[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 194 (Wednesday, December 14, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H9831-H9837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           LAW ENFORCEMENT DE-ESCALATION TRAINING ACT OF 2022

  Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1518, I call 
up the bill (S. 4003) to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
Streets Act of 1968 to provide for training on alternatives to use of 
force, de-escalation, and mental and behavioral health and suicidal 
crises, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Hayes). Pursuant to House Resolution 
1518, the bill is considered read.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 4003

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Law Enforcement De-
     Escalation Training Act of 2022''.

     SEC. 2. TRAINING ON ALTERNATIVES TO USE OF FORCE, DE-
                   ESCALATION, AND MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 
                   CRISES.

       (a) Definitions.--Section 901(a) of title I of the Omnibus 
     Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 
     10251(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (27), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (28), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(29) the term `de-escalation' means taking action or 
     communicating verbally or non-verbally during a potential 
     force encounter in an attempt to stabilize the situation and 
     reduce the immediacy of the threat so that more time, 
     options, and resources can be called upon to resolve the 
     situation without the use of force or with a reduction in the 
     force necessary;
       ``(30) the term `mental or behavioral health or suicidal 
     crisis'--
       ``(A) means a situation in which the behavior of a person--
       ``(i) puts the person at risk of hurting himself or herself 
     or others; or
       ``(ii) impairs or prevents the person from being able to 
     care for himself or herself or function effectively in the 
     community; and
       ``(B) includes a situation in which a person--
       ``(i) is under the influence of a drug or alcohol, is 
     suicidal, or experiences symptoms of a mental illness; or
       ``(ii) may exhibit symptoms, including emotional reactions 
     (such as fear or anger), psychological impairments (such as 
     inability to focus, confusion, or psychosis), and behavioral 
     reactions (such as the trigger of a freeze, fight, or flight 
     response);
       ``(31) the term `disability' has the meaning given that 
     term in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
     1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102);
       ``(32) the term `crisis intervention team' means a 
     collaborative, interdisciplinary team that brings together 
     specially trained law enforcement officers, mental health 
     providers, and other community stakeholders to respond to 
     mental health-related calls, use appropriate de-escalation 
     techniques, and assess if referral to services or transport 
     for mental health evaluation is appropriate; and
       ``(33) the term `covered mental health professional' means 
     a mental health professional working on a crisis intervention 
     team--
       ``(A) as an employee of a law enforcement agency; or
       ``(B) under a legal agreement with a law enforcement 
     agency.''.
       (b) COPS Program.--Section 1701 of title I of the Omnibus 
     Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10381) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(n) Training in Alternatives to Use of Force, De-
     Escalation Techniques, and Mental and Behavioral Health 
     Crises.--
       ``(1) Training curricula.--
       ``(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of enactment of this subsection, the Attorney General shall 
     develop training curricula or identify effective existing 
     training curricula for law enforcement officers and for 
     covered mental health professionals regarding--
       ``(i) de-escalation tactics and alternatives to use of 
     force;
       ``(ii) safely responding to an individual experiencing a 
     mental or behavioral health or suicidal crisis or an 
     individual with a disability, including techniques and 
     strategies that are designed to protect the safety of that 
     individual, law enforcement officers, mental health 
     professionals, and the public;
       ``(iii) successfully participating on a crisis intervention 
     team; and
       ``(iv) making referrals to community-based mental and 
     behavioral health services and support, housing assistance 
     programs, public benefits programs, the National Suicide 
     Prevention Lifeline, and other services.
       ``(B) Requirements.--The training curricula developed or 
     identified under this paragraph shall include--
       ``(i) scenario-based exercises;
       ``(ii) pre-training and post-training tests to assess 
     relevant knowledge and skills covered in the training 
     curricula; and
       ``(iii) follow-up evaluative assessments to determine the 
     degree to which participants in the training apply, in their 
     jobs, the knowledge and skills gained in the training.
       ``(C) Consultation.--The Attorney General shall develop and 
     identify training curricula under this paragraph in 
     consultation with relevant law enforcement agencies of States 
     and units of local government, associations that represent 
     individuals with mental or behavioral health diagnoses or 
     individuals with disabilities, labor organizations, 
     professional law enforcement organizations, local law 
     enforcement labor and representative organizations, law 
     enforcement trade associations, mental health and suicide 
     prevention organizations, family advocacy organizations, and 
     civil rights and civil liberties groups.
       ``(2) Certified programs and courses.--
       ``(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     on which training curricula are developed or identified under 
     paragraph (1)(A), the Attorney General shall establish a 
     process to--
       ``(i) certify training programs and courses offered by 
     public and private entities to law enforcement officers or 
     covered mental health professionals using 1 or more of the 
     training curricula developed or identified under paragraph 
     (1), or equivalents to such training curricula, which may 
     include certifying a training program or course that an 
     entity began offering on or before the date on which the 
     Attorney General establishes the process; and
       ``(ii) terminate the certification of a training program or 
     course if the program or course fails to continue to meet the 
     standards under the training curricula developed or 
     identified under paragraph (1).
       ``(B) Partnerships with mental health organizations and 
     educational institutions.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date on which training curricula are developed or identified 
     under paragraph (1)(A), the Attorney General shall develop 
     criteria to ensure that public and private entities that 
     offer training programs or courses that are certified under 
     subparagraph (A) collaborate with local mental health 
     organizations to--
       ``(i) enhance the training experience of law enforcement 
     officers through consultation with and the participation of 
     individuals with mental or behavioral health diagnoses or 
     disabilities, particularly such individuals who have 
     interacted with law enforcement officers; and
       ``(ii) strengthen relationships between health care 
     services and law enforcement agencies.
       ``(3) Transitional regional training programs for state and 
     local agency personnel.--
       ``(A) In general.--During the period beginning on the date 
     on which the Attorney General establishes the process 
     required under paragraph (2)(A) and ending on the date that 
     is 18 months after that date, the Attorney General shall, and 
     thereafter the Attorney General may, provide, in 
     collaboration with law enforcement training academies of 
     States and units of local government as appropriate, regional 
     training to equip personnel from law enforcement agencies of 
     States and units of local government in a

