WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) voted to pass four bills to improve public safety, fund local police departments, investigate unsolved crimes, and invest in better training and accountability to make our communities safer. 

“For the safety of our communities, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our police officers, we must fund local law enforcement and give them the tools they need to prevent crime while also investing in better training and accountability,” said Congressman Kim. “I am proud to work closely with our local police to close gaps in resources that put them and our neighbors at risk. These bills will help reduce the need for police intervention on mental health or substance use disorder calls, develop safer de-escalation methods, deliver our local police officers funding for improved tools and training, and invest in recruiting and retaining effective, accountable officers.”

Congressman Kim voted to pass the following pieces of legislation:

• Invest and Protect Act of 2022- This bill would provide grant funding to police forces with fewer than 200 officers for equipment needs, de-escalation training, and to improve recruitment and retention. More than 95% of local police departments in the U.S. would qualify.
• Break the Cycle of Violence Act- This bill would award grants for community violence intervention programs in communities where homicide and community violence is more common.
• Mental Health Justice Act of 2022- This bill would create a grant program to promote the use of mental health workers for responding to incidents involving people with special behavioral needs and for law enforcement training in how to respond to these incidents in a way that protects everyone.
• VICTIM ACT OF 2022- This bill would help police departments hire and train detectives and victim support specialists to help survivors, investigate unsolved crimes - particularly gun crimes - and keep our communities safe.

Congressman Kim has previously voted to secure $32,000 for Ocean County’s On P.O.I.N.T. (Proactive Outreach In Needs and Treatment) community-based policing program that embeds social workers with participating Ocean County police departments to reduce the need for police intervention in mental health and substance abuse cases. Congressman Kim is a member of the Bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus and the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force. Congressman Kim cosponsored and voted to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a bill that would make critical reforms to America’s law enforcement system.

Congressman Kim is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Committee on Small Business. More information about Congressman Kim can be found on his website by clicking here.

Original source found here.