WASHINGTON – In recognition of National
Police Week, the Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced a package of bills
supporting America’s law enforcement officers and their families. Ranking
Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) also
led 85 of his colleagues in a resolution commemorating the service of America’s law
enforcement officers.
“As crime rates soar, we need to empower
police by providing them with needed protection and resources so they can do
their jobs safely and effectively – especially since dangerous anti-law
enforcement rhetoric has demoralized police forces across the country. Still,
law enforcement officers bravely put their lives on the line every day to
protect our communities. The legislation we’ve advanced for National Police
Week is a small way we recognize and thank police and their families for their
service and sacrifice,” Grassley said.
Grassley led a bipartisan group of
senators in introducing the Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of
2022 to help police, fire, emergency medical and 911 personnel cope with
the stresses of responding to crisis situations. The bill would establish
mental health programs for America’s first responders who often face long-term
effects from providing life-saving services in moments of crisis. The bill
advanced in committee by voice vote without objection.
Over 90 percent of all police departments
nationally have fewer than 200 full-time officers. Grassley partnered with Sen. Catherine
Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) to introduce the Invest to Protect Act, which
seeks to provide $250 million over the next five years to small law enforcement
agencies across the country. This funding will help them invest in training,
equipment, mental health support and recruitment and retention of officers. The
bill advanced in committee by voice vote without objection.
Building off the purpose of the Invest
to Protect Act, this proposal would allow Community Oriented Policing
Services (COPS) grant funds to be utilized for recruiting and retaining local
police officers, with a focus on encouraging officers to live in the
communities they serve. The bill advanced in committee by voice vote without
objection.
This legislation seeks to amend the Omnibus
Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide for training on
alternatives to use of force, including de-escalation and mental and behavioral
health and suicidal crises training. The bill advanced in committee by voice vote
without objection.
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