[[Page H9832]]

     State to offer training programs or courses certified under 
     paragraph (2)(A).
       ``(B) Continuing education.--The Attorney General shall 
     develop and implement continuing education requirements for 
     personnel from law enforcement agencies of States and units 
     of local government who receive training to offer training 
     programs or courses under subparagraph (A).
       ``(4) List.--Not later than 1 year after the Attorney 
     General completes the activities described in paragraphs (1) 
     and (2), the Attorney General shall publish a list of law 
     enforcement agencies of States and units of local government 
     employing law enforcement officers or using covered mental 
     health professionals who have successfully completed a course 
     using 1 or more of the training curricula developed or 
     identified under paragraph (1), or equivalents to such 
     training curricula, which shall include--
       ``(A) the total number of law enforcement officers that are 
     employed by the agency;
       ``(B) the number of such law enforcement officers who have 
     completed such a course;
       ``(C) whether personnel from the law enforcement agency 
     have been trained to offer training programs or courses under 
     paragraph (3);
       ``(D) the total number of covered mental health 
     professionals who work with the agency; and
       ``(E) the number of such covered mental health 
     professionals who have completed such a course.
       ``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this subsection--
       ``(A) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
       ``(B) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
       ``(C) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
       ``(D) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.''.
       (c) Byrne JAG Program.--Subpart 1 of part E of title I of 
     the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 
     U.S.C. 10151 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating section 508 as section 509; and
       (2) by inserting after section 507 the following:

     ``SEC. 508. LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS.

       ``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `certified 
     training program or course' means a program or course using 1 
     or more of the training curricula developed or identified 
     under section 1701(n)(1), or equivalents to such training 
     curricula--
       ``(1) that is provided by the Attorney General under 
     section 1701(n)(3); or
       ``(2) that is--
       ``(A) provided by a public or private entity, including the 
     personnel of a law enforcement agency or law enforcement 
     training academy of a State or unit of local government who 
     have been trained to offer training programs or courses under 
     section 1701(n)(3); and
       ``(B) certified by the Attorney General under section 
     1701(n)(2).
       ``(b) Authority.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     Attorney General completes the activities required by 
     paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 1701(n), the Attorney 
     General shall, from amounts made available to fund training 
     programs pursuant to subsection (h), make grants to States 
     for use by the State or a unit of government located in the 
     State to--
       ``(A) pay for--
       ``(i) costs associated with conducting a certified training 
     program or course or, subject to paragraph (2), a certified 
     training program or course that provides continuing 
     education; and
       ``(ii) attendance by law enforcement officers or covered 
     mental health professionals at a certified training program 
     or course, including a course provided by a law enforcement 
     training academy of a State or unit of local government;
       ``(B) procure a certified training program or course or, 
     subject to paragraph (2), a certified training program or 
     course that provides continuing education on 1 or more of the 
     topics described in section 1701(n)(1)(A);
       ``(C) in the case of a law enforcement agency of a unit of 
     local government that employs fewer than 50 employees 
     (determined on a full-time equivalent basis), pay for the 
     costs of overtime accrued as a result of the attendance of a 
     law enforcement officer or covered mental health professional 
     at a certified training program or course for which the costs 
     associated with conducting the certified training program or 
     course are paid using amounts provided under this section;
       ``(D) pay for the costs of developing mechanisms to comply 
     with the reporting requirements established under subsection 
     (d), in an amount not to exceed 5 percent of the total amount 
     of the grant award; and
       ``(E) pay for the costs associated with participation in 
     the voluntary National Use-of-Force Data Collection of the 
     Federal Bureau of Investigation, in an amount not to exceed 5 
     percent of the total amount of the grant award, if a law 
     enforcement agency of the State or unit of local government 
     is not already reporting to the National Use-of-Force Data 
     Collection.
       ``(2) Requirements for use for continuing education.--
       ``(A) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term `covered 
     topic' means a topic covered under the curricula developed or 
     identified under clause (i), (ii), or (iv) of section 
     1701(n)(1)(A).
       ``(B) Requirement to provide initial training.--A State or 
     unit of local government shall ensure that all officers who 
     have been employed with the State or unit of local government 
     for at least 2 years have received training as part of a 
     certified training program or course on all covered topics 
     before the State or unit of local government uses amounts 
     received under a grant under paragraph (1) for continuing 
     education with respect to any covered topic.
       ``(C) Start date of availability of funding.--
       ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), a State or unit 
     of local government may not use amounts received under a 
     grant under paragraph (1) for continuing education with 
     respect to a covered topic until the date that is 2 years 
     after the date of enactment of the Law Enforcement De-
     Escalation Training Act of 2022.
       ``(ii) Exception.--A State or unit of local government may 
     use amounts received under a grant under paragraph (1) for 
     continuing education with respect to a covered topic during 
     the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the 
     Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act of 2022 if the 
     State or unit of local government has complied with 
     subparagraph (B) using amounts available to the State or unit 
     of local government other than amounts received under a grant 
     under paragraph (1).
       ``(3) Maintaining relationships with local mental health 
     organizations.--A State or unit of local government that 
     receives funds under this section shall establish and 
     maintain relationships between law enforcement officers and 
     local mental health organizations and health care services.
       ``(c) Allocation of Funds.--
       ``(1) In general.--Of the total amount appropriated to 
     carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Attorney 
     General shall allocate funds to each State in proportion to 
     the total number of law enforcement officers in the State 
     that are employed by the State or a unit of local government 
     within the State, as compared to the total number of law 
     enforcement officers in the United States.
       ``(2) Retention of funds for training for state law 
     enforcement officers proportional to number of state 
     officers.--Each fiscal year, each State may retain, for use 
     for the purposes described in this section, from the total 
     amount of funds provided to the State under paragraph (1) an 
     amount that is not more than the amount that bears the same 
     ratio to such total amount as the ratio of--
       ``(A) the total number of law enforcement officers employed 
     by the State; to
       ``(B) the total number of law enforcement officers in the 
     State that are employed by the State or a unit of local 
     government within the State.
       ``(3) Provision of funds for training for local law 
     enforcement officers.--
       ``(A) In general.--A State shall make available to units of 
     local government in the State for the purposes described in 
     this section the amounts remaining after a State retains 
     funds under paragraph (2).
       ``(B) Additional uses.--A State may, with the approval of a 
     unit of local government, use the funds allocated to the unit 
     of local government under subparagraph (A)--
       ``(i) to facilitate offering a certified training program 
     or course or, subject to subsection (b)(2), a certified 
     training program or course that provide continuing education 
     in 1 or more of the topics described in section 1701(n)(1)(A) 
     to law enforcement officers employed by the unit of local 
     government; or
       ``(ii) for the costs of training local law enforcement 
     officers, including through law enforcement training 
     academies of States and units of local government, to conduct 
     a certified training program or course.
       ``(C) Consultation.--The Attorney General, in consultation 
     with relevant law enforcement agencies of States and units of 
     local government, associations that represent individuals 
     with mental or behavioral health diagnoses or individuals 
     with disabilities, labor organizations, professional law 
     enforcement organizations, local law enforcement labor and 
     representative organizations, law enforcement trade 
     associations, mental health and suicide prevention 
     organizations, family advocacy organizations, and civil 
     rights and civil liberties groups, shall develop criteria 
     governing the allocation of funds to units of local 
     government under this paragraph, which shall ensure that the 
     funds are distributed as widely as practicable in terms of 
     geographical location and to both large and small law 
     enforcement agencies of units of local government.
       ``(D) Announcement of allocations.--Not later than 30 days 
     after the date on which a State receives an award under 
     paragraph (1), the State shall announce the allocations of 
     funds to units of local government under subparagraph (A). A 
     State shall submit to the Attorney General a report 
     explaining any delays in the announcement of allocations 
     under this subparagraph.
       ``(d) Reporting.--
       ``(1) Units of local government.--Any unit of local 
     government that receives funds from a State under subsection 
     (c)(3) for a certified training program or course shall 
     submit to the State or the Attorney General an annual report 
     with respect to the first fiscal year during which the unit 
     of local government receives such funds and each of the 2 
     fiscal years thereafter that--
       ``(A) shall include the number of law enforcement officers 
     employed by the unit of local government that have completed 
     a certified training program or course, including a certified 
     training program or course provided on or before the date on 
     which the Attorney General begins certifying training 
     programs and courses under section

