July 18, 2024

Dear Friend:

Last month, I held a roundtable with state and local officials and first responders in Ottertail County. We discussed the difficulties affecting law enforcement and emergency medical services, like recruitment and retention, as well as the strain put on emergency services thanks to this administration's failed border policies. I appreciate any time I get to sit down with people on the ground that are seeing the impacts of policy in real time, and I enjoyed talking with these first responders about ways Congress can best serve the people who put their life on the line for their communities every day.

I am working hard to support our law enforcement and address their concerns, and I'm excited to share some of that work with you. My top priority is to advocate for the citizens of Western Minnesota, and your feedback is crucial to that effort. Please know that I am here to listen to your thoughts and perspectives and work with my colleagues to positively impact and create a brighter future for our district and our nation.

The Protect and Serve Act

The officials I met with in Ottertail noted that, while they feel supported locally, the climate across the country is very different. I have said time and again that Congress has the responsibility of setting an example of trust in and respect for law enforcement. I am sorry to say that so many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are doing the opposite, and they are setting an example of distrust and even hatred towards police.

Because of this distrust, we have seen an increase in assaults on police officers. The Protect and Serve Act, which I cosponsored, makes it a federal felony for anyone to knowingly assault or causes bodily harm to a member of law enforcement.

The Law Enforcement Education Grant Program Act

Across the Seventh District, I hear about the recruitment and retention struggles for our police force. This of course has gotten worse in recent years when police are not being respected and are being villainized by the Left. There are fewer and fewer incentives for people to go into the field in this climate. I am working to change that.

The Law Enforcement Education Grant Program Act would provide grants to students pursuing their first degree in law enforcement or a criminal justice-related field. The grant would be up for $4,000 per year, not exceeding $16,000 total. As a requirement of receiving the grant the applicant must commit to serving as a full-time law enforcement officer for four years within an eight-year period of completing their studies. If an applicant fails to complete their service requirements, the grant will be converted into a loan and the applicant will be required to pay it back, with exemptions for officers who are injured in the line of duty who cannot serve out the 4-year requirement.

Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grants

In addition to my proposed new grants program, I also sent an appropriations letter requesting robust funding for the COPS grant program in the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. This program awards grants for hiring new officers, rehiring old officers, hiring former members of the armed services, and supporting non-hiring initiatives like training.

LEOSA Reform Act

In a world with increased crime and a depleted force, our officers need the ability to protect their community whether they are on or off duty. My colleagues and I are working on a number of things to accomplish this. Most recently, we passed the LEOSA Reform Act. This bill expands the ability of active and retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms across state lines. It also expands the ability of these law enforcement officers to carry in school zones, national parks, and on state and local property.

Thank you for reading!

I want to keep you in the loop on issues that matter to you. If you would like to be sure to receive more updates like this, be sure you're signed up here. And if you know someone you think would be interested in updates on what I've been doing, I encourage you to share this email with them!

My office is open and ready to serve constituents of Minnesota's Seventh Congressional District! Please do not hesitate to get in touch if there is anything I can do to help.

Sincerely,

Michelle Fischbach

Member of Congress

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