Pappas authors bipartisan bill to give public safety infrastructure grants
U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., will offer bipartisan legislation Friday to make smaller, public safety agencies across the country eligible for federally-paid, infrastructure upgrades to avoid having to raise local property taxes to get them.
The Building Up Infrastructure for Local Departments (BUILD) Act would reserve federal grants of up to $4 million for police, fire or emergency medical service departments that serve communities with up to 50,000 people.
Under the legislation, the money could be used to improve emergency services, training, recruitment and retention of public safety officers, community engagement and overall community safety.
“It’s clear from the conversations I’ve had with our law enforcement, firefighters, and town representatives that this legislation would help our communities and departments fund much needed public infrastructure upgrades,” Pappas said.
“Our public safety agencies must have access to the funds they need to upgrade their facilities to modern standards, supporting our officers as well as community safety.”
The bill would earmark up to $750 million over the next three years.
Co-sponsoring the bill with Pappas are U.S. Reps. Julia Letlow, R-Louisiana, and Thomas Kean Jr., R-New Jersey.
Letlow was the first Republican woman elected to the House from her state; Kean, a first-term congressman, was the son of former two-term New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean.
If approved, all New Hampshire communities other than the cities of Manchester and Nashua could apply.
Candia, Danville have sought Pappas’ support
Candia Police Chief Mike McGillen said he has made the case to Pappas about a need for these grants.
“Federal support through legislation like the BUILD Act would go a long way to helping Candia and other small, rural police departments modernize and expand to meet the needs of our officers and our communities,” McGillen said.
In Danville, the town’s police department over 35 years ago moved into a 750-square-foot space in the Kimball Safety Complex, intending to temporarily share space with the town’s fire department until its own office space could be found.
“But without assistance, we’re unable to find or construct a fully functional office space that will allow our dedicated law enforcement officers to best serve our growing community,” said Danville Selectman and Building Committee Member Dennis Griffiths.
“Congressman Pappas’s plan to authorize a new grant program to modify, upgrade, or construct facilities for local agencies would help towns like ours improve emergency services, attract and retain officers, and improve public safety.”
The National Sheriffs’ Association supports the measure.
According to the bill, grants for police would come from the Department of Justice while the fire and EMS grants would be housed out of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The legislation mandates a Government Accounting Office study of existing capital infrastructure in small communities and compels the attorney general and secretary of homeland security to report on needs based on a national sample of local police and fire departments.