Representative Angie Craig Helps Pass Bipartisan Package to Increase Funding for Local Law Enforcement Agencies

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig helped pass a series of bipartisan, commonsense bills that would provide additional funding to invest in the hiring, retention, training and mental health resources for local law enforcement in Minnesota's Second Congressional District and across the country. The comprehensive legislative package contains 4 bills – including Craig's Invest to Protect Act – which are designed to ensure that local police departments have access to the resources they need to effectively combat rising crime rates and keep their communities safe from harm.

The package was brought to the House floor after Craig and more than 30 of her colleagues pressed House Leadership to prioritize public safety legislation.

"The first job of any government is ensuring public safety – and it's my belief that the best way to do that is to make sure that our law enforcement officers have the resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. These bills are an important step toward doing just that," said Representative Craig. "I am especially proud to see that this package includes my bill, the Invest to Protect Act, which will help to effectively address the unique needs of our small and mid-sized police departments in the Second Congressional District and across the country."

The 4 bills included in the police funding package are:

• H.R. 6448, Representative Craig's Invest to Protect Act, which would provide $60 million in grants for small and mid-sized police departments to invest in training, personnel support and mental health resources. Police departments with forces of 125 officers or less – which represent more than 95% of police departments including every department in Minnesota's Second District – would be eligible to apply for grants under the legislation
• H.R. 1368, The Mental Health Justice Act, which would make it easier for state and local governments to send trained mental health professionals instead of police when 911 is called because an individual is experiencing a mental health crisis
• H.R. 4118,The Break the Cycle of Violence Act, which would provide federal grants to communities for evidence-informed community violence intervention and prevention programs designed to interrupt cycles of violence
• H.R. 5768, The VICTIM Act of 2022, which would establish a Department of Justice grant program to hire, train and retain detectives and victim services personnel to investigate shootings and support victims. The legislation would also help to clear the backlog of unsolved homicides.

In Congress, Representative Craig has made it a priority to increase support for police officers and their families and to ensure that local police departments have the funding they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. Earlier this month, she introduced the Ride-along Resolution, which would require each Member of the House to participate in a ride-along with a law enforcement officer within their District during their first year in Congress. Last month, Representative Craig's bipartisan Public Safety Officer Support Act, legislation that she helped introduce and pass after hearing the story of South St. Paul Police Sergeant Cory Slifko, was signed into law. This bill will ensure that officers can access disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder – and that families of officers who lost their lives to trauma-linked suicide can apply for the death benefits that they deserve. She has worked hand-in-hand with local law enforcement leaders to draft and submit applications for federal grant dollars to support hiring, equipment and technology programs – including police departments in South St. Paul, West St. Paul, Burnsville and Inver Grove Heights.

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