Kean, Pappas and Letlow introduce legislation provide new infrastructure for local law enforcement agencies

WASHINGTON D.C. – Representatives Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07), Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Julia Letlow (LA-05) introduced H.R.6198, the Building Up Infrastructure for Local Departments Act of 2023, or the “BUILD Act,” a bill to support infrastructure investment in small law enforcement agencies and small fire departments.

According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, many local law enforcement agencies similarly operate in buildings that have become inadequate for actual departmental functions.

“Supporting funding for local law enforcement and firefighters is paramount to safeguarding the heart of our communities,” Kean said. “We must invest in these courageous professionals who risk their lives to protect us daily, respond to emergencies, and keep our neighborhoods secure. I am proud to co-sponsor the BUILD Act. We owe it to our first responders to provide adequate funding so they can do their jobs effectively.”

“It’s clear from the conversations I’ve had with our law enforcement, fire fighters, and town representatives that this legislation would help our communities and departments fund much needed public infrastructure upgrades,” Pappas said. “Our public safety agencies must have access to the funds they need to upgrade their facilities to modern standards, supporting our officers as well as community safety. I will continue to work alongside our communities, and with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to advocate for the resources they need to promote public safety and keep us safe.”

“Our local law enforcement, first responders, and firefighters are the lifeline of the safety and well-being of our communities,” Letlow said. “It is critical that the brave men and women who put themselves in harm’s way in service to our communities have the proper resources they need to keep us safe. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan BUILD Act, to ensure our rural public safety agencies have the adequate investments to continue their critical work for our communities.” 

The BUILD Act would:

• Authorize a new BUILD grant program at the Department of Justice to modify, upgrade, or construct facilities for small local law enforcement agencies.
• Authorize a new BUILD-FIRE grant program at FEMA to modify, upgrade, or construct facilities for small fire departments.
• Authorize up to $250m for the DOJ program and $250m for the FEMA program each year for FY24-26, subject to appropriations.
• Defines small police and fire departments as those serving jurisdictions of <150,000.
• Requires a GAO study of the sufficiency of the existing capital infrastructure of small public safety agencies over the near term and long term.
• Requires the Attorney General to conduct LEMAS supplemental studies of the met and unmet construction and renovation needs of a national sample of police departments.
• Required the Secretary of Homeland Security to study the met and unmet construction and renovation needs of a national sample of fire departments. 

Congressman Kean serves on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.