Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05) Co-Leads the Building Up Infrastructure for Local Departments (BUILD) Act of 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05), Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH), and Congressman Tom Kean (R-NJ) introduced the Building Up Infrastructure for Local Departments (BUILD) Act of 2023. This bill will prioritize new grants for small and rural public agencies that will be focused on upgrading local law enforcement and fire department facilities that serve fewer than 50,000 residents.

These grants will be given through the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA). Over three years, $250 million will be allocated annually for the DOJ program, BUILD, and $250 million will be annually allocated for the FEMA program, BUILD-FIRE.

Many local departments operate out of facilities that date back to the 1980s or before, and are in need of modifications to meet current standards. With this bill, the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security will be directed to conduct a study of the construction and renovation needs of police and fire department facilities to make sure the necessary modifications and upgrades are met.

“Our local law enforcement, first responders, and firefighters are the lifeline of the safety and well-being of our communities,” said Congresswoman Letlow. “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. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan BUILD Act, to ensure our rural public safety agencies have the adequate investments to continue their critical work for our communities.”

“It’s clear from the conversations I’ve had with our law enforcement, fire fighters, and town representatives that this legislation would help our communities and departments fund much needed public infrastructure upgrades,” said Congressman Pappas. “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. I will continue to work alongside our communities, and with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to advocate for the resources they need to promote public safety and keep us safe.”

"Supporting funding for local law enforcement and firefighters is paramount to safeguarding the heart of our communities,” said Congressman Kean. “We must invest in these courageous professionals who risk their lives to protect us daily, respond to emergencies, and keep our neighborhoods secure. I am proud to co-sponsor the BUILD Act. We owe it to our first responders to provide adequate funding so they can do their jobs effectively." 

Specifically, the BUILD Act would: 

• Authorize a new BUILD grant program at the Department of Justice to modify, upgrade, or construct facilities for small local law enforcement agencies serving jurisdictions of less than 50,000
• Authorize a new BUILD-FIRE grant program at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to modify, upgrade, or construct facilities for small fire departments serving jurisdictions of less than 50,000
  • For fire departments with EMS contingents, EMS projects would be eligible too
• Require a GAO study of the sufficiency of the existing capital infrastructure of small public safety agencies over the near term and long term
• Require the Attorney General to conduct and publish a study of the met and unmet construction and renovation needs of a national sample of police departments
• Require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct and publish a study of the met and unmet construction and renovation needs of a national sample of fire departments

The full bill text can be found HERE.