Rutherford, Gottheimer Urge Senate Vote on Bipartisan Invest to Protect Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representatives John Rutherford (FL-04) and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) sent a letter to Senate leaders requesting their House-passed Invest to Protect Act be brought to the Senate floor for a vote when the Senate reconvenes in November. This bipartisan bill creates a grant program for small local law enforcement agencies that will help them recruit and retain the finest officers, expand training, and invest in mental health resources. Last month, the Invest to Protect Act passed the House with the bipartisan support of 153 Republicans and 207 Democrats.

"Nearly every Democrat and more than 150 Republicans came together to vote our legislation out of the House to ensure small law enforcement agencies across the United States have access to the tools and resources they need," the bill sponsors wrote in a letter to Senate leaders. "This vital legislation was developed through many conversations with Republicans and Democrats in both chambers, and with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including the Congressional Black Caucus, National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). We urge you to take swift action on this matter by bringing the Invest to Protect Act to the Senate floor for a vote next month so that the President can sign this bipartisan bill into law immediately."

Full text of the letter can be found here and below:

Dear Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell:

Last month, the House of Representatives passed the Invest to Protect Act with sweeping bipartisan support. Nearly every Democrat and more than 150 Republicans came together to vote our legislation out of the House, to ensure small law enforcement agencies across the United States have access to the tools and resources they need. We request that you bring the Invest to Protect Act to the Senate floor for a vote as soon as possible in November.

The Invest to Protect Act will make critical, targeted investments in small and midsize police departments with fewer than 125 sworn officers - which make up more than 96% of all local police departments nationwide. This legislation will invest in recruitment, retention, officer safety and de-escalation training, education, and mental health resources, giving officers the tools they need to keep themselves and our communities safe.

This vital legislation was developed through many conversations with Republicans and Democrats in both chambers, and with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including the Congressional Black Caucus, National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).

Across our country, we have seen a rise in crime. This is also at a time when it is harder than ever to hire, recruit, and retain officers.

We must ensure that our local police departments have what they need to recruit and retain the finest officers, to provide necessary training, and to invest in providing mental health resources for our officers. We urge you to take swift action on this matter by bringing the Invest to Protect Act to the Senate floor for a vote next month so that the President can sign this bipartisan bill into law immediately.

Sincerely,

John Rutherford, Member of Congress

Josh Gottheimer, Member of Congress

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