Central Louisiana News

Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05), along with Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Congressman Tom Kean (R-NJ), has introduced the Building Up Infrastructure for Local Departments (BUILD) Act of 2023. This bipartisan bill aims to prioritize new grants for small and rural public agencies to upgrade local law enforcement and fire department facilities serving populations of fewer than 50,000 residents.

The BUILD Act proposes allocating $250 million annually for three years through the Department of Justice (DOJ) program, BUILD, and another $250 million annually through the Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA) program, BUILD-FIRE. These grants will provide crucial funding for necessary modifications and upgrades to aging facilities that often date back to the 1980s or even earlier.

Congresswoman Letlow emphasized the importance of supporting local law enforcement, first responders, and firefighters, stating, "Our local law enforcement, first responders, and firefighters are the lifeline of the safety and well-being of our communities." She further added, "It is critical that the brave men and women who put themselves in harm’s way in service to our communities have the proper resources they need to keep us safe."

Joining Congresswoman Letlow in supporting the BUILD Act, Congressman Pappas highlighted the need for modernizing public safety infrastructure. He stated, "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."

Similarly, Congressman Kean stressed the importance of investing in local law enforcement and firefighters, who play a crucial role in safeguarding communities. He stated, "We must invest in these courageous professionals who risk their lives to protect us daily, respond to emergencies, and keep our neighborhoods secure."

The BUILD Act includes several key provisions to address the infrastructure needs of small public safety agencies. It authorizes a new BUILD grant program at the Department of Justice to modify, upgrade, or construct facilities for small local law enforcement agencies serving jurisdictions with populations of less than 50,000. Additionally, a new BUILD-FIRE grant program at FEMA is proposed to support modifications, upgrades, or construction of facilities for small fire departments serving the same population size. Fire departments with EMS contingents would also be eligible for funding.

To ensure a comprehensive understanding of the capital infrastructure needs, the BUILD Act mandates a study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the sufficiency of existing capital infrastructure for small public safety agencies in the near term and long term. Furthermore, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security are required to conduct and publish separate studies on the construction and renovation needs of a national sample of police departments and fire departments, respectively.

The BUILD Act aims to provide the necessary funding and resources for small and rural public safety agencies to meet current standards and continue their critical work in serving their communities. The bill text can be found on the official government website.

To learn more, click on this link: https://letlow.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-julia-letlow-la-05-co-leads-building-infrastructure-local