[[Page H9833]]

     1701(n)(2), the topics covered in those courses, and the 
     number of officers who received training in each topic;
       ``(B) may, at the election of the unit of local government, 
     include the number of law enforcement officers employed by 
     the unit of local government that have completed a certified 
     training program or course using funds provided from a source 
     other than the grants described under subsection (b), the 
     topics covered in those courses, and the number of officers 
     who received training in each topic;
       ``(C) shall include the total number of law enforcement 
     officers employed by the unit of local government;
       ``(D) shall include a description of any barriers to 
     providing training on the topics described in section 
     1701(n)(1)(A);
       ``(E) shall include information gathered through--
       ``(i) pre-training and post-training tests that assess 
     relevant knowledge and skills covered in the training 
     curricula, as specified in section 1701(n)(1); and
       ``(ii) follow-up evaluative assessments to determine the 
     degree to which participants in the training apply, in their 
     jobs, the knowledge and skills gained in the training; and
       ``(F) shall include the amount of funds received by the 
     unit of local government under subsection (c)(3) and a 
     tentative plan for training all law enforcement officers 
     employed by the unit of local government using available and 
     anticipated funds.
       ``(2) States.--A State receiving funds under this section 
     shall submit to the Attorney General--
       ``(A) any report the State receives from a unit of local 
     government under paragraph (1); and
       ``(B) if the State retains funds under subsection (c)(2) 
     for a fiscal year, a report by the State for that fiscal 
     year, and each of the 2 fiscal years thereafter--
       ``(i) indicating the number of law enforcement officers 
     employed by the State that have completed a certified 
     training program or course, including a certified training 
     program or course provided on or before the date on which the 
     Attorney General begins certifying training programs or 
     courses under section 1701(n)(2), the topics covered in those 
     courses, and the number of officers who received training in 
     each topic, including, at the election of the State, a 
     certified training program or course using funds provided 
     from a source other than the grants described under 
     subsection (b);
       ``(ii) indicating the total number of law enforcement 
     officers employed by the State;
       ``(iii) providing information gathered through--

       ``(I) pre-training and post-training tests that assess 
     relevant knowledge and skills covered in the training 
     curricula, as specified in section 1701(n)(1); and
       ``(II) follow-up evaluative assessments to determine the 
     degree to which participants in the training apply, in their 
     jobs, the knowledge and skills gained in the training;

