H.R. 2979

119 HR 2979 IH: Building Up Infrastructure for Local Departments Act of 2025
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-04-21
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 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 2979  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   April 21, 2025   Mr. Pappas  (for himself,  Ms. Letlow , and  Mr. Kean ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on the Judiciary , and in addition to the Committees on  Transportation and Infrastructure , and  Science, Space, and Technology , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned   A BILL
To support infrastructure investment in small law enforcement agencies and small fire departments.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Building Up Infrastructure for Local Departments Act of 2025   or the   BUILD Act of 2025  .
2.
Building up infrastructure for local departments grant program
(a)
Grant program
Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 is amended by adding at the end the following:
PP
Building Up Infrastructure for Local Departments Grant Program
3061.
Grant authorization
The Attorney General is authorized to make grants to State and local law enforcement agencies that serve jurisdictions with fewer than 50,000 residents for use in accordance with section 3062.
3062.
Use of funds
(a)
In general
Funds made available to a State or local law enforcement agency under this part shall be used for a project to modify, upgrade, or construct a facility of the law enforcement agency, which project shall have a substantial nexus to—
(1)
the improvement of the provision of emergency services;
(2)
the training and development of law enforcement officers;
(3)
the recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers;
(4)
community engagement; or
(5)
the improvement of community safety.
(b)
Clarification
A portion of a project to modify, upgrade, or construct a facility of a law enforcement agency that does not have a substantial nexus to any of paragraphs (1) through (5), such portion may not use funds made available under this part.
3063.
Application
The head of a State or local law enforcement agency seeking a grant under this part shall submit to the Attorney General at such time and containing such information as the Attorney General may reasonably require, including an estimate of the cost of the project for which the grant will be used, as well as a demonstration of financial need for the grant.
3064.
Duties of Attorney General
(a)
Guidance
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this part, the Attorney General shall issue guidance to carry out the grant program under this part.
(b)
Distribution of information
The Attorney General shall distribute information about the grant program under this part to eligible State and local law enforcement agencies.
(c)
Equitable distribution
In awarding grants under this part, the Attorney General shall ensure, to the extent practicable, an equitable geographic distribution among the regions of the United States.
(d)
Report
On the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this part, and biannually thereafter until the date that is 6 years after the date of enactment of this part, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a report on the grant program under this part.
3065.
Grant amount
A grant under this part may not exceed $4,000,000.
3066.
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General to carry out this section $250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2028.
  .
(b)
Reports
(1)
Attorney General
The Attorney General shall periodically conduct and publish a study of the met and unmet construction and renovation needs of a national sample of law enforcement agencies. Such study may be conducted as a supplement to the Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics program operated by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
(2)
GAO
Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study that examines the sufficiency of existing capital infrastructure of law enforcement agencies that serve jurisdictions with fewer than 50,000 residents, including the met and unmet construction and renovation needs of such law enforcement agencies. Such report shall include projections relating to such needs over the following periods:
(A)
One to five years.
(B)
Five to ten years.
(C)
More than ten years.
3.
Building up infrastructure for local departments—fire grant program
(a)
Grant authorization
The Administrator is authorized to make grants to entities described in subsection (b) to modify, upgrade, or construct fire department facilities.
(b)
Entities described
Entities described in this subsection are career fire departments, combination fire departments, and volunteer fire departments which serve jurisdictions of 50,000 people or fewer.
(c)
Distribution of information
The Administrator shall distribute to entities described in subsection (b) information regarding the grant program.
(d)
Applications
An entity described in subsection (b) seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time