[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 83 (Wednesday, May 17, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          National Police Week

  Mr. President, let me talk about another thing that is so important 
that is happening this week and across the country but particularly 
here in Washington, DC: Police Week.
  The American public watching this, if you have not been to the police 
memorial in Judiciary Square, you should because every single law 
enforcement agency in this country is recognized, unfortunately, at 
this memorial by a death, and it is the only way we as the American 
public can stand up and say: We see you, we hear you, and we know you 
are standing guard, and we care, and we want to show respect not only 
for you, who made the ultimate sacrifice, but for your family and your 
friends and everyone else to have the ability to come together to 
recognize the men and women who serve in our military and make that 
ultimate sacrifice.
  As we go about our daily lives, our police officers are the ones 
protecting us and our families. They know that their job puts their 
lives in danger. Their families know that, every day when their loved 
one leaves for work, they may not come home. It is a sacrifice for the 
individual getting up and leaving that house, and it is a sacrifice for 
the loved ones who watch that individual leave.
  Why do I know that? Because I am married--25 years--to a Federal law 
enforcement officer, now retired. I remember in the middle of the night 
when he was on call and he got that call, his boots by the side of the 
bed, and he slips his feet into them and walks out that door. Every 
spouse, every loved one who sees them leave has always in the back of 
their mind: Are they going to come home?
  So this is important, that we recognize the men and women who are 
representing and protecting our communities every single day.
  I am honored to have worked with Nevada's police officers throughout 
my career. I have worked with police departments across my State to 
crack down on crime, to prosecute offenders, and to keep Nevadans safe. 
Not only have I worked in my State as a prosecutor, but I have worked 
here in the District of Columbia in the U.S. Attorney's Office as a 
prosecutor.
  I have witnessed the hard work and dedication of our police officers 
firsthand, whether you are a State police officer, a local city or 
county police officer, or a Federal officer. I have worked alongside 
them. I know what they do day in and day out, and that is why my role 
in the Senate will always be to fight for our law enforcement.
  It has been my priority to listen to the needs of police departments 
throughout Nevada, both big and small, and throughout our Federal law 
enforcement Agencies to ensure that I am doing everything I can to get 
them what they need to protect our communities, and that includes 
securing funding for more resources for improved technology and, yes, 
better training for our officers.
  (Ms. ROSEN assumed the Chair.)
  Last year, alongside Senator Grassley, I was proud to make sure that 
Congress passed the biggest increase in Byrne JAG grant funding in the 
last 10 years.
  To help put an end to tragic law enforcement suicides, I introduced 
and passed legislation to increase data collection on suicide and 
support peer counseling programs that can improve police officers' 
mental health.
  While these investments are so crucial to ensuring our officers are 
prepared for the job, far too many smaller police departments just 
can't compete with their larger counterparts for resources. I know 
this. I know this from our law enforcement agencies in my rural 
community in Nevada. The Presiding Officer knows this as well. Our law 
enforcement communities in our rural areas, which are much smaller, 
have to really fight for resources that they need. Over 90 percent of 
police departments nationally, including several in Nevada, have fewer 
than 200 full-time officers.
  That is why I have worked with Senator Grassley to introduce the 
Invest to Protect Act. This legislation would set aside grant funding 
specifically for smaller local police departments, including our Tribal 
law enforcement, to ensure they can access the resources they need to 
keep our families safe.
  Police officers in Northern and Southern Nevada have told me about 
how hard it is to do their jobs when they are short on personnel. They 
are stretched too thin, and that makes it harder for them to protect 
our communities and their own lives. The Invest to Protect Act will 
help these police departments with recruitment and retention so they 
have enough officers to serve their communities. These are important 
jobs that make good careers in public service.
  So in honor of Police Week and the sacrifices our officers have made 
to protect us, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join 
me and Senator Grassley in supporting the Invest to Protect Act.
  With that, Madam President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Cortez Masto). The Senator from Nevada.