Gottheimer’s “Invest to Protect Act” Passes With Overwhelming Bipartisan Support in the House — Invests in Training, Recruitment and Retention, Mental Health Resources

Above: Gottheimer speaking with the Bergen County PBA . 

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined the Policemen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) of Bergen County to discuss support for local law enforcement and issues affecting our officers. They discussed his bill that passed the House of Representatives called the Invest to Protect Act with overwhelming bipartisan support. Gottheimer’s bipartisan, bicameral legislation supports New Jersey police departments by investing in recruitment, retention, mental health support, and training.

“I want to reiterate my deep and unwavering support to law enforcement and for what you do. Every morning, you wake up, put on a bulletproof vest, kiss your husbands, wives, and children goodbye, and then put your lives on the line all day to look out for us. For that reason, and so much more, we must always get your backs. I am forever grateful for your service and sacrifice,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus. “Recently, in Congress, I led and passed a critical piece of bipartisan legislation called the Invest to Protect Act, which will invest in training, recruitment and retention, and mental health services for local police departments in North Jersey and nationwide.”

Gottheimer added, “You simply can’t cut or defund your way to safer communities and better law enforcement. Instead, we must invest to protect. It’s about supporting you, our brave officers, who put your lives on the line every day – and all of the families on our roads and in all of our communities.”

Gottheimer’s Invest to Protect Act passed the House by a 360 to 64 vote and will make critical, targeted investments in small and midsize police departments with fewer than 125 sworn officers — which make up more than 96% of local U.S. police departments — for the recruitment, retention, support, and training they need to protect themselves and our families. It will give departments the flexibility to utilize resources to make meaningful investments in their officers and communities. It builds on Gottheimer’s continued support for New Jersey’s law enforcement to help ensure that small town police departments are eligible for critical federal investment. 

Gottheimer also recently announced that New Jersey’s Fifth District has clawed 357% more federal tax dollars back from Washington and the Moocher States since taking office. For 2021 alone, the federal tax dollars clawed back an average savings of more than $750 for each household in the Fifth District. Including more than $3.5 million of surplus federal equipment and resources for local law enforcement in 2020 alone and more than $2.7 million in federal investment since Gottheimer took office to help hire law enforcement and help our police officers better protect our communities and themselves.

This past year, legislation authored by Gottheimer was signed into law to help identify disparities between smaller departments and larger departments in the LESO/1033 program — a federal initiative that delivers equipment sitting idly and that might otherwise be destroyed to local first responders.

Below: Gottheimer with Bergen County PBA Conference Chairman Vincent Rizzo.  

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