Hoosier State Today

U.S. Senator Todd Young has recently co-sponsored two legislative measures aimed at bolstering support for local law enforcement and first responders. "Our police officers are on the front lines every day making sacrifices to protect Hoosiers. I’m glad to join these efforts to ensure our law enforcement officers have the support necessary to continue keeping our communities safe," stated Senator Young.

The first piece of legislation, the Invest to Protect Act, was introduced by Young alongside Senators Chuck Grassley and Catherine Cortez Masto. This bill is designed to assist local law enforcement agencies in areas such as training, recruitment, retention, and mental health support. It proposes the creation of a special grant program within the Department of Justice (DOJ) targeting agencies with fewer than 175 full-time sworn officers, which constitutes the majority of U.S. law enforcement agencies. The application process for these grants is intended to be efficient, requiring no more than 30 minutes to complete.

In addition, Senator Young has introduced another bill with Senators Grassley and Chris Coons that focuses on enhancing mental health services for first responders across the nation. The Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Act mandates that the DOJ develop treatment programs specifically for police, fire, emergency medical personnel, and 911 operators dealing with PTSD or acute stress disorders.

Both the Invest to Protect Act and the Fighting PTSD Act were previously co-sponsored by Young in earlier congressional sessions and successfully passed in the Senate during the 118th Congress.