Des Moines Sun

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) requested unanimous passage of seven bipartisan law enforcement bills on the Senate floor, which had previously passed the Judiciary Committee by voice vote in May during Police Week.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), also a member of the Judiciary Committee, objected to the request for unanimous consent on the full package. Booker’s objection was aimed at pushing for federal funding for sanctuary cities that do not comply with federal immigration law. He did not raise objections to these bills when they were in committee.

Following Booker’s objection, Cortez Masto sought unanimous passage of two specific bills: the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act and the Improving Police CARE Act. These two measures were allowed to pass, but Booker blocked five other local law enforcement bills.

The five blocked bills include:

- The Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act, which aims to protect officers and first responders from accidental exposure to dangerous substances.

- The Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act, designed to address staffing shortages within law enforcement.

- The Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis Act, which would expand mental health resources for officers.

- The Strong Communities Act, intended to support recruitment and retention efforts.

- The PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act, focused on aiding state and local agencies in combating child sexual exploitation online.

During remarks on the Senate floor, Grassley highlighted recent risks faced by law enforcement officers nationwide. “Law enforcement [officers] across the country put their lives on the line every day,” Grassley said. He referenced an 830 percent increase in assaults reported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), incidents involving rocks and projectiles thrown at agents, as well as personal threats following doxing incidents targeting officers’ private information online.

Grassley also cited testimony from Special Agent Matthew Allen of the DEA Los Angeles Field Office about cartel surveillance of agents and losses suffered by law enforcement families due to job-related dangers. He mentioned a recent incident where an off-duty Customs and Border Protection officer was shot during an attempted robbery in New York City; according to Grassley, “Thankfully, the officer is expected to survive.”

He provided statistics from the Fraternal Order of Police indicating that as of June 30, 2025, 166 officers had been shot in the line of duty this year—21 fatally—which represents a decrease compared with last year’s figures.

Grassley noted that earlier this year he worked with Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on a resolution honoring 234 fallen officers recognized as line-of-duty deaths—a resolution passed with more than 80 cosponsors.

Describing the legislative package as “the largest Police Week Package in over 15 years,” Grassley emphasized its bipartisan support: “The seven bills are part of the largest Police Week Package in over 15 years.” He detailed how individual measures address challenges such as recruitment issues, protection against fentanyl exposure, provision of necessary equipment for communities, family protections for first responders, and expanded mental health resources for officers.

“Simply stated,” said Grassley, “these bills strengthen our law enforcement community to help keep our citizens safe.” He called for sending them forward: “It’s time to send these bills to the House and then to President Trump.”

“These folks are true heroes,” Grassley concluded. “They deserve our strong support.”