Houston Republic

In recognition of National Police Week, the United States House of Representatives has passed Congressman Wesley Hunt's legislation, known as The Recruit and Retain Act. This bipartisan bill, co-led in the House by Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-MD), is now set to be sent to the President for approval.

The Justice Department provides grants to state, local, and tribal governments under the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) for hiring law enforcement officers (LEOs). The CHP was first authorized by Congress in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-322). With funding of $224.5 million for FY 2023, the CHP continues to be a crucial federal resource aiding law enforcement agencies in hiring new officers.

The Recruit and Retain Act aims to leverage the CHP to address current hiring challenges faced by federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies across the nation. The bill proposes reducing onboarding costs for new officers, specifically fees associated with background checks, psychological evaluations, and testing. It also seeks to alleviate administrative burdens and clarify application guidance to ensure that all law enforcement agencies can access CHP grants.

Furthermore, this legislation aims to create new opportunities for law enforcement agencies to build trust and interest in their careers among local youth. It also proposes researching current data to uncover insights into recruitment and retention trends within law enforcement across the country.

Congressman Hunt expressed his pride in the bipartisan support for this bill: “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."

He further stated: "When our police departments are well-funded and maintained, our communities are safer.  I am proud that this important piece of pro-law enforcement legislation has passed the House of Representatives, and I want to thank U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Chris Coons (D-DE), along with my colleague Congressman Ivey (D-MD) for making this bill a reality.”