[House Report 119-757]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 119-757
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NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS REMEMBRANCE, SUPPORT, AND COMMUNITY
OUTREACH ACT
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August 20, 2026.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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Mr. Westerman, from the Committee on Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 309]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 309) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior
to provide funding for the National Law Enforcement Museum, and
for other purposes, having considered the same, reports
favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that the
bill as amended do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Law Enforcement Officers
Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the National Law
Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
the Interior.
SEC. 3. SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MUSEUM.
(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations made
in advance for such purpose, beginning on the first fiscal year the
begins after the date of the enactment of this Act, and for each of the
following 6 fiscal years, the Secretary shall award a grant in the
amount specified in subsection (c) to the Fund to be used solely for
the purposes described in subsection (b), if upon review of the
application submitted pursuant to subsection (d), the Secretary makes a
determination to award such grant pursuant to subsection (e).
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the grants authorized under subsection
(a) shall be for the expenses associated with operating and enhancing
the community outreach, public education, and officer safety and
wellness programs of the National Law Enforcement Museum, including
programs to--
(1) memorialize law enforcement heroes who die in the line of
duty and compile statistics on law enforcement fatalities and
injuries;
(2) honor and commemorate the extraordinary service and
sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers;
(3) develop and make available accurate, relevant, and
accessible resources to promote the understanding of law
enforcement history and officer safety and wellness training,
which include digital resources and other types of resources,
such as print resources and traveling exhibitions;
(4) increase technical resources to better engage the public
in person and via online platforms to educate and inform the
public about community policing and officer safety and
wellness;
(5) create, expand, and disseminate scholarly work through
research, curricula, in-house and traveling exhibitions,
publications, and other outreach initiatives;
(6) expand the collection acquisition and collection
processes, including staffing, conservation, processing, and
digitization;
(7) augment law enforcement history and officer safety and
wellness education activities, including the development,
dissemination, and implementation of principles of sound
pedagogy for teaching about law enforcement history and officer
safety and wellness;
(8) promote professional development, including local,
regional, and national workshops, teacher trainings, and
partnerships, with appropriate entities to better educate and
inform the public about law enforcement history and officer
safety and wellness education;
(9) engage with local and independent educational agencies
and expand teacher engagement to cultivate and support the
development of leaders in the teaching of law enforcement
history and officer safety and wellness education;
(10) engage with State and local education leaders to
encourage the adoption of resources supported under this Act
into curricula across diverse disciplines;
(11) create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale
entrepreneurial, evidence-based, field-initiated innovations
for museum and officer safety and wellness improvement, and
rigorously evaluate such innovations;
(12) provide for the free admission to National Law
Enforcement Museum for active and retired law enforcement
officers and family members of fallen officers, and dedicated
free admission hours for the general public at least once a
week; and
(13) develop online Law Enforcement History and Officer
Safety and Wellness Education Resources for the general public
and scholarly research.
(c) Grant Amount.--Each grant authorized under subsection (a) shall
be for $6,000,000.
(d) Application.--To be considered for an award of a grant under this
section, the Fund shall submit to the Secretary an application at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
may require.
(e) Review; Deadline for Award.--If the Secretary, after review of
the application from the Fund, determines that the Fund satisfies any
requirements established by the Secretary under subsection (d), the
Secretary shall award the grant to the Fund, not later than 90 days
after the date of receipt by the Secretary of the completed application
submitted by the Fund.
(f) Condition on Receipt of Grant.--As a condition on receipt of a
grant under this section, the Fund shall--
(1) provide for--
(A) free admission to National Law Enforcement Museum
for active and retired law enforcement officers and
family members of fallen officers; and
(B) dedicated free admission hours for the general
public at least once a week; and
(2) allow for annual Federal audits of the financial
statements of the Fund, including revenues associated with
ticket sales, charitable donations, grants, and all
expenditures on salaries and operations, which shall be subject
to review by the Secretary and made available to the public.
(g) Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal
year for which the Fund obligates or expends funds made available to
the Fund pursuant to this section, the Fund shall submit to the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that
includes, for the fiscal year covered by the report, each of the
following:
(1) Information relating to the amount of grant funds
obligated or expended for the preceding fiscal year.
(2) Information relating to any purposes for which such funds
were obligated or expended.
(3) Information relating to the progress in delivering public
education, community outreach, and officer safety and wellness
programming using funds provided under this section.
(3) Any other information the Secretary may require to
effectively administer the program under this section, as
determined by the Secretary, if not later than the last day of
the fiscal year the Secretary notified the Fund of such
requested information.
(h) No Additional Funds Authorized.--No additional funds are
authorized to carry out the requirements of this section, and the
activities authorized by this section are subject to the availability
of appropriations made in advance for such purposes.
PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION
The purpose of H.R. 309 is to authorize the Secretary of
the Interior to provide funding for the National Law
Enforcement Museum, and for other purposes.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Law enforcement officers play a critical role in
maintaining public safety and upholding social order. Law
enforcement agencies, however, face significant operational
challenges nationwide, including staffing shortages and
difficulties with officer recruitment and retention.\1\ From
2019 to 2022, law enforcement agencies saw a 19 percent
increase in retirements and a 47 percent increase in
resignations.\2\ The demanding nature of law enforcement work
also makes officers more susceptible to mental health
challenges and, tragically, 147 officers lost their lives in
the line of duty last year.\3\
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\1\``New PERF survey shows police agencies are losing officers
faster than they can hir new ones'', Police Executive Research Forum,
April 1, 2023, https://www.policeforum.org/staffing2023.
