Latta, Minnick Offer Amendment To Prevent Knife Provision From Receiving Funding In Homeland Security Appropriations Bill

Press Release

Last night, Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) and Congressman Walt Minnick (D-ID) offered an amendment in the House Committee on Rules to strip funding from a provision that would allow for the enforcement of a proposed regulation currently under review at the Office of Customs and Border Patrol within the Department of Homeland Security which could classify any "open assisted" knife as a switchblade. The Amendment was not made in order by the rules committee.

Recently, Congressman Latta sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano asking the department to reconsider the proposed regulation. The letter was signed by 80 House Republicans and Democrats.

"I am disappointed that this amendment did not pass the Rules Committee last night and I look forward to discussing this important issue during floor proceedings this week. I will continue to work with Congressman Minnick and other members of Congress in a bi-partisan fashion to bring awareness to this flawed proposal and work to ensure it does not become a regulation. Everyone from our first responders, law enforcement officials, boy scouts, and hunters will be affected by this regulation. It is unacceptable to think that we as citizens cannot carry a pocketknife for work or recreation purposes," Latta stated this morning.

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