Pledging
These are the original issues in this subcategory
- OFFICEHOLDER STOCK TRADING
- WHISTLEBLOWERS
- POLICE MILITARIZATION
In the 1980s, our nation’s police departments had a total of 3,000 Special Weapons and Tactics Teams. Today, there are 50,000 of these elite units. Police administrators now regard SWAT teams as money-makers rather than costly budget-breakers as they did before they began receiving free equipment from our Department of Defense (DoD). The DoD’s 1033 and 1122 programs provide a substantial amount of funding and military equipment, as well as arms, tactical vehicles and training to local law enforcement agencies (LEA). This military equipment is often used for local drug busts. More than 8,000 law enforcement agencies have participated in this program, include many college and university police departments. In the past ten years, our DOD has transferred at least 490,000 pieces of military equipment worth $1.7 billion to LEAs across the country. This equipment includes high-powered weapons, silencers, weaponized drones and long-range acoustic devices.
Our Pentagon states this program is intended to help police combat terrorists and drug cartels. Critics disagree and say much of the time, SWAT teams are used against non-violent consensual drug offenders. They are also concerned some police departments are using military equipment and tactics for routine duties such as crowd control at peaceful public demonstrations. Critics claim the mind-set of a peace officer must be very different than one of a soldier, and that our police militarization policy has blurred this distinction.
Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.1694 - Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act (117th Congress 2021-2022)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA)
Our Pentagon states this program is intended to help police combat terrorists and drug cartels. Critics disagree and say much of the time, SWAT teams are used against non-violent consensual drug offenders. They are also concerned some police departments are using military equipment and tactics for routine duties such as crowd control at peaceful public demonstrations. Critics claim the mind-set of a peace officer must be very different than one of a soldier, and that our police militarization policy has blurred this distinction.
Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.1694 - Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act (117th Congress 2021-2022)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA)
- I oppose reforming current police militarization policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA).
- I support restricting the Department of Defense's 1033 Program from transferring dangerous military gear (like grenade launchers, weaponized drones, armored vehicles) to local law enforcement, adding transparency, accountability, and tracking for remaining transfers, and ensuring recipients certify they can manage such equipment responsibly by: 1.) Banning Weapons of War and prohibiting the transfer of equipment deemed inappropriate for local policing, including military-grade weaponry (e.g., grenade launchers, grenades, and explosives); armored military vehicles and weaponized drones; and long-range acoustic devices. 2.) Requiring recipient agencies to certify they can account for all military equipment, prohibiting "re-gifting" property between agencies, and establishes better tracking mechanisms. 3.) Mandating that a law enforcement agency must receive approval from its local governing body (such as a city council) and providing notice to the community before receiving property. 4.) Specifying that agencies may never take full ownership of "controlled property" transferred under the program. 5.) Requiring agencies to return property if they are found by the Department of Justice to have engaged in widespread civil liberties abuses. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
- I support restricting the Department of Defense's 1033 Program from transferring dangerous military gear (like grenade launchers, weaponized drones, armored vehicles) to local law enforcement, adding transparency, accountability, and tracking for remaining transfers, and ensuring recipients certify they can manage such equipment responsibly by:
1.) Banning Weapons of War and prohibiting the transfer of equipment deemed inappropriate for local policing, including military-grade weaponry (e.g., grenade launchers, grenades, and explosives); armored military vehicles and weaponized drones; and long-range acoustic devices.
2.) Requiring recipient agencies to certify they can account for all military equipment, prohibiting "re-gifting" property between agencies, and establishes better tracking mechanisms.
3.) Mandating that a law enforcement agency must receive approval from its local governing body (such as a city council) and providing notice to the community before receiving property.
4.) Specifying that agencies may never take full ownership of "controlled property" transferred under the program.
5.) Requiring agencies to return property if they are found by the Department of Justice to have engaged in widespread civil liberties abuses.
And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
You May Pledge Your Support For This Issue With A Monetary
Donation And By Writing A Letter To Your Representatives
Donation And By Writing A Letter To Your Representatives
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Pledge Period - Opening Date
January 5, 2026
Pledge Period - Closing Date
January 11, 2026
Trustee Election - Begins
January 12, 2026