Washington, D.C. – During National Police Week, two of U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s (D-Nev.) bills supporting law enforcement were passed out of committee, the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act and the Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis (STOIC) Act. She also gave a speech on the Senate floor urging the swift passage of her Invest to Protect Act.
“During Police Week, I meet with officers from all over the Silver State to discuss how I can support them from Washington,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I am proud that these key bipartisan bills were moved through committee this week, and I urge my colleagues to swiftly pass them into law. I am dedicated to supporting the hardworking men and women who keep Nevadans safe.”
The Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act, which Cortez Masto is leading alongside Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee today with unanimous bipartisan support. This legislation would ensure the families of retired law enforcement officers who were killed as a result of their service are not unjustly denied benefits. It now moves to the Senate floor.
The STOIC Act, which Cortez Masto is sponsoring alongside Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), also passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee today with bipartisan support. This legislation would establish suicide prevention programs and mental health services within law enforcement communities. It now moves to the Senate floor.
Cortez Masto also gave a speech on the Senate floor encouraging the swift passage of her bipartisan Invest to Protect Act, which she is leading alongside Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). This legislation would set aside $250 million to help law enforcement agencies with fewer than 175 full-time sworn officers invest in training, mental health support, and recruitment and retention.
As the former top law enforcement official in Nevada, Senator Cortez Masto has been a leading advocate in the Senate for our police officers and is part of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus. She has secured historic funding for the Byrne JAG grant program, the leading source of criminal justice funding in the country. Her bipartisan bills to combat the crisis of law enforcement suicide and provide mental health resources to police officers have been signed into law by presidents of both parties. Her BADGES for Native Communities Act to support the Bureau of Indian Affairs with law enforcement recruitment and retention passed the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
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