A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM FLEOA NATIONAL PRESIDENT ART GORDON - Senate Judiciary Committee Passes the "Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Act"
May 15, 2008

MAY 15, 2008 — Today was a monumental day for FLEOA, as many of your elected National Officers attended the Senate Judiciary Committee Meeting this morning, to witness the passage of S.2565, the Senate Version of the "Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Act", which was previously passed by the House of Representatives. FLEOA was instrumental in working with Senator Biden to expand the bill to include the entire law enforcement family of state and local officers.

This is the first piece of FLEOA sponsored legislation in our 30-year history to be approved by both the House and the Senate, which must now be reconciled before final approval by Congress. Once approved by Congress, this FLEOA sponsored legislation will go to the President for signature and then become law.

My comments are included in Senator Biden's Press Release. They read as follows: "On behalf of the over 25,000 Federal law enforcement agents who are members of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, I would like to thank Senator Biden for his tremendous leadership in both introducing the Badge of Bravery and steering it through the Judiciary Committee this morning. Every year over 150 Federal law enforcement officers and agents are seriously injured in the line of duty. The Badge of Bravery will finally recognize these brave men and women for their sacrifice," said Art Gordon, FLEOA National President. "I would also like to thank Senator Biden for working with FLEOA to broaden the scope of the Badge of Bravery to include state and local law enforcement officers. We believe that it highly appropriate for these officers to also have a mechanism through which their bravery can be recognized."

I would like to thank all FLEOA members who took time out of their busy schedules to help us push this legislation through Congress. I would also like to thank Andy Quinn of McAllister and Quinn for working with FLEOA on this important endeavor.

I want to give special recognition to three (3) of our National Officers who worked very hard on this legislation; Jon Adler, Executive Vice President, Duncan Templeton, Legislative Vice President and Nate Catura our Director of Administration. Jon Adler developed the concept and spear-headed our effort to get this legislation enacted into law. Jon, we all owe you a debt of gratitude. This was truly a team effort by several FLEOA National Officers and many FLEOA members.

I firmly believe that FLEOA's current outstanding reputation with key members of Congress and our close working relationship with most Federal law enforcement agency heads and cabinet level officials, was critical to our success in this important endeavor.

Never in the 30-year history of this organization has your National President and other National Elected Officers had open access to key members of the President's Staff, key Cabinet Level Officials (Attorney General and DHS Secretary), most Federal law enforcement agency heads and key members of Congress. Myself and Jon Adler will continue our policy of meeting with Federal law enforcement agency heads on a regular basis on behalf of our members.

I want to end my message with a quote from the US Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan, who we met with earlier this week. Director Sullivan stated, "I want to thank you and Jon Adler for the outstanding way that you represent the men and women of Federal law enforcement. FLEOA is held in high regard because of both of you and what you do for all of us".

I hope all of you realize the many accomplishments of FLEOA's current management team.

I am proud to be the President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.

Take Care and God Bless all of you. Be Safe Out There!!!!

Sincerely, Art Gordon