       ``(iv) discussing any barriers to providing training on the 
     topics described in section 1701(n)(1)(A); and
       ``(v) indicating the amount of funding retained by the 
     State under subsection (c)(2) and providing a tentative plan 
     for training all law enforcement officers employed by the 
     State using available and anticipated funds.
       ``(3) Reporting tools.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of enactment of this section, the Attorney General shall 
     develop a portal through which the data required under 
     paragraphs (1) and (2) may be collected and submitted.
       ``(4) Reports on the use of de-escalation tactics and other 
     techniques.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Attorney General, in consultation 
     with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
     relevant law enforcement agencies of States and units of 
     local government, associations that represent individuals 
     with mental or behavioral health diagnoses or individuals 
     with disabilities, labor organizations, professional law 
     enforcement organizations, local law enforcement labor and 
     representative organizations, law enforcement trade 
     associations, mental health and suicide prevention 
     organizations, family advocacy organizations, and civil 
     rights and civil liberties groups, shall establish--
       ``(i) reporting requirements on interactions in which de-
     escalation tactics and other techniques in curricula 
     developed or identified under section 1701(n)(1) are used by 
     each law enforcement agency that receives funding under this 
     section; and
       ``(ii) mechanisms for each law enforcement agency to submit 
     such reports to the Department of Justice.
       ``(B) Reporting requirements.--The requirements developed 
     under subparagraph (A) shall--
       ``(i) specify--

       ``(I) the circumstances under which an interaction shall be 
     reported, considering--

       ``(aa) the cost of collecting and reporting the 
     information; and
       ``(bb) the value of that information for determining 
     whether--
       ``(AA) the objectives of the training have been met; and
       ``(BB) the training reduced or eliminated the risk of 
     serious physical injury to officers, subjects, and third 
     parties; and

       ``(II) the demographic and other relevant information about 
     the officer and subjects involved in the interaction that 
     shall be included in such a report; and

       ``(ii) require such reporting be done in a manner that--

       ``(I) is in compliance with all applicable Federal and 
     State confidentiality laws; and
       ``(II) does not disclose the identities of law enforcement 
     officers, subjects, or third parties.

       ``(C) Review of reporting requirements.--Not later than 2 
     years after the date of enactment of this section, and every 
     2 years thereafter, the Attorney General, in consultation 
     with the entities specified under subparagraph (A), shall 
     review and consider updates to the reporting requirements.
       ``(5) Failure to report.--
       ``(A) In general.--An entity receiving funds under this 
     section that fails to file a report as required under 
     paragraph (1) or (2), as applicable and as determined by the 
     Attorney General, shall not be eligible to receive funds 
     under this section for a period of 2 fiscal years.
       ``(B) Rule of construction.--Nothing in subparagraph (A) 
     shall be construed to prohibit a State that fails to file a 
     report as required under paragraph (2), and is not eligible 
     to receive funds under this section, from making funding 
     available to a unit of local government of the State under 
     subsection (c)(3), if the unit of local government has 
     complied with the reporting requirements.
       ``(e) Attorney General Reports.--
       ``(1) Implementation report.--Not later than 2 years after 
     the date of enactment of this section, and each year 
     thereafter in which grants are made under this section, the 
     Attorney General shall submit a report to Congress on the 
     implementation of activities carried out under this section.
       ``(2) Contents.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall 
     include, at a minimum, information on--
       ``(A) the number, amounts, and recipients of awards the 
     Attorney General has made or intends to make using funds 
     authorized under this section;
       ``(B) the selection criteria the Attorney General has used 
     or intends to use to select recipients of awards using funds 
     authorized under this section;
       ``(C) the number of law enforcement officers of a State or 
     unit of local government who were not able to receive 
     training on the topics described in section 1701(n)(1)(A) due 
     to unavailability of funds and the amount of funds that would 
     be required to complete the training; and
       ``(D) the nature, frequency, and amount of information that 
     the Attorney General has collected or intends to collect 
     under subsection (d).
       ``(3) Privacy protections.--A report under paragraph (1) 
     shall not disclose the identities of individual law 
     enforcement officers who received, or did not receive, 
     training under a certified training program or course.
       ``(f) National Institute of Justice Study.--
       ``(1) Study and report.--Not later than 2 years after the 
     first grant award using funds authorized under this section, 
     the National Institute of Justice shall conduct a study of 
     the implementation of training under a certified training 
     program or course in at least 6 jurisdictions representing an 
     array of agency sizes and geographic locations, which shall 
     include--
       ``(A) a process evaluation of training implementation, 
     which shall include an analysis of the share of officers who 
     participated in the training, the degree to which the 
     training was administered in accordance with the curriculum, 
     and the fidelity with which the training was applied in the 
     field; and
       ``(B) an impact evaluation of the training, which shall 
     include an analysis of the impact of the training on 
     interactions between law enforcement officers and the public, 
     any factors that prevent or preclude law enforcement officers 
     from successfully de-escalating law enforcement interactions, 
     and any recommendations on modifications to the training 
     curricula and methods that could improve outcomes.
       ``(2) National institute of justice access to portal.--For 
     the purposes of preparing the report under paragraph (1), the 
     National Institute of Justice shall have direct access to the 
     portal developed under subsection (d)(3).
       ``(3) Privacy protections.--The study under paragraph (1) 
     shall not disclose the identities of individual law 
     enforcement officers who received, or did not receive, 
     training under a certified training program or course.
       ``(4) Funding.--Not more than 1 percent of the amount 
     appropriated to carry out this section during any fiscal year 
     shall be made available to conduct the study under paragraph 
     (1).
       ``(g) GAO Report.--
       ``(1) Study and report.--Not later than 3 years after the 
     first grant award using funds authorized under this section, 
     the Comptroller General of the United States shall review the 
     grant program under this section and submit to Congress a 
     report assessing the grant program, including--
       ``(A) the process for developing and identifying curricula 
     under section 1701(n)(1), including the effectiveness of the 
     consultation by the Attorney General with the agencies, 
     associations, and organizations identified under section 
     1701(n)(1)(C);
       ``(B) the certification of training programs and courses 
     under section 1701(n)(2), including the development of the 
     process for certification and its implementation;
       ``(C) the training of law enforcement personnel under 
     section 1701(n)(3), including the

