WASHINGTON D.C. - Earlier this year, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) introduced the bipartisan Fuel the Force Act with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08), which will improve recruitment and retention of experienced law enforcement officers to ensure departments remain strong, professional, and equipped to protect our communities.

Specifically, the bill exempts the first $100,000 of ordinary income from federal taxation for full-time officers with at least five years of service.

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez joins Rep. Fitzpatrick and law enforcement at a press conference to announce the legislation.

"Last year, during Police Week, law enforcement officers told me that they had colleagues living on food stamps. That's enraging to me, and it goes hand in hand with what I hear from local law enforcement across Southwest Washington about how incredibly challenging it is to keep new officers on the force because of budget constraints and the nature of the job," said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. "Departments do their best work when they're able to build durable connections with the folks they protect. Those relationships take time to develop, so whenever a recruit leaves, things go back to square one. This bipartisan bill addresses the retention issue head on to support law enforcement officers and keep our communities safe."

You can read the full bill here.

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez has previously joined the House to pass:

• The Medal of Sacrifice Act that she cosponsored, which directs the President to issue a medal of sacrifice for law enforcement officers and first responders who are killed in the line of duty.
• The bipartisan Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act that she cosponsored, which will strengthen data collection about targeted attacks on law enforcement officers and what mental health resources exist for officers.

She helped introduce the Fight Fentanyl Act to support law enforcement's effort to get fentanyl off the streets and successfully led a Blue Dog Coalition effort urging Speaker Mike Johnson to bring the HALT Fentanyl Act to the House floor for a vote, leading to the bill being signed into law The Congresswoman also cosponsored the FEND Off Fentanyl and END FENTANYL Acts in the House, which are now law, to target fentanyl traffickers and fight fentanyl smuggling at ports of entry.

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