Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, celebrated the House passage of H.R. 2379, which would reauthorize the lifesaving Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program, a federal program that helps state and local law enforcement agencies purchase bulletproof vests for officers working in the field. The bill was introduced in the House last month by Reps. Pascrell and Peter King (R-NY).

“For law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe, federal support must always remain both consistent and robust,” said Rep. Pascrell. “In the most perilous of situations, bulletproof vests save lives. As our nation commemorates the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers during National Police Week, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to see this bill passed into law.”

Companion legislation is currently working its way through the Senate, introduced by Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

As co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, Rep. Pascrell has made federal support for law enforcement a chief priority in Washington. On March 26, Reps. Pascrell and John Rutherford (R-FL) introduced the Probation Officer Protection Act, H.R. 1866, which would give federal probation officers the power to arrest third party individuals that obstruct a parole officer from carrying out their job.  Reps. Pascrell and Rutherford also introduced the National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act, H.R. 1865, which would authorize the minting of a coin in honor of the Museum.

Rep. Pascrell has also led the fight in Congress to protect Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (Byrne JAG), the COPS Hiring program, and other key funding streams for state and local law enforcement. Pascrell stood with New Jersey elected officials in support of NJ Attorney General Grewal’s lawsuit against the Trump administration for continuing to hold hostage Byrne JAG and COPS Hiring program funds as a political pawn. Pascrell has also led New Jersey Democrats in demanding the Trump Administration disburse approximately $4 million in federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds to New Jersey.