By Congressman Tom Cole
This week is National Police Week – a week that occurs every year to appreciate and thank our heroic law enforcement officers, as well as remember the officers who have been disabled or have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty.
This annual tradition began in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed Joint Resolution 76 into law, officially proclaiming the calendar week of May 15 as Police Week. Ever since then, every May, we have honored those who work so selflessly and devotedly to keep our communities safe and pay homage to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
In the United States House of Representatives, National Police Week means law enforcement officers from across the nation come to visit Washington, D.C., where they will meet with elected officials to express what we can do to best support them, attend memorials for our fallen law enforcement heroes, and participate in group events. Their presence with us in our nation’s capital is truly an honor, as it is an important reminder of not only the critical work that they do, but also the enormous sacrifices they make in order to protect us from harm.
We, as a Congress, can never truly do enough to repay the men and women in blue who make the choice to protect our communities while knowing the dangers of the profession. However, we can support our law enforcement officers through legislation – and this National Police Week we are doing just that.
This week, my House Republican colleagues and I are bringing a multitude of bills to the House Floor that will highlight our backing of our police officers. First, we will vote on House Concurrent Resolution 30, which expresses our support for local law enforcement officers. Additionally, the Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act will require the Attorney General to develop reports relating to violent attacks against law enforcement officers, the LEOSA Reform Act will improve the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act relating to the carrying of concealed weapons by police officers, and the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act of 2025 will allow Federal police officers to purchase retired service weapons.
As the Representative for the law enforcement officers in Oklahoma’s Fourth District, I am proud to support these bills – and I am proud to back the blue in general, not just this National Police Week, but every week.
