officer is killed or seriously injured in the line of 
duty and which procedures and practices are the most cost effective to 
implement.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that this legislation enjoys 
the strong support of the Fraternal Order of Police, and the National 
Sheriffs Association. As I stated, 18 states currently have a Blue 
Alert program in place, and it is time to expand this excellent program 
nationwide.
  This bill will enhance officer safety, which should always be one of 
our major concerns. Since the first recorded line-of-duty death in 
1791, more than 19,000 men and women have died in the line of duty. It 
saddens me that 1,665 of the names on the National Law Enforcement 
Memorial in Washington D.C. come from Texas. That is more than any 
other state. My city of Houston has lost 112 officers in the line of 
duty.
  It should be clear to everyone that the regular dangers our officers 
face have only increased. The 40 deaths that have occurred in 2013 
represent a 21% increase over the comparable period in 2012; and gun 
related deaths are up 7 percent.
  Mr. Speaker, passage of H.R. 180, the Blue Alert Notice Act of 2013, 
will not prevent brave law enforcement officials from falling in the 
line of duty in the future, but it will help. If it saves the life of 
at least one policeman and enables him or her to return safely home to 
his loved ones, this legislation will have proven its value.
  I urge all members of the House to join me in supporting H.R. 180, 
the National Blue Alert Notification Act.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 180, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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