Houston Republic

On May 1, 2024, Congressman Wesley Hunt's legislation H.R. 3325 was reported favorably out of the House Judiciary Committee. The bill, known as The Recruit and Retain Act, aims to address challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in hiring and retaining officers across the nation.

The bill focuses on leveraging the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) to ensure its responsiveness to the latest hiring challenges. It seeks to reduce onboarding costs for new officers, alleviate administrative burdens, create opportunities to build trust with local youth, and conduct research to uncover insights into recruitment and retention trends in law enforcement.

In a statement, Congressman Wesley Hunt expressed his pride in the bipartisan support the bill has garnered, stating, "I'm proud to say this bipartisan bill has been endorsed by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Sheriff's Association, and others."

The importance of well-funded and maintained police departments in ensuring community safety was emphasized by Congressman Hunt, who stated, "When our police departments are well-funded and maintained, our communities are safer."

The Recruit and Retain Act now moves forward with the support of various law enforcement organizations, signaling a step towards addressing critical issues in law enforcement recruitment and retention.