We are asking our members to call their Senators and urge them to support this amendment, which will be considered this week.

The Moody-Ossoff-Cassidy amendment will give the men and women of law enforcement, who work tirelessly every day to protect our communities, more opportunities to find homes they can afford on a public servant’s salary by creating a home loan benefits program for first responders and educators based a similar program administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The Federal Housing Administration Mortgage Insurance Program for first responders will streamline eligibility, expand eligible areas, eliminate down payment requirements, and eliminate a monthly insurance premium requirement. This will greatly expand the affordable housing options for law enforcement officers and their families.

The legislation, however, serves another, equally important purpose—a means to address the recruitment and retention crisis in law enforcement. A program like this can help make a career in law enforcement attractive to potential recruits and provide veteran officers with reasons to stay on the job. Housing availability and affordability is a top concern for rookies and veteran officers alike, and we believe that benefits and programs like the one established by the Moody-Ossoff-Cassidy amendment will help agencies recruit and retain the officers they need to protect their communities.