Gottheimer first introduced the bipartisan Invest to Protect Act in House and is continuing progress to bring to floor for vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, August 2, 2022, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) applauded the unanimous passage of the Senate’s bipartisan Invest to Protect Act companion legislation, which Gottheimer introduced last year. This moves the critical bipartisan, bicameral bill one step closer to becoming law. 

The Invest to Protect Act, which was first introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Gottheimer and Rep. John Rutherford (FL-4), will make critical, targeted investments in local police departments and ensure that police officers in smaller communities across the country have the resources and training they need to keep themselves and their communities safe. 

The Invest to Protect Act currently has 84 bipartisan cosponsors in the House. The Senate companion legislation was introduced by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA). 

“Every day, our brave law enforcement wake up, put on a bulletproof vest, kiss their spouses and children goodbye, and put their lives on the line to look out for us. That’s why we must always get the backs of our first responders, and all those who serve our nation. With my bipartisan legislation, we will make critical investments in our law enforcement, in training and tools, in recruiting and retaining the best talent, and in ensuring they have the resources they need to keep themselves and our communities safe. When it comes to law enforcement, we need to invest to protect,” said U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus and lead House sponsor of the Invest to Protect Act. “The Senate unanimously passing this critical bipartisan, bicameral legislation moves us one step closer to getting this vital investment across the finish line, and I look forward to continuing to make great progress with Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Joyce Beatty and House leadership in our efforts to bring the Invest to Protect Act to the floor for a vote.”

Gottheimer’s bipartisan, bicameral Invest to Protect Act will provide the following federal investment to small police departments:

1. Investments in officer safety, de-escalation, and domestic violence response training, allowing officers to receive critical training that will make them more effective at their jobs, all without putting a strain on department budgets or reducing the number of officers on duty while others are at training by allowing investment to be used to offset overtime pay.
2. Investment for small departments to recruit new officers — helping expand departments and bringing in new, good officers. This investment can also be used by departments to provide retention bonuses to help keep their best officers. 
3. Investment for departments to provide mental health resources for their officers.

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