Larson Votes for Public Safety Package
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted for a package of bills to invest in public safety and mental health resources. The package includes the Invest to Protect Act (H.R. 6448), the Mental Health Justice Act (H.R. 8542), the Break the Cycle of Violence Act (H.R. 4118), and the VICTIM Act (H.R. 5768).
“Today we are taking steps towards safer and stronger communities,” said Larson. “We are putting forward resources law enforcement need to prevent and investigate crime, while building stronger relationships between law enforcement and those they serve. Together, this legislation will help prevent crime, save lives, and advance justice.”
“Congressman Larson was first elected in 1998, the same year our organization was founded,” said Andrew Woods, Executive Director of Hartford Communities That Care (HCTC). “His support for our hospital-based violence intervention program has been steady over the years – and today’s legislation demonstrates once again how his leadership makes a significant difference at the grassroots level.”
“MUAV applauds Congressman Larson and the House for voting on this package. Mothers United Against Violence understands the importance of all four of the components in this package and works on the front line on a day-to-day basis with undiagnosed mental health issues and helping to break the cycles of violence,” said Mothers United Against Violence Co-Founders Henrietta Beckman, Rev. Henry Brown, and Deborah Davis, Program & Development Manager.
“Thank you to Representative Larson for his commitment to our communities. The package of bills to invest in public safety and mental health passed by the House today will make the City of Hartford a safer place,” said Jacquelyn Santiago Nazario, Chief Executive Officer of Compass Youth Collaborative. “The Break the Cycle of Violence Act will allow COMPASS Youth Collaborative to put more Peacebuilders on the streets and change the lives of more of Hartford’s highest-risk youth. Thank you for helping COMPASS build a community where our youth feel safe, live peacefully, and have the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
This package includes:
The Invest to Protect Act provides grants to help small, local law enforcement agencies retain and recruit officers. At the same time, this bill invests in strong guardrails and accountability measures, including training for de-escalation, responding to substance use disorders, supporting survivors of domestic violence, and promoting a duty of care.
The Mental Health Justice Act will help send unarmed mental health professionals to respond to mental health crises in our neighborhoods.
The Break the Cycle of Violence Act invests in effective, evidence-based community violence intervention initiatives. This builds on the life-saving progress we forged with similar investments in our American Rescue Plan.
The VICTIM Act will bolster the ability of police forces to solve homicides, sexual assaults, shootings and other violent crimes, a necessary step to ensure justice is served and improve trust in law enforcement.