On May 12, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released its “Officers Killed and Assaulted in the Line of Duty, 2024 Special Report,” which revealed that law enforcement agencies reported nearly 86,000 assaults on law enforcement officials in 2024, with 64 feloniously killed in the line of duty. These statistics represent an increase from 2023, when 79,000 officer assaults were reported and 60 officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty. Despite the inherent risk, men and women in law enforcement continue to prioritize the safety of the public over their own.

This Independence Day, President Trump signed his “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” — which I voted for — into law. Among many other benefits is a provision to remove taxes on overtime pay — which directly benefits our brave law enforcement officers across the state of Iowa. Specifically, workers earning less than $160,000 annually would be entitled to a tax deduction on overtime pay. In Iowa, the median salary for law enforcement officers is about $73,000 annually, so the impact of this tax relief will be broad.

Law enforcement is an incredibly demanding line of work — some officers even record over 100 hours per pay period. This can especially be the case in rural communities with smaller departments covering larger geographical areas. The Fraternal Order of Police — which represents over 300,000 officers — strongly supported President Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” and described it as an economic and morale boost for law enforcement officers.

These men and women put their lives on the line every single day to protect their families, friends, neighbors, and broader communities. They’ve dedicated their careers to public safety and make incredible sacrifices to ensure the vibrancy of our communities. The overtime tax cuts in President Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” allow officers to keep more of their hard-earned, overtime pay.

In Congress, I will always be a strong voice for Iowa’s law enforcement officers. In the past, I have been a strong supporter of legislation that gives departments the resources, tools, and funding they need to keep our communities safe — like the Invest to Protect Act — and I will continue to do so in the future. Our police and law enforcement officers make unseen and untold sacrifices to keep our families and communities safe. They are truly incredible Americans. Iowa’s law enforcement departments and their officers will always have my unwavering support.

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Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, represents Iowa’s Fourth District in the U.S. House.