\2\Id.
\3\Matt Lund, ``2024 Law Enforcement Fatalities Report Reveals Law
Enforcement Deaths Increased'', National Law Enforcement Officers
Memorial Fund, January 7, 2025, https://nleomf.org/2024-law-
enforcement-fatalities-report-reveals-law-enforcement-deaths-
increased/.
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To honor the brave men and women in law enforcement,
Congress established the National Law Enforcement Officers
Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) and the National Law Enforcement Museum
(Museum) in Washington, D.C., in 1984.\4\ Together, the NLEOMF
and Museum tell the history of policing in a democratic
society, honor fallen officers, and operate programs aimed at
officer safety, wellness, and community education. Through
initiatives such as the Destination Zero National Officer
Safety and Wellness Awards, NLEOMF highlights best practices
that help reduce line-of-duty deaths and injuries, while
improving mental and physical health outcomes for officers.\5\
The Museum also facilitates public education through exhibits,
teacher training, traveling programs, and outreach initiatives.
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\4\``Why We're Here'', National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
Fund, https://nleomf.org/about/.
\5\``National Officer Safety and Officer Awards,'' National Law
Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, https://nleomf.org/officer-safety-
and-wellness/destination-zero/.
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H.R. 309 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior
(Secretary) to provide a grant to NLEOMF to support and expand
its community outreach initiatives. The bill authorizes up to
$6 million per year for seven years ($42 million total) to fund
activities such as free museum access for officers, the
expansion of digitized collections, and broader distribution of
officer safety and wellness resources to law enforcement
agencies nationwide. This legislation aligns with President
Trump's Executive Order (E.O.) 14288, ``Strengthening and
Unleashing America's Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and
Protect Innocent Citizens.''\6\
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\6\Executive Order 14288, ``Strengthening and Unleashing America's
Law Enforcement To Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens,''
Executive Office of the President, May 2, 2025, https://
www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/05/02/2025-07790/strengthening-
and-unleashing-americas-law-enforcement-to-pursue-criminals-and-
protect-innocent.
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COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 309 was introduced on January 9, 2025, by
Representative Troy Nehls (R-TX). The bill was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the
Subcommittee on Federal Lands. On September 18, 2025, the
Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a hearing on the bill. On
July 22, 2026, the Committee on Natural Resources met to
consider the bill. The Subcommittee on Federal Lands was
discharged from further consideration of H.R. 309 by unanimous
consent. Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) offered an Amendment
in the Nature of a Substitute designated Westerman_086 ANS. The
Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute was agreed to by
unanimous consent. The bill, as amended, was ordered favorably
reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
HEARINGS
For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6) of House rule XIII, the
following hearing was used to develop or consider this measure:
hearing by the Subcommittee on Federal Lands held on September
18, 2025.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 names the legislation the ``National Law
Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community
Outreach Act''.
Section 2. Definitions
Section 2 defines key terms in the bill.
Section 3. Support for National Law Enforcement Museum
Section 3 directs the Secretary to award the NLEOMF a $6
million grant annually for seven fiscal years, subject to the
availability of appropriations. Section 3 stipulates that grant
funding may be used only to operate and enhance the Museum's
community outreach, public education, and officer safety and
wellness programs. This includes memorializing fallen law
enforcement officers, honoring the sacrifice of law enforcement
officers, promoting law enforcement history, increasing
technical resources for public engagement, expanding research
and educational resources, expanding collection acquisition,
developing teaching resources, promoting professional
development, engaging with educational institutions,
implementing innovations related to museum and officer safety
and wellness, providing for free admission to the Museum, and
developing online resources.
Section 3 requires the NLEOMF to submit an application for
the grant containing information required by the Secretary. The
Secretary must review and award the grant within 90 days of
receiving a completed, sufficient application. Section 3
mandates that, as a condition of receiving a grant, the NLEOMF
must provide free admission to the Museum to active and retired
law enforcement officers and the families of fallen officers as
well as members of the public at least once a week. The NLEOMF
must also submit annual federal financial audits and report
annually to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on the use of
grant funds and program activities. Finally, Section 3 also
clarifies that no additional funds are authorized for this bill
and that grants are subject to the availability of
appropriations.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII AND
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of House rule XIII and section
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and pursuant to
clause 3(c)(3) of House rule XIII and section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has requested
but not received from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office a budgetary analysis and a cost estimate of this bill.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to provide funding for the National Law Enforcement
Museum, and for other purposes.
EARMARK STATEMENT
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the rules of
the House of Representatives.
UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT STATEMENT
An estimate of federal mandates prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee, if such
estimate is not publicly available on the Congressional Budget
Office website.
EXISTING PROGRAMS
Directed Rule Making. This bill does not contain any
directed rule makings.
Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not
establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government
known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was
not included in any report from the Government Accountability
Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139
or identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program
Information Act (Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law
98-169) as relating to other programs.
APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW
Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the
U.S. Constitution.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
As ordered reported by the Committee on Natural Resources,
H.R. 309 would make no changes in existing law.
[all]