Congressman Bob Goodlatte: On the floor this week

On the Floor this week: In honor of National Police Week, the House will vote on several bills in support of law enforcement. Bills to be considered include the “Protect and Serve Act,” legislation that will allow federal prosecution of those who seek to harm our nation’s police officers, as well as House Resolution 285, a bill expressing the need for Congress and the President to create police and community alliances throughout the country.

Each and every day, brave men and women all across the country risk their lives to protect us. They run towards danger while we run away from it. Their uniforms serve as a badge of courage as they leave the safety of home to fulfill their sworn oath to protect and serve. I’m grateful for the sacrifices members of the law enforcement community make to keep us safe.

From May 13 to May 19, we honor the men and women in blue who enforce our laws, keep the peace, and carry out justice by celebrating National Police Week. National Police Week is an opportunity for us to take a few moments and reflect on how important law enforcement is to society. There’s a thin blue line between order and chaos, and those who put on the badge know it’s about more than just patrolling our streets – it’s about protecting the rights and freedoms we as Americans hold so dear. I hope you’ll join me in thanking these brave men and women this week.

Combating the Opioid Epidemic
The opioid crisis knows no bounds. We’ve seen the real effects of drug abuse in communities throughout the Sixth District. Last week, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the challenges presented by the opioid crisis and possible solutions.

We heard from Kristen Holman of Lynchburg who lost her little brother, Garrett, to addiction last year. Kristen shared her personal story and expressed the devastation of losing a family member to these drugs. You can watch her moving testimony by clicking here. I want to thank Kristen and all of our witnesses for sharing their experiences.

House Mouse, Senate Mouse

Recently, I stopped by Ressie Jeffries Elementary School in Warren County to share a story with 2nd graders. We read House Mouse, Senate Mouse, a fun book that helps explain how a bill becomes law — in this case selecting a national cheese! It was great to spend time with these students and hear more about how much they love to read.

Music to our ears

Bob Goodlatte and Steven Tyler. Bob Goodlatte | Twitter

In case you missed it! Last week, The Roanoke Times ran an editorial piece on my latest bill passed by House of Representatives, the Music Modernization Act. This bill, which passed by a vote of 415-0, was crafted with input from the music industry and many Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to ensure music creators are properly recognized and compensated for their works. Click here to read more about this important legislation to finally bring our music laws into the digital age.

What’s up in Washington
• Prison reform is advancing in the House! The FIRST STEP Act was approved by the House Judiciary Committee earlier this month and now awaits consideration on the House Floor.
• Drones in Virginia The Commonwealth has been selected for a national drone research program to help us learn more about the uses of this technology, and Virginia Tech will manage the operations. Our state has long been a leader in innovation. I’m happy to have supported our region in the program’s application progress. Read more here… and here.
• Diamond and Silk on Capitol Hill. The social media stars appeared before the House Judiciary Committee last month to testify on social media filtering practices and online censorship.