Gottheimer, Rutherford call on Senate leadership for vote on bipartisan Invest to Protect Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and John Rutherford (FL-4) Friday 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 Friday. “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).”

“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,” the members continued

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).