Washington, DC – Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) voted today to pass a legislative package that will help keep our communities safe by funding our police departments and public safety agencies. These bills will provide funding for New Jersey municipalities to hire additional law enforcement officers and mental health professionals, purchase necessary equipment, provide evidence-based training for officers including on de-escalation and mental health crises, and invest in violence prevention programs and social services.

Organizations that have endorsed one or more of these bills include the Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations, National Troopers Coalition, National Police Foundation, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Major Cities Chiefs Association, New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, and New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association.

“Protecting public safety is the most core function of government and I have been advocating for months for the passage of critical legislation that keeps our communities safe by funding our police, supporting de-escalation and mental health training, and developing evidence-based violence prevention initiatives,” said Rep. Sherrill. “New Jersey has the most professional law enforcement and first responders in the nation, and this legislation will ensure that they have the resources they need to reduce crime in our communities and to keep us safe.”

The House today passed four bills focused on protecting public safety, including:

The Invest to Protect Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Sherrill, which will provide assistance to police departments with fewer than 200 officers to help them recruit and retain officers, purchase body cameras, and provide training and mental health assistance to officers;

The Mental Health Justice Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Sherrill, which will provide grants to states to train and dispatch mental health professionals instead of law enforcement when someone experiencing a mental health crisis calls 911;

The VICTIM Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Sherrill, which will create a Department of Justice grant program to help law enforcement agencies hire, train, and retain detectives and victim services personnel to investigate shootings and support victims; and

The Break the Cycle of Violence Act, which creates a federal grant program to support community violence intervention initiatives and provide workforce training to at-risk youth impacted by gun violence.

Rep. Sherrill has been a strong advocate of enacting critical public safety funding legislation as soon as possible. Earlier this week, she signed a letter with 12 fellow members of the House urging leadership to bring a package of law enforcement funding bills to the floor for a vote. She also signed a letter in June urging the passage of legislation to hire additional police officers, purchase critical equipment, and provide support services such as mental health treatment.

Prior to serving in Congress, Rep. Sherrill served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, working closely with New Jersey’s law enforcement on federal investigations and getting illegal guns off our streets. She also worked to strengthen relations between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

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