Pascrell Measure to Honor Law Enforcement Passes House

Legislation will authorize the minting of National Law Enforcement Museum coin

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, today hailed House passage of his National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act (H.R. 1865). Rep. Pascrell’s legislation directs the U.S. Treasury Department to mint and issue up to 1.2 million gold, silver, and cooper clad coins celebrating the National Law Enforcement Museum located in Washington, D.C. Proceeds from the sale of the commemorative coins will provide a needed future stream of private funding for the Museum to ensure that it is able to maintain a robust and diverse level of programming.

“The National Law Enforcement Museum serves as a monumental tribute to our nation’s Finest. Passage of our legislation today will help further that tribute and extend our shared gratitude for their continued service,” said Rep. Pascrell, a longtime champion of law enforcement. “I am grateful for the efforts of my fellow Law Enforcement Caucus co-chair, Rep. John Rutherford, in moving this legislation forward. Our brave men and women in uniform put their lives on the line each and every day to keep our communities safe. As we celebrate National First Responders Day today, I urge my colleagues in the Senate to swiftly move on this legislation so we can properly commemorate the selfless actions of our nation’s law enforcement officers.”

“By passing this bill today, we help tell the story of our law enforcement officers and the work they do on a daily basis to keep our communities safe,” said Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL-04). “Thank you to Congressman Pascrell, my fellow co-chair of the House Law Enforcement Caucus, for working with me to get this bill one step closer to the finish line. It is my hope that the Senate will quickly act on this bill, so the National Law Enforcement Museum can receive the recognition and support that it so deserves.”

“On behalf of everyone at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and Museum, I want to extend my sincere thanks to Congressman Pascrell for authoring this important bill and for his unrelenting efforts to garner overwhelming House support for the bill,” said Marcia Ferranto, C.E.O., National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and Museum. “Congressman Pascrell has been an effective and outspoken champion for the law enforcement community throughout his distinguished career.  For that, we are eternally grateful.  I also want to thank Congressman John Rutherford for co-authoring the bill and his efforts to get it passed in the House.  The National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act will raise private dollars to allow the Museum to expand and enhance its programming for years to come.  This bi-partisan bill will be a significant help in the Museum’s efforts to truly become a Museum without walls — a Museum with impactful programs across the country that will help bring police departments closer to the communities they serve.”

Reps. Pascrell and Rutherford introduced H.R. 1865 in March along with the Probation Officer Protection Act, H.R. 1866, which would give federal probation officers the power to arrest third party individuals that obstruct a parole officer from carrying out their job.

As co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, Rep. Pascrell has made federal support for law enforcement a chief priority in Washington. He has led efforts in Congress to protect numerous law enforcement funding streams from sabotage by the Trump administration. Rep. Pascrell was the principal sponsor of H.R. 2379, a congressional reauthorization of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program. On May 24, 2019, his legislation was signed into law, permanently authorizing $30,000,000 annually for the Bulletproof Vest Grant Program.

Rep. Pascrell also works closely with federal agencies to help win critical grants for local police departments, recently helping secure $66,000 for Garfield and $180,000 for the City of Passaic.

The National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act has been endorsed by: Concerns of Police Survivors, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Fraternal Order of Police Academy, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, the International Union of Police Associations, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the National Troopers Coalition, the Police Executive Research Forum, the Police Foundation, the Police Unity Tour, the United Federalist of Police Officers, and the California State Sheriffs Association.

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