AFSCME-supported public safety legislation that seeks to invest in local law enforcement agencies to make our communities safer was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives last month.
It would fund social services that enhance public safety, advance police training in de-escalation and establish a program to support officers who experience stress or trauma after responding to violent crime, among other things.
“AFSCME members in law enforcement and public safety around the country work hard to keep our families and communities safe – patrolling our streets, securing our airports and enforcing our laws,” AFSCME wrote in a letter to House members urging passage of the bills. “These bills invest in policing, focusing funds on public safety and criminal investigations of the most serious crimes and recognize the complex challenges law enforcement agencies confront and face. … We support increasing access to qualified counselors for critical incident stress management and traumatic stress. Personnel must be able to confidentially access such programs without fear of stigma or penalty.”
The AFSCME-supported legislation includes:
- The Invest to Protect Act of 2022 (R. 6448) would invest $3 billion over five years in new federal funds to support hiring, retaining and training of law enforcement officers in localities that employ fewer than 125 law enforcement officers. It seeks to advance training in de-escalation, victim-centered handling of domestic violence situations and response to calls for service involving persons with mental health needs, disabilities, veterans and others.
- The Break the Cycle of Violence Act (R. 4118) would invest $5 billion in new federal funds over seven years for targeted grants to communities with higher rates of homicides to fund coordinated, community-based strategies to disrupt the cycle of violence. These funds would help increase needed trauma-response care and help those at elevated risk of being victimized or engaging in community violence.
- The Violence Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods Act of 2022 (also known as VICTIM Act of 2022, or (R. 6768) would invest $1 billion in new federal funds to help state and local law enforcement agencies or prosecuting offices to improve clearance rates for homicides, rapes, other aggravated felonies and non-fatal shootings. These funds may be used for a variety of purposes, including to help hire, train and retain detectives dedicated to investigating serious crimes and establishing a program to support officers who experience stress or trauma as a result of responding to or investigating shootings or other violent crime.
AFSCME members include police officers, corrections officers and other public safety personnel in communities across the country.
The public safety bills next head to the Senate for a vote, although the timing isn’t clear. Our union urges the Senate to follow the House’s lead and pass these critical pieces of legislation that will invest in public