Grassley, Cortez Masto Seek to Boost Investment in Local Police Departments

WASHINGTON– Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today reintroduced the bipartisanInvest to Protect Actto increase local law enforcement’s access to training, mental health support, and recruitment and retention resources.
“Law enforcement in Iowa and across the nation are struggling with low recruitment and retention rates,”Grassley said. “Our bipartisan bill would unlock access to critical resources, allowing local law enforcement to grow and strengthen their forces. As always, I’m proud to back the blue and will continue to protect and support our courageous officers.”
“Nevada’s small police departments deserve more access to critical funding to keep communities safe,”Cortez Masto said. “I’ll always stand up for our law enforcement, and this bipartisan bill is simple – it gets our police in rural, suburban and Tribal communities the resources they need.”
Additional cosponsors include Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.).
TheInvest to Protect Actis endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the National Association of Police Organizations, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the Peace Officers Research Association of California, the National Criminal Justice Association, the National Troopers Coalition, the Sergeants Benevolent Association, the National Tactical Officers Coalition, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the United Coalition of Public Safety, the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police, the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, the New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association, the Port Authority PBA, the NJ State Troopers Non-Commissioned Officers Association and the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers.
Download bill textHERE.
Background:
Most police departments in the U.S. employ fewer than 200 full-time officers. In Iowa and across the country, these departments struggle to compete with larger law enforcement agencies for access to critical resources.
TheInvest to Protect Actestablishes a grant program through Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), setting aside $250 million to help local law enforcement agencies invest in their officers and communities. The bill also simplifies the grant application process to boost small agencies’ access to funding.
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