Minnesota State Wire

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), a member of the Judiciary Committee, announced that four bills to support law enforcement officers and combat crime passed the Judiciary Committee. 

“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect the communities they serve,” said Klobuchar. “As we work to strengthen public safety and improve our criminal justice system, I’ll keep pushing to ensure that our law enforcement officers have the resources they need to keep us safe.” 

Klobuchar and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced the bipartisan COPS on the Beat Grant Program Parity Act. This legislation would help law enforcement agencies in rural and low income areas access Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant programs. 

The bipartisan Recruit and Retain Act would allow law enforcement agencies to use the Department of Justice’s COPS grants to cover hiring costs so that officers can apply to recruitment programs more easily. The bill would help law enforcement agencies across the country that are understaffed or struggling to attract new applicants. This legislation was introduced by Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Cornyn (R-TX).

The Project Safe Neighborhoods Reauthorization Act would reauthorize the Project Safe Neighborhoods program. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide initiative led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop ways to address violent crime in their jurisdiction. In Minnesota, the United States Attorney’s Office has used PSN funds to address gun crime, carjackings, and other serious violent crimes. This bipartisan legislation was introduced by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Chris Coons (D-DE). 

The Strong Communities Act would provide federal grants for local law enforcement recruits who attend school or academy and then serve in a law enforcement agency in that same community. This bipartisan legislation was introduced by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Cornyn (R-TX), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Jon Ossoff (D-GA). 

Klobuchar has long worked to provide law enforcement with the resources they need.

Klobuchar helped secure significant funding for the COPS program in the 2022 end of year appropriations bill, including funding for the COPS Hiring Program which helps provide law enforcement agencies with the resources they need to hire additional officers. She has also successfully fought for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program, which has provided state and local law enforcement with needed support to train and equip public safety officers. 

In 2022, Klobuchar and Senator John Cornyn’s (R-TX) bipartisan Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act was signed into law. This legislation supports state and local law enforcement agencies by funding mental health courts, crisis intervention teams, and other programs that help law enforcement assist people experiencing mental health challenges.

Original source can be found here.