National Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director Jonathan Thompson issued the following statement concerning passage of an amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations bill

“U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert (WA-8) was instrumental in yesterday’s successful amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations bill that rightly blocked the badly designed White House executive order limiting protective, excess equipment acquired by law enforcement through the Pentagon’s 1033 program.

“Rep. Reichert, a retired King County sheriff, knows first-hand that in recent terrorist attacks and heartbreaking tragedies in San Bernardino, Roseburg, Ore., and Orlando, law enforcement personnel needed equipment to protect our citizens. With sheriffs and our local, state and federal partners on high-alert, we work and live in a dangerous world and must have the equipment necessary to mitigate threats and save lives.

“Now, we implore the Senate to follow the House's lead and adopt the Reichert amendment, allowing American law enforcement the agility and apparatus to uphold our sworn duty during the difficult days ahead.”