10.12.11

Hoeven Joins First-Ever Bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today joined with 17 other senators to launch the first ever U.S. Senate Law Enforcement Caucus to educate and inform their colleagues and staff about the programs and initiatives that are keeping our communities safe, while advocating for the policies and resources law enforcement agencies need to carry out their missions.

U.S. Senators Chris Coons of Delaware and Roy Blunt of Missouri, the founders and co-chairs of the new caucus, made the announcement at an event in the Capitol on Tuesday. Hoeven is among the caucus’ founding members, which also include Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Jeff Sessions of Alabama, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Chuck Schumer of New York, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Mark Kirk of Illinois, John Boozman of Arkansas, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, and Dean Heller of Nevada. 

“It’s important for Congress to support the work of the men and women who dedicate their lives to keeping our communities safe,” Hoeven said. “Today they are doing more work with fewer resources, and we need to do what we can to promote best practices and facilitate clear communication between local, state and federal agencies. This caucus will help us do that.”

 The U.S. Senate Law Enforcement Caucus will primarily serve as a forum for officials, community groups, and other stakeholders to meet with legislators, staff, and one another to share experiences and develop strategies for fostering effective law enforcement. It will highlight ways in which the federal government can better assist agencies at the state and local levels, and will help circulate proven best practices in administering law enforcement programs during a time of severely limited budgets. 

The goals of the caucus are to:

  • Raise awareness and support for beneficial law enforcement and criminal justice initiatives in the Senate
  • Reinforce the federal commitment to assisting state and local law enforcement agencies in the performance of their duties
  • Strengthen working partnerships between national, state and local law enforcement agencies
  • Facilitate an exchange and debate of information, ideas, and concerns within law enforcement
  • Promote an inclusive and collaborative approach to combating crime and promoting community safety
  • Advocate policies and measures that emphasize and enhance officer safety
  • Highlight and promote professional careers in law enforcement 
The caucus plans to hold regular briefings on pressing law enforcement issues for U.S. senators and staff, as well as to meet regularly with law enforcement officials to learn about best practices and the tools they need to keep our communities safe.