Indianapolis – December 21, 2023. The Remembering Our Local Heroes Act (H.R. 5318) establishes a federal grant program to fund community memorials honoring police officers, firefighters, and members of the U.S. military, either living or deceased. The bill was re-introduced by Rep. Claudia Tenney (NY-24) and Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01) in the U.S. House of Representatives and has been in the House Committee on Natural Resources since August. The bill’s text can be found here.
Local government units -including cities, counties, and towns- and nonprofit organizations would be eligible to apply for a grant to build, renovate, and maintain a community memorial. Law enforcement memorials can include statues, monuments, gardens, walkways, and inscribed plaques.
Law enforcement memorials are usually managed by police fraternal organizations and other nonprofits, like the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. These organizations are self-funded, raising money via fundraising events, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations.
Constructing a law enforcement memorial can be a cost-prohibitive endeavor, especially for organizations with limited budgets. It can run in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, to upwards of a million dollars for more elaborate structures. These figures don’t include any costs associated with restoration and maintenance needs.
This grant would also enable organizations to use their original funds for other vital causes. For example, an organization would be in a better position to increase the amount of money of its own it spends on the legal defense of police officers who have been wrongfully sued.
The bill’s authors are requesting a reasonable amount for these grants. If passed, $2,000,000 dollars would be allocated for each fiscal year between 2024 and 2028. Each grant recipient would receive up to $100,000 dollars.
This would help create powerful legacies across the country. Law enforcement memorials serve as places for families and friends to remember their loved ones, for police officers and supporters to gather for official ceremonies, and for the public to recognize the ultimate sacrifice police officers are willing to make for us.
Making funds available for law enforcement memorials is a meaningful and lasting way to pay homage to police officers, and to demonstrate support, especially at a time when officers are being subjected to added hostility. We urge Congress to invest in the men and women of law enforcement by passing the Remembering Our Local Heroes Act.
About The National Police Association: The National Police Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit Educational/Advocacy organization. For additional information visit NationalPolice.org.
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