WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01) helped pass H.R. 6448, the Invest to Protect Act, H.R. 5768, the VICTIM Act, H.R. 8542, the Mental Health Justice Act of 2022, and H.R. 4118, the Break the Cycle of Violence Act. These bills will secure new funding and resources for states and police departments to address crime and mental health crises by recruiting and retaining new law enforcement officers and mental health professionals, funding crime prevention programs, and addressing the needs of crime victims and their families.

“Members of New Hampshire law enforcement deserve our gratitude and support for the work they do to keep our communities safe,” said Congressman Pappas. “That’s why I voted for these bills to fill critical funding gaps for small police departments and equip them with the resources needed to do their jobs. I’ll keep pushing for additional funding and support for public safety, and I am hopeful the Senate will join us in passing these commonsense, bipartisan measures.”

H.R. 6448, the Invest to Protect Act, and H.R. 5768, the VICTIM Act, are key pieces of Pappas’s “New Hampshire Safe Communities Agenda,” a package of legislation and priorities that he has advocated for to improve safety in communities in every corner of the First District by supporting first responders, front line workers, and law enforcement.

Pappas’s New Hampshire Safe Communities Agenda legislative priorities include:

The Invest to Protect Act will secure funding for small police departments to improve training and standards, recruit and retain officers, acquire body camera data storage, and provide mental health resources for officers.

The Establishing Accreditation Grants for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) Act would authorize $10 million in funding for small and mid-sized police departments to earn or renew accreditation from state, regional, tribal or national police accreditation organizations, such as the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). This legislation would help police departments update their standards and best practices to strengthen accountability, enhance community trust, and improve operational effectiveness.

The Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting (FIGHT) Fentanyl Act will keep deadly synthetic drugs off the streets by placing fentanyl-related substances permanently on the Schedule I list. Fentanyl overdoses are now the leading cause of death in American adults ages 18 to 45, with 100,000 Americans dying from an overdose annually – the first time we have reached this tragic milestone.

The National ACERT Grant Program Authorization Act would establish a federal grant program to provide resources for law enforcement and first responders to connect with local child specialists and professionals to intervene and mitigate the impacts of childhood trauma. ACEs, or Adverse Childhood Experiences, are events in a child’s life which have a heavy impact on their future wellbeing, success in life, and risk of violence. This legislation would allow for the creation of ACE Response Teams (ACERTs) which would deploy as soon as the scene has been cleared to provide services and care to children who have experienced trauma.

The Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act establishes a grant program to provide resources to local law enforcement agencies to help increase clearance rates for homicides and non-fatal shootings. These DOJ grants would allow PDs to hire and retain detectives and analysts to investigate homicide and non-fatal shootings, acquire resources for evidence processing, and ensure agencies investigating these violent crimes are adequately staffed and funded.

The Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act establishes a program to provide mortgage assistance to law enforcement officers, elementary and secondary school teachers, firefighters, or other first responders. Specifically, these individuals may be eligible for a one-time mortgage on a primary family residence with no down payment and no monthly mortgage insurance premium.

Following Pappas’s continued advocacy, the American Rescue Plan Act passed the House with significant funding for local government to support police, fire, and first responders to allow local agencies on the pandemic’s front lines to hire new officers and maintain vital emergency services.