Political Quotes

“The Alu-O'Hara bill, endorsed by all major police and firefighter organizations, would create a safety net for injured officers by requiring municipalities that receive Federal crime dollars to continue to maintain the same level of benefits that an officer had prior to being injured in the line of duty. If a locality chooses not to offer health insurance to these public safety officers, it would only be able to receive 90 percent of its full complement of community-oriented policing services funding. Mr. President, the scope of this bill is extremely narrow. It would apply only to a handful of public safety officers, estimated at approximately 100 nationwide per year. And it is not costly. CBO has already stated that this bill is not an unfunded mandate. In fact, the city of Lauderhill, FL, where Officers Alu and O'Hara reside, added expanded insurance coverage to cover all of its municipal employees, not just public safety officers, at no extra cost to the city. Even though the Alu-O'Hara amendment is inexpensive, its message is unmistakably clear. We need laws which protect our valiant men and women on the frontlines.”