[[Page H9834]]

     geographic distribution of the agencies that employ the 
     personnel receiving the training and the sizes of those 
     agencies;
       ``(D) the allocation of funds under subsection (c), 
     including the geographic distribution of the agencies that 
     receive funds and the degree to which both large and small 
     agencies receive funds; and
       ``(E) the amount of funding distributed to agencies 
     compared with the amount appropriated under this section, the 
     amount spent for training, and whether plans have been put in 
     place by the recipient agencies to use unspent available 
     funds.
       ``(2) GAO access to portal.--For the purposes of preparing 
     the report under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General of 
     the United States shall have direct access to the portal 
     developed under subsection (d)(3).
       ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section--
       ``(1) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
       ``(2) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.''.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill shall be debatable for 1 hour 
equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member 
of the Committee on the Judiciary or their respective designees.
  The gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler) and the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Biggs) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).


                             General Leave

  Mr. NADLER. Madam 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 S. 4003.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, S. 4003, the Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training 
Act of 2022, is bipartisan legislation that would improve training for 
law enforcement officers, including training on using alternatives to 
force and de-escalation tactics.
  This bill was previously brought to the floor under suspension of the 
rules, but it failed to garner the necessary two-thirds majority 
support. I was disappointed to see some of my Republican colleagues 
continue to lead efforts to withhold desperately needed training 
resources from law enforcement officers.
  I am hopeful that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle may 
have had more time to consider the significance and importance of 
passing this critical legislation to not only improve policing 
practices through increased training, but also to make our communities 
safer by ensuring individuals in crisis receive the help they need.
  Law enforcement officers are often the first responders to 
individuals in crisis. While we have worked to develop and implement 
non-law enforcement crisis response services, there continues to be a 
need to train and equip law enforcement officers to de-escalate 
interactions and divert individuals to appropriate mental and 
behavioral health services.
  Additionally, there is a need to provide officers and crisis response 
teams the tools they need to understand and respond to individuals with 
disabilities. One study found that disabled individuals make up one-
third to one-half of all people killed by law enforcement officers.
  Reforms to law enforcement, including de-escalation training, both 
improve public safety and reduce crime. A study of the Louisville, 
Kentucky, police department found that de-escalation training reduced 
use-of-force incidents by 28 percent and community member injuries by 
26 percent. Officer injuries were reduced by an even larger margin of 
36 percent.
  S. 4003 would require the Department of Justice's Office of Community 
Oriented Policing Services to consult with a broad range of 
stakeholders in developing the training curriculum, including law 
enforcement and behavioral health groups, as well as civil rights and 
civil liberties groups and associations that represent individuals with 
disabilities.
  This bill also requires the National Institute of Justice and the 
Government Accountability Office to evaluate the implementation of the 
program and the effect of the training to ensure that the curricula 
have a tangible impact on law enforcement encounters with people in 
crisis and to identify possible changes that would further improve 
outcomes.
  This bipartisan bill has broad support from law enforcement, mental 
health, and community advocacy groups, and would improve public safety 
by developing and implementing evidence-based de-escalation training 
for law enforcement officers.
  I thank Senator Cornyn for introducing this bill and former 
Congresswoman Karen Bass for leading the House version of this 
important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to S. 4003, the Law Enforcement De-
Escalation Training Act of 2022, which would duplicate existing 
programs.
  S. 4003 creates a new Federal grant program to provide training for 
law enforcement officers on de-escalation techniques, participation in 
crisis intervention teams, making referrals to community-based service 
providers safely responding to individuals in a behavioral or mental 
health crisis, and alternatives to use of force.
  It requires the Department of Justice to develop training curriculum 
in collaboration with mental health providers, law enforcement 
agencies, civil rights organizations, and other stakeholders.
  It also authorizes $133 million in new money over the next 4 years 
with no offsets.
  There are several problems with this legislation. First, the COPS 
Office at the Justice Department currently funds programs that already 
do what this bill purports to support.

