Invest to Protect Act Recently Passed House by a 360 to 64 Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, October 21, 2022, U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and John Rutherford (FL-4) sent a letter to Senate leadership urging them to bring their House-passed bipartisan, bicameral Invest to Protect Act to the Senate floor for a vote as soon as possible in November. The bipartisan Invest to Protect Act will ensure that local police departments across the country have what they need to recruit and retain the finest officers, to provide necessary training, and to invest in mental health resources for officers. 

Last month, the Invest to Protect Act passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support — 153 Republicans and 207 Democrats voting for the bill. The bipartisan Invest to Protect Act is supported by Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Joyce Beatty, the National Association of Police Organizations, and the Fraternal Order of Police. 

“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 Members of Congress wrote in a letter to Senate leadership today. “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).”

The Members continued, “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.”

A version of the Invest to Protect Act unanimously passed the Senate in August, led by Senators Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Grassley (R-IA).

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

October 21, 2022

The Honorable Charles Schumer

Majority Leader                                                         

United States Senate                                                              

Washington, DC 20510                                                         

The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Minority Leader

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510

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,

Josh Gottheimer, Member of Congress

John Rutherford, Member of Congress

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