Gallego Votes to Pass Historic Public Safety Package
WASHINGTON, DC –Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) today voted to pass four bills aimed at taking concrete steps to prevent crime and increase public safety in Arizona.
“American families should be able to live safely and peacefully no matter what neighborhood they’re from,” said Rep. Gallego. “Today House Democrats stood up for all communities by passing bills that invest in our public safety, fund violence intervention programs, support community policing and recruitment, and work to improve law enforcement response to shootings and homicides. This legislative package will put us on the right path to safety and dignity for all Americans through a comprehensive, community-first approach to public safety and mental health issues. I am proud to join my colleagues in advancing these bills.”
The package passed by the House today includes four critical pieces of legislation:
- H.R. 5768: The Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act, which Rep. Gallego cosponsors, provides funding for state, local, and tribal law enforcement to improve clearance rates and clear the backlog of unsolved shootings and homicides, as well as improve access to victim services. For the full text of H.R. 5768, click here.
- H.R. 4118: The Break the Cycle of Violence Act, which Rep. Gallego cosponsors, is a historic investment in community-led violence intervention initiatives that are proven to reduce violent crime and provide treatment, counseling, case management, and more to both victims of crime and community members most at risk of involvement in community violence. For the full text of H.R. 4118, click here.
- H.R. 6448: The Invest and Protect Act provides funding for police recruitment and community policing in Departments with fewer than 125 officers, as well as funding for victim services, de-escalation training, and improved data on policing practices. For the full text of H.R. 6448, click here.
- H.R. 5768: The Mental Health Justice Act, which Rep. Gallego cosponsors, would allow local governments to apply for funding to hire and train mental health professionals to respond in cases of mental health emergencies, reducing the chance of violent or fatal encounters with police. For the full text of H.R. 1368, click here.
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Rep. Ruben Gallego is a Marine Corps combat veteran who served in Iraq. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Natural Resources Committee, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.