[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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