                              {time}  1845

  For instance, the COPS Office funds the Community Policing 
Development De-escalation Training program through two different 
mechanisms.
  Through one mechanism, the COPS Office provides $3 million over the 
next 2 years for the expansion of a network of regional centers to 
provide nationally certified de-escalation training opportunities for 
law enforcement.
  The other mechanism, Law Enforcement Agency De-escalation Grants, 
provides nearly $12 million in grant funding over the next 2 years to 
support whole agency de-escalation, implicit bias, and duty-to-
intervene training efforts.
  These programs are appropriated and up and running as we speak 
tonight.
  We should not be creating new programs that are duplicative of 
current programs without at least examining the efficacy of the 
currently funded programs.
  Second, this legislation represents a departure from traditional law 
enforcement techniques, one that advances a soft-on-crime approach.
  In recent years, these kinds of approaches to fighting crime have 
been a boon to criminals and have led to our current crime epidemic.
  We need to seriously address this crime epidemic, not fund 
duplicative programs that would keep cops in cars.
  Finally, this bill is yet another step in federalizing our local 
police departments.
  The bill imposes onerous reporting requirements that would be created 
with input from liberal special interest groups which can amount to a 
backdoor way to defund the police.
  Law enforcement organizations that fail to meet rigorous reporting 
requirements created by input from some organizations that advocated 
for defunding the police would lose training funding under these 
programs for 2 years.
  Local policing is a function of local government. The Federal 
Government should not be imposing its will over these departments and 
expanding its spending program with this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Correa), a distinguished member of the Committee on the 
Judiciary.
  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Law 
Enforcement De-Escalation Act that will add additional funding for our 
local police officers. In my local police agencies, they are asking for 
this funding, they are asking for additional training.

[[Page H9835]]

  Today, the job of a police officer goes beyond protecting our family. 
Today, we are asking police officers, protect our families and address 
mental health issues and address substance abuse issues and address the 
issue of homelessness. We have watched in horror on television as 
situations get out of control because police officers are not trained 
to deal with these issues on a day-to-day basis.
  It is time to make a difference. It is time to train our peace 
officers to do the job that we hired them to do, which is protect our 
families and to address the local issues, to address the new jobs that 
we have asked them to take on.
  This bill will assure that our peace officers are trained and 
prepared to handle the situations they encounter on a day-to-day basis.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to please support additional 
funding that our local police officers and local police agencies are 
asking for.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters in support 
of this legislation from the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association, the Major 
Cities Chiefs Association, the National Fraternal Order of Police, the 
American Conservative Union, the American Academy of Social Work and 
Social Welfare, the American Association for Psychoanalysis and 
Clinical Social Work, the American Association of Psychiatric 
Pharmacists, the American Association of Health and Disability, the 
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the American Group 
Psychotherapy Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the 
American Psychological Association, the Anxiety and Depression 
Association of America, the Association for Ambulatory Behavioral 
Healthcare, the Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/
Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the 
Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, the Meadows Mental Health 
Policy Institute, NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, 
the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the National Alliance to 
Advance Adolescent Health, the National Association for Children's 
Behavioral Health, the National Board for Certified Counselors, the 
National Council for Mental Wellbeing, the National Eating Disorders 
Association, the National Federation of Families, and National Network 
of Depression Centers, Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Prison Ministry 
Coalition, the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, 
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Center for Public 
Justice, the Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology, the 
National Association of Evangelicals, the National Latino Evangelical 
Coalition, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Coalition, and the 
Prison Fellowship.

                              Louisiana Sheriffs' Association,

                         Baton Rouge, Louisiana, October 19, 2022.
     Hon. Steve Scalise,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Honorable Steve Scalise: On behalf of Louisiana's 64 
     sheriffs and the over 14,000 deputies they serve, I am 
     writing you today to express our strong support for the bi-
     partisan Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act which 
     passed the Senate by Unanimous Consent on August 1, 2022. 
     This legislation seeks to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and 
     Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide for training on 
     alternatives to use of force, including de-escalation and 
     mental and behavioral health and suicidal crises training.
       As you know, Louisiana currently has a population of 
     approximately 4.52 million people. According to the most 
     recent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
     Administration Behavioral Health Barometer, close to 5.6 
     percent of adults (253,120) in our state live with serious 
     mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar 
     disorder, and major depression. During 2017-2019, the annual 
     average prevalence of past-year serious thoughts of suicide 
     was 4.4 percent. Yet, only 39.5 percent of adults with mental 
     illness in Louisiana receive any form of treatment from 
     either the public system or private providers. The remaining 
     60.5 percent receive no mental health treatment. Furthermore, 
     according to Mental Health America, Louisiana is ranked 35th 
     out of the 50 states and Washington D.C. for providing access 
     to mental health services.
       Despite our sheriffs best efforts to train our deputies in 
     incident response that includes deescalation, problem 
     solving, and mental health awareness, we are asking 
     Louisiana's law enforcement community to compensate for an 
     overworked mental and behavioral health system. If we are 
     going to ensure more citizens who are in need of mental 
     healthcare receive such care when they encounter a deputy, we 
     need to ensure our deputies have the tools and training to 
     help facilitate this transition to care. This is why the Law 
     Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act is so important.
       For the first time, the Law Enforcement De-Escalation 
     Training Act would provide federal support for Louisiana's 
     sheriff offices to adopt de-escalation training to respond 
     more effectively to people suffering with a mental or 
     behavioral crises. It would require the Attorney General to 
     develop de-escalation training curricula, authorize annual 
     grant funding for training, evaluate implementation to 
     improve trainings and outcomes and foster greater 
     collaboration with community mental and behavioral support 
     centers. The legislation also enjoys the support ofthe 
     National Sheriffs' Association, the Major Country Sheriff's 
     Association, the National Criminal Justice Association along 
     with the National Association for Rural Mental Health, The 
     Anxiety and Depression Association of America, and the 
     Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute.
       Senator John Cornyn, one of the lead sponsors of the Law 
     Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act put it best when he 
     stated ``We ask law enforcement in our communities to wear 
     too many hats, including that of mental health provider, and 
     they often do not have enough resources or training to 
     provide the level of care individuals in crisis need.'' With 
     your support, the House of Representatives has an opportunity 
     to fix this, and we hope it can do so before the end of the 
     year.
       Thank you for your continued efforts in support of 
     Louisiana's law enforcement community. We look forward to 
     working with you to ensure this critical legislation's 
     enactment.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Michael Ranatza,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____



