Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Law Enforcement Training Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, this pandemic has been a grave hardship for our first responders. Men and women in blue have risked their lives every day. Last year was the deadliest ever for law enforcement.
During National Police Week, we honor these heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice. They protect us, and we must have their backs. Period.
I have been co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus for many moons. I know our cops must have the training, the resources, and the personnel they need to keep our communities safe.
This bipartisan Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Law Enforcement Training Act is a vital step. It will provide crises intervention training grants. These Federal funds will help officers handle different interactions with those suffering from TBI and post-traumatic stress disorder.
I founded the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force in 2001, along with Dr. Greenwood. He was a Republican; I am a Democrat. He was from Pennsylvania. He did an outstanding job and continues do it in this area, which is so misunderstood, Mr. Speaker. We didn't get to it until late into Iraq and Afghanistan with our veterans and with our soldiers on the front lines. Of course, it was major injury in both of those wars--post-traumatic stress disorder and TBI, traumatic brain injury.
So forward 20 years, we worked to draw attention to the struggle of millions of Americans living with long-term disabilities caused by traumatic brain injury. Now, of course, we take good care of our vets. Can you imagine, we went to war, and we had no money in the budget. We had no programs to help those who were most injured in the two wars that we got into. We were not prepared, and we suffered tremendous amounts of injuries because of it.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Nadler and Chairman Pallone and their dedicated staff for their diligent work to bring the TBI and PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Law Enforcement Training Act to the floor. I also thank Representatives Demings, Rutherford, and Bacon for co-leading this bipartisan effort.
Finally, I thank our law enforcement and TBI community stakeholders who helped us craft and advance this important policy. These past couple of years have been difficult for our communities and especially so for our men and women in uniform.
Mr. Speaker, the House stands with them during Police Week and after 2022. I am honored to present this legislation.
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