National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act.

Bill Number

H.R. 309

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-18: Subcommittee Hearings Held

Last Updated

2026-03-13T08:05:50Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill, titled the National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act, aims to provide federal funding to support the operations, education, community outreach, and officer safety programs of the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, DC. It recognizes the museum's role in honoring fallen officers, educating the public about law enforcement's contributions to society, and promoting officer wellness amid challenges like rising line-of-duty deaths and staffing shortages.

Key Provisions

• Grant Authorization (Section 3): The Secretary of the Interior must award a grant to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc. (the nonprofit operating the museum) during the first seven fiscal years after enactment. Funds will cover expenses for operating the museum and enhancing programs, including:
• Memorializing fallen officers and tracking fatalities/injuries.
• Honoring officers' service through exhibits and resources.
• Developing educational materials (e.g., digital, print, and traveling exhibits) on law enforcement history, community policing, and officer safety.
• Expanding public engagement via online platforms, workshops, research, and partnerships with schools.
• Improving museum collections through staffing, conservation, and digitization.
• Promoting free admission for active/retired officers, families of fallen officers, and dedicated free public hours weekly.
• Creating online resources for public and scholarly use.
• Reporting Requirements (Section 4): The Memorial Fund must submit annual progress reports to the Secretary, detailing program delivery and federal fund usage. The Secretary will share these with Congress and post them on the Department of the Interior's website.
• Funding Authorization (Section 5): Authorizes $6 million annually for seven years to the Secretary for these grants. If Congress appropriates less than the full amount, the Secretary may transfer funds from the National Park Service to meet the target.
• Continuation of Activities (Section 6): Allows grant funds to support ongoing museum activities as of the enactment date.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Prior laws (e.g., Public Law 98-534 in 1984 and Public Law 106-492 in 2000) authorized the memorial and museum but relied entirely on private funding for construction and operations. This bill introduces the first federal grants specifically for ongoing operations, enhancements, and programs, marking a shift to partial public support without altering the nonprofit's core management.
• It builds on the museum's 2018 opening by addressing modern needs like officer shortages (e.g., 47% increase in resignations since 2020) and high line-of-duty deaths, which were not directly funded federally before.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The Department of the Interior (and potentially the National Park Service) will handle grant administration, reporting, and possible fund transfers, increasing administrative workload but supporting cultural and educational initiatives. No major new regulatory burdens.
• Citizens: Enhances public access to free or low-cost education on law enforcement history and safety, fostering better community-law enforcement relations. Programs could reduce officer injuries/deaths through shared best practices, indirectly improving public safety.
• International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill focuses on domestic U.S. law enforcement commemoration and education.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc.: Primary recipient of grants, enabling expanded programs without relying solely on private donations.
• Law Enforcement Agencies and Officers: Benefits from safety training, wellness resources, and public support initiatives; active/retired officers and families of the fallen gain free museum access.
• The Public and Communities: Gains from educational outreach, exhibits, and online resources to build understanding and trust in policing.
• Educational Institutions: Schools and teachers can integrate museum resources into curricula, with support for workshops and partnerships.
• Congress and Federal Agencies: Involved in oversight via reports, with potential influence on future appropriations.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: As an authorization bill, it does not appropriate funds (requiring separate congressional action) and includes accountability through reports to prevent misuse. It respects the nonprofit's established federal land use without expanding government control over the museum.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power (Article I, Section 8) to promote general welfare via education and public safety. No First Amendment or other rights issues, as it supports commemorative and informational activities.
• Political: Signals bipartisan support for law enforcement (introduced by a diverse group of 28 representatives) amid debates on policing reforms. Could enhance public confidence in officers during staffing crises but may draw scrutiny over federal funding for a specific nonprofit's operations. No partisan bias in the text; focuses on neutral goals like safety and education.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22]

Cosponsors (124)

Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2], Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6], Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11], Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35], Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23], Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large] and 74 more

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-18: Subcommittee Hearings Held
• 2025-09-11: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
• 2025-01-09: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
• 2025-01-09: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-09: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support and Community Outreach Act. — issued 2025-01-09 — PDF (11 pages)