                              Major Cities Chiefs Association,

                                                   April 05, 2022.
     Hon. John Cornyn,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Sheldon Whitehouse,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Cornyn and Senator Whitehouse: I am writing on 
     behalf of the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) to 
     register our support for S. 4003, the Law Enforcement De-
     Escalation Training Act of 2022. The MCCA is a professional 
     organization of law enforcement executives representing the 
     largest cities in the United States and Canada.
       The MCCA is a leader in national policy debates on policing 
     reform and, in January 2021, released a comprehensive report 
     that addressed a number of topics, including training. This 
     report recommended that all law enforcement officers undergo 
     training on de-escalation tactics.
       De-escalation training is already a part of many MCCA 
     members' standard training curriculums. Law enforcement 
     training is quite expensive, however, and the Law Enforcement 
     De-Escalation Training Act will provide critical grant 
     funding to help offset the costs associated with de-
     escalation training. Furthermore, MCCA members will also be 
     able to use these resources for continuing education. which 
     will help further enhance existing de-escalation training 
     programs.
       Thank you for your leadership on this issue and your 
     continued support of law enforcement. Please do not hesitate 
     to contact me if the MCCA can be of additional assistance.
           Sincerely.
                                                    Jeri Williams,
                                 Chief, Phoenix Police Department,
     President, Major Cities Chiefs Association.
                                  ____



                           National Fraternal Order of Police,

                                    Washington, DC, April 8, 2022.
     Hon. John Cornyn III,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Sheldon Whitehouse,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senators Cornyn and Whitehouse: I am writing on behalf 
     of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you 
     of our support for S. 4003, the ``Law Enforcement De-
     escalation Training Act.''
       Law enforcement officers face numerous challenges when 
     responding to threats against public safety, and not all of 
     these threats are necessarily criminal in nature. Police are 
     on the front lines and are often called to deal with 
     individuals experiencing mental illness, substance abuse 
     issues, or similar psychological impairments who may become 
     dangerous to themselves or to the public. Recent studies 
     found that as many as ten percent of all law enforcement 
     encounters involve individuals experiencing these issues. The 
     Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 
     (SAMHSA) has estimated that over 2 million individuals 
     arrested each year are struggling with a serious mental 
     illness.
       Your legislation would address this issue by providing $70 
     million in annual grant funding from the Edward Byrne 
     Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne-JAG) to State and 
     local law enforcement agencies to train officers in de-
     escalation tactics and alternatives to the use of force. The 
     U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Community Oriented 
     Policing Services (COPS), through

[[Page H9836]]

     consultation with State and local law enforcement agencies, 
     would be required to develop a curriculum of relevant 
     training topics, including de-escalation tactics, use of 
     force alternatives, establishing and maintaining crisis 
     intervention teams, as well as how to safely respond to 
     mental and behavioral health crises using public benefits 
     programs, housing assistance programs, and other relevant 
     services. The funding from this bill will be used to cover 
     the cost of training, attendance, overtime fees, and the 
     procurement of certifications. Additionally, the National 
     Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the Government Accountability 
     Office (GAO) would study and evaluate the impacts of the 
     training. This would ensure that the training has a 
     meaningful, tangible impact on law enforcement encounters 
     with individuals in crisis.
       The implementation of de-escalation techniques would have a 
     tremendous positive impact on public safety and the 
     relationship between the public and law enforcement officers. 
     Numerous studies have shown that civilians base their 
     perceptions of law enforcement on their last encounter. 
     Providing officers with the skills and training to avoid 
     needless escalation of calls for service enable officers to 
     protect the public more effectively. This improved 
     communication will create a better police force and safer 
     communities.
       On behalf of the more than 364,000 members of the Fraternal 
     Order of Police, we thank you both for your leadership on 
     this important issue. If I can provide any additional 
     information about this bill, please do not hesitate to 
     contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, 
     DC office.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Patrick Yoes,
     National President.
                                  ____



                                  American Conservative Union,

                         Alexandria, Virginia, September 29, 2022.
     Hon. Jerrold Nadler,
     Chairman, House Judiciary Committee,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Jim Jordan,
     Ranking Member, House Judiciary Committee Rayburn HOB
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Nadler and Ranking Member Jordan: The 
     American Conservative Union (''ACU'') is the nation's oldest 
     grassroots advocacy organization. Founded in 1964 by William 
     F. Buckley. we have a 50-plus-year track record of advancing 
     policies that reduce the size and scope of government, 
     advance liberty, and reduce burdens on families. Criminal 
     justice reform, if done properly, fits squarely within this 
     rubric.
       ACU also strongly supports law enforcement. We have asked 
     our police officers to do more and more in recent years. 
     Today, our men and women in blue are not only cops putting 
     their lives on the line every day; they also serve as family, 
     marriage and addiction counselors, mental health responders, 
     and social workers, too. As a result, officers have day-to-
     day interactions with people in crisis, and this often 
     escalates to the point that a use of force is necessary. 
     Deescalation is an important skillset for officer safety as 
     well as for those in crisis when they encounter law 
     enforcement.
       Accordingly, we support the efforts of Senators John Cornyn 
     (R-TX) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to ensure that funding 
     for de-escalation training is expanded. S. 4003 establishes 
     funding through the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (``JAG'') 
     program totaling $90 million for two years to help state and 
     local law enforcement obtain de-escalation crisis 
     intervention training. This funding will be targeted to 
     smaller law enforcement departments that would otherwise lack 
     resources for this type of training.
       It is notable that the curriculum will leverage the ``train 
     the trainer'' model to allow a significant increase in 
     training opportunities by having officers train their 
     colleagues. Not only is this an efficient use of resources, 
     it helps inculcate the lessons and values of de-escalation in 
     the culture of the departments funded by this program.
       Finally, S. 4003 includes strong reporting and evaluation 
     requirements on grants for the Department of Justice, the 
     National Institute of Justice, and the Government 
     Accountability Agency. ACU believes the justice system must 
     be accountable for a wise use of tax dollars, and these 
     requirements will ensure that state and local law enforcement 
     are effectively using their grants to serve their communities 
     well.
       We believe S. 4003 would be a prudent use of taxpayer 
     resources and as such, urge you to take this important 
     legislation up as soon as possible. Should S. 4003 come to 
     the floor, we will recommend to our colleagues at our sister 
     organization, the ACU Foundation's Center for Legislative 
     Accountability, to score this bill positively.
           Respectfully,
                                                David H. Safavian,
     General Counsel.
                                  ____

