The National Police Association Backs Federal Protections for First Responders

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Congress has introduced several solid bills this session to address the historic rise in attacks on first responders. One of these is the Graham Hoffman Act (S. 2278), a newer bipartisan bill named after a Kansas City firefighter who was stabbed in the line of duty earlier this year. It creates a new law that makes it conditionally a federal criminal offense to intentionally harm a police officer, firefighter, or emergency worker. This bipartisan bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Eric Schmitt (MO) and Maggie Hassan (NH) and is endorsed by the National Police Association (NPA). The text is here.

Under the Graham Hoffman Act, the penalty for assaulting an officer or other first responder is a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. If the victim is severely injured or dies due to the attack, an enhanced penalty would apply, triggering a potential sentence of life imprisonment.

"The men and women of local law enforcement work on the front lines every hour of every day, protecting us from harm and defending our civil liberties. When someone intentionally harms one of these heroes -and these attacks have increased substantially in recent years- justice is not always delivered at the local level," said Paula Fitzsimmons, Legislative Director, National Police Association. "The Graham Hoffman Act fills this void by allowing the federal government to prosecute offenders in certain situations. This added layer of defense will help ensure that anyone who knowingly harms an officer will experience the full brunt of the law," Fitzsimmons added.

The NPA extends its gratitude to Sens. Schmitt and Hassan for introducing the Graham Hoffman Act, a bill that creates a new law to federally criminalize the intentional attack of a police officer or other first responder. We believe this legislation will honor the memory of our fallen heroes and serve as a deterrent to committing violence against them. It also offers another layer of accountability for those times when local prosecutors are unable to deliver justice for a police officer who has been targeted.

To support this and future anti-crime, pro-police legislation, join our Call to Action (CAT) team and receive email alerts on bills, including which lawmakers to contact. Sign up here.

About: The National Police Association (NPA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting law enforcement through advocacy, education, and the courts. For more information, visit NationalPolice.org.

Media Contact:
Paula Fitzsimmons
302-469-1765
[email protected] 

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SOURCE The National Police Association