Gowdy's First Piece of Legislation Passes the House

Rep. Trey Gowdy passed his first piece of legislation on Monday.

The bill, H.R. 2076, the Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2011, allows the FBI to provide assistance to local authorities in certain violent crime investigations.

Gowdy said that in reviewing the FBI's investigative assistance statutes, it was realized there was no federal statute that would directly allow the FBI to provide assistance to state and local authorities. This bill would help give them specific authority to do so.

“Local law enforcement has many reasons to request FBI assistance:  access to federal crime labs, access to criminal profilers, track and trace capabilities and Title III surveillance authority, to name a few," Gowdy said. "H.R. 2076 ensures the FBI has the statutory authority to provide this assistance while maintaining the requirement that the request be made by state or local authorities."

"I hope this tool helps our brave law enforcement officers as they continue to put others' safety ahead of their own and protect this great land.”

Rep. Gowdy, along with Reps. Scott and Wilson, have H.R. 2587, a bill which protects jobs from government interference, coming to the floor for a vote later this week.