                                                   August 3, 2022.
     Office of Senator John Cornyn,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
     Office of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senators Cornyn and Whitehouse: Our faith-based 
     organizations write to urge for broad co-sponsorship among 
     your colleagues and the swift passage of the Law Enforcement 
     De-escalation Training Act of 2022 (S.4003) as it would help 
     police officers better serve vulnerable populations and keep 
     our communities safe. Furthermore, this bill would promote a 
     more restorative justice system that respects the God-given 
     dignity of each person and promote safe communities for both 
     law enforcement officers and residents. The bill would also 
     provide law enforcement officers with the skills and tools 
     needed to respond appropriately to the needs of the 
     communities they protect and serve.
       Police officers respond every day to calls for service for 
     men and women grappling with grave mental and behavioral 
     health challenges. However, they are not consistently trained 
     to address these situations effectively. Inadequate training 
     can undermine law enforcement officers' wellbeing and job 
     satisfaction, and increase incidents of excessive use of 
     force that erodes public trust. Policymakers must better 
     equip law enforcement officers with evidence-based training 
     for interactions with people in crisis that fosters community 
     partnership, promotes understanding of mental illness, and 
     prioritizes the lowest level of force necessary to keep 
     communities safe.
       Several key provisions position the Law Enforcement De-
     escalation Training Act (S.4003) to be a catalyst for 
     modernizing American policing. The legislation would create a 
     new federal funding stream to provide training for law 
     enforcement agencies on de-escalation techniques, on 
     participation in crisis intervention teams, on making 
     referrals to community-based service providers, on safely 
     responding to individuals in a behavioral or mental health 
     crisis, and on alternatives to use of force. Furthermore, the 
     bill would advance transparency and accountability to best 
     practices through strong reporting and evaluation 
     requirements from the Department of Justice, National 
     Institute of Justice, and Government Accountability Office. 
     To foster public trust, the Department of Justice will 
     develop training curriculum in collaboration with mental 
     health providers, law enforcement agencies, civil rights 
     organizations, and other stakeholders. The legislation would 
     provide funding for continuing education for law enforcement 
     officers to further refine their knowledge and tactical 
     skills beyond initial training requirements.
       We support the passage of the Law Enforcement De-escalation 
     Training Act of 2022 as it would provide law enforcement 
     officers the training needed to carefully respond to the 
     needs of the community in a way that would promote human 
     dignity and strengthen public trust.
           Sincerely,
       Catholic Charities USA,
       Catholic Prison Ministry Coalition,
       Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, United 
     States Conference of Catholic Bishops,
       Center for Public Justice,
       Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology,
       National Association of Evangelicals,
       National Latino Evangelical Coalition,
       National Hispanic Christian Leadership Coalition,
       Prison Fellowship.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Trone), the sponsor of the legislation.
  Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, it is clear everybody supports this 
legislation. All of my police departments, all of my sheriffs, all 
support this legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to pass the Law Enforcement De-Escalation 
Training Act, a bill I am proud to co-lead with my friend, Los Angeles' 
new mayor, Karen Bass.
  By funding improved training for police calls involving individuals 
suffering from mental or behavioral health issues, we make our 
communities safer.
  Up to 10 percent of all police encounters involve a person 
experiencing serious mental health issues.
  This bill will equip our officers with skills that better secure the 
safety of our citizens and our first responders. That is what matters.
  De-escalation improves the trust between law enforcement and the 
community they are sworn to protect. That is what matters.
  Building safer communities and protecting lives. That is what 
matters.
  After passing unanimously in the Senate, this effort deserves similar 
support in the House. I thank Senators Cornyn and Whitehouse, and 
Representatives Bass, Chabot, and Issa for their leadership on this 
bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Levin of Michigan). The time of the 
gentleman has expired.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the 
gentleman.
  Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, it is time we do right by our officers in our 
community.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, as I offer this in closing and continue in our 
opposition, we have programs that take care of this already, those that 
are already expending $15 million. This has $130 million-

[[Page H9837]]

plus, and actually adds federalization of policing that's going to be 
overseen by Federal agencies and special interests.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 4003 is bipartisan legislation that would improve 
training for law enforcement officers, including training using 
alternatives to force and de-escalation tactics. This training will 
reduce use-of-force incidents and improve officer and community safety.
  It passed the Senate unanimously. The most conservative Republican 
Senators all voted for it. I read a long list of organizations 
supporting it. The American Conservative Union is not a group noted for 
profligate Federal spending.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to have some perspective on this 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support it, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1518, the 
previous question is ordered on the bill.
  The question is on the third reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be read a third time, and was read the third 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on passage of the bill.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

                          ____________________