Jerrold Nadler

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6448, the Invest to Protect Act, is bipartisan legislation to bolster law enforcement agencies' ability to address staffing shortages and improve community safety through de-escalation training and mental health resources. Let me be clear, Democrats have always stood for equitable funding for law enforcement. Contrary to what some of my colleagues might say, the issue of violent crime is not a red State or blue State issue. The rise in violent crime affects every community across the country. Democrats also know that public safety and respect for civil rights can coexist. Building healthy and strong communities does not require us to choose between our rights and our safety. This legislation would establish a grant program focused on improving recruitment and retention of officers and providing additional training and access to mental health resources for small law enforcement agencies. When police departments are unable to recruit, retain, and adequately resource qualified officers, communities suffer a clear threat to public safety. These officer staffing shortages can cause longer wait times for emergency calls, fewer crimes cleared, and more overworked officers, which can threaten both officer health and the quality of life in our communities. This bill seeks to address these challenges by providing additional Federal resources to small agencies to recruit and retain qualified officers, as well as provide additional training and support for these agencies. I thank Representative Josh Gottheimer for his leadership on this issue and for introducing this important legislation along with his bipartisan cosponsors. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Gottheimer), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman from Texas an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. Spanberger).

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I am astonished that Mr. Fitzgerald would admit that the Republicans want to defund the police by 75 percent. That is what he just said. After all the Republican rhetoric about the Democrats wanting to defund the police--which, of course, is not true-- Mr. Fitzgerald just got up and told us the Republicans want to defund the police by 75 percent. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, this bill would bolster law enforcement across the country and improve public safety. I think it is telling that people like Mr. Rutherford on the Republican side of the aisle helped craft this bill with people like Mr. Gottheimer on this side of the aisle. On the other hand, there are, obviously, a lot of Republicans like Mr. Jordan who want to defund the police or at least defund small town America police by opposing this bill. So, Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support small town America and to support policing in small town America by supporting this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1377, I call up the bill (H.R. 4118) to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to build safer, thriving communities, and save lives, by investing in effective community-based violence reduction initiatives, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4118.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, our Nation is experiencing an epidemic of violence, particularly gun violence, that is ravaging communities large and small across the United States. Research shows that violence begets more violence. It is a vicious cycle. H.R. 4118, the Break the Cycle of Violence Act, would provide grant funding for community violence intervention programs and youth workforce development programs to help prevent gun violence and other violent crimes, and to provide critical support services to people and communities who are in dire need of help. In addition to saving countless lives, it would also save billions of dollars. It is estimated that gun violence costs this Nation a staggering $280 billion every single year. This legislation would help establish evidence-based community violence intervention, or CVI programs, staffed by specialists with ties to their communities. These programs connect people at risk of committing violence, and those at risk of being victimized by violence, with intensive counseling and support services. Because we know that access to job training, apprenticeship, and other workforce development programs are effective tools in reducing community violence, the bill would also support workforce development programs for youth in communities that are disproportionately impacted by violence. Experience tells us that these programs work, reducing rates of homicide and other gun violence by as much as 50 percent. We must invest in these remarkably effective programs so that we can finally break the cycle of violence, which has shattered so many communities. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Steve Horsford for introducing this important legislation. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I didn't know that the Federal Government funding police was against the Republican Party position. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Nevada.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Jordan apparently isn't listening. This is a package of bills. The last bill, which he opposed, appropriated money for police. This bill complements it by appropriating money for antiviolence intervention. Mr. Speaker, our communities have seen enough violence and bloodshed. The Break the Cycle of Violence Act gives us the opportunity to prevent violence before it starts and to provide critical support to our most impacted communities. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in support of this crucial legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1377, I call up the bill (H.R. 5768) to direct the Attorney General to establish a grant program to establish, create, and administer the violent incident clearance and technology investigative method, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 5768.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5768, the VICTIM Act of 2022, is bipartisan legislation that would help law enforcement improve clearance rates for homicides, rapes, sexual assaults, kidnappings, and nonfatal shootings. As communities continue to face increased gun violence and violent crime, this bill is a vital step toward improving public safety. Again, let me be clear: Democrats have always stood for equitable funding for law enforcement. In fact, Democratic-led cities and States have consistently funded law enforcement at much higher per capita rates than Republican-led cities, while also recognizing the need for law enforcement accountability and improving public trust. To address the challenges our law enforcement agencies are facing, this bill would provide funding and support for agencies to hire and train detectives and investigators to improve case clearance rates. Low clearance rates not only prevent victims from accessing justice, but they also damage the public's trust in law enforcement. By investing in the personnel and technology needed to solve cases of homicide and other serious crimes, agencies can help build public confidence and improve community safety. In providing State, local, and Tribal agencies with additional resources, the VICTIM Act will equip agencies to better respond to and investigate these serious crimes, bringing justice for victims and keeping our communities safe. I thank Representative Val Demings and her bipartisan cosponsors for their leadership on this issue and for introducing this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Demings), the sponsor of this legislation and a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman.