Public safety

Washington, DC - 11/16/2009 - One in four (26%) of American teens of driving age say they have texted while driving, and half (48%) of all teens ages 12 to 17 say they’ve been a passenger while a driver has texted behind the wheel.

These findings form the centerpiece of a new report from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project that looks at teens, mobile phones and distracted driving. The report is based on a telephone survey of 800 teens ages 12-17 and a parent or guardian as well as 9 focus groups with middle and high school students.

Boys and girls are equally likely to report texting behind the wheel as well as riding with texting drivers. As teens get older, they are more likely to report riding with drivers who text.    » read more »

Asks IG to investigate scientific merits and potential shortcomings of industry testing method adopted by FSIS

November 12, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) today, in light of the recent E. coli outbreak involving ground beef, sent a letter to the USDA Office of the Inspector General (IG) calling for an investigation into the scientific merits and potential shortcoming of the N-60 testing protocol, which is a beef testing protocol promoted by the meat industry and relied upon by USDA. The N-60 testing protocol is used by most of the largest beef trim manufacturers to verify that product is free from E. coli.    » read more »

New Law Will Keep Deadly Ammunition Out of the Hands of Criminals

10/15/2009 -- Building on his commitment to keeping dangerous weapons off California’s streets and out of the hands of criminals and gang members, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today highlighted a bill he signed, AB 962 by Assemblymember Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles).

This bill would require vendors of handgun ammunition transfers and sales to keep a log of information on handgun ammunition sales, store ammunition in a safe and secure manner and require the face-to-face transfer of ammunition sales.    » read more »

October 1, 2009 -- HOUSTON – Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Acting Director Kenneth E. Melson today announced the results of ATF’s Gun Runner Impact Team (GRIT) initiative, a 120-day deployment of ATF resources to the Houston Field Division to disrupt illegal firearms trafficking by Mexican drug cartels.

The Justice Department officials also outlined the $10 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds that have been allocated to support the initiative going forward.    » read more »

05/28/2009 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen today vetoed House Bill 962, which would permit the possession of firearms in Tennessee restaurants and bars. Law enforcement officials and district attorneys from across the state flanked Bredesen as he spoke about his reasons for the veto.

"Let me be very clear: I am a strong supporter of the right to keep and bear arms. I am, and have always been, committed to preserving the rights of the Second Amendment: basic American rights. These rights are protected by the United States Constitution and the Tennessee Constitution as well," Bredesen said.    » read more »

Legislation Would Ensure Gun Dealer Employees Have Passed Background Checks and Prevent Ineligible Gun Owners from Possessing a Gun License

May 28, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that he has proposed legislation that would help ensure that only law-abiding individuals are able to obtain and retain firearms licenses.

This legislation, which was delivered to the Legislature today, will close gaps in New York law that may allow persons to obtain or retain firearms licenses even though they are barred by federal law from possessing those weapons. This includes requiring a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check every three or five years for gun licensees and dealers.    » read more »

Schumer: Firefighters Are True American Heroes And Deserve Recognition and Resources

May 27, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today proposed legislation to support volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) providers in the Southern Tier. Schumer’s legislation would offer a $1,000 tax credit for active members of volunteer firefighting and EMS organizations. The bill is aimed at helping recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters at a time when it is increasingly difficult to find adequate numbers of people who can volunteer their time for the community, leaving many departments thinly staffed.    » read more »

May 22, 2009 -- BATON ROUGE – Today, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal announced that 150 Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice (LCLE) grants totaling over $20 million have been awarded to municipalities as well as law enforcement programs and agencies throughout the state. Governor Jindal said the grants will be used to enhance Louisiana’s criminal justice system and promote public safety.

Governor Jindal said, “We’re committed to providing our law enforcement officers and public safety agencies with the resources they need to keep our families safe. These grants will help ensure that our entire criminal justice system has the capacity to keep our citizens protected.”    » read more »

Senator Introduces New Plan To Prevent Layoffs And Recruit More Volunteers; Provision Will Be Included In A Spending Bill Set To Pass In The Senate This Week

May 18, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer joined Senator Chris Dodd in unveiling a new proposal to support volunteer and paid firefighters in the Southern Tier. The current firefighters grant program, Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants, may only be used to hire new, additional career fire fighters. Senator Schumer and Senator Dodd have introduced legislation that changes the SAFER grants program, and allows funds awarded in the next two years to be used to restore or retain current workforce levels despite local budget cuts.    » read more »

Praises measures to create jobs, strengthen schools, ensure public safety, preserve natural resources and protect property owners

May 8, 2009 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today praised the Florida Legislature for investing in Florida’s future, including economic security and education, during the 2009 legislative session. In spite of reduced state revenues, the Legislature continued to ensure other priorties such as public safety, natural resources, and care for Florida’s most vulnerable children, disabled and elderly. In addition, the Florida Legislature approved measures that will reduce the tax burden on property owners.    » read more »

Anti-Crime Bills Will Require Post-Release Supervision, and Improve Employment Opportunities

BOSTON– Thursday, May 07, 2009 – Continuing Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s efforts to strengthen public safety, improve delivery and reform operations of state government, Public Safety Secretary Kevin M. Burke today announced the Patrick-Murray Administration will be filingbills to require post-release supervision for offenders and enhance employment opportunities for rehabilitated individuals with criminal records.    » read more »

May 6, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter Jr. said today that the Department of Public Safety received a record-high number of nearly 200 applications for $16.4 million in public-safety funding from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, the landmark federal law that is designed to energize the economy, create jobs and invest in communities and infrastructure.

Gov. Ritter said he was heartened to see such tremendous interest from law enforcement agencies around the state for these funds.

"The Recovery Act will help our law enforcement agencies expand their efforts to crack down on drugs and protect our communities, said Gov. Ritter. "These funds will keep police officers on the street and help grow the economy and stabilize neighborhoods."    » read more »

May 5, 2009 -- HARRISBURG – Initiatives to improve law enforcement and public safety, strengthen counterdrug training and ease prison overcrowding would get a significant boost if grant applications for more than $95 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding are approved.

Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today that the State Police, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Department of Corrections and the Commission on Crime and Delinquency recently submitted applications to aggressively pursue additional federal stimulus funding to enhance public safety initiatives.    » read more »

Teamsters, Safety Advocates Petition Court to Review Hours-of-Service Rule

March 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Teamsters, Public Citizen, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and the Truck Safety Coalition asked an appeals court today to review a dangerous Bush-era regulation that increased the amount of time truck drivers can spend behind the wheel.

The groups also sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood asking him to begin work on a new regulation that would reduce truck crashes caused by fatigue.

“We have taken this action with the conviction, based on research and scientific data, that longer driving and working hours are unsafe and promote driver fatigue,” the letter said.    » read more »

March 6, 2009 -- Today President Barack Obama announced that Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice are making available $2 billion Recovery Act 2009 funding allocations for state and local law enforcement and criminal justice assistance, available through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.

This funding will be used to help communities keep their neighborhoods safer with more cops, prosecutors, and probation officers; more radios and equipment; more help for crime victims and more crime prevention programs for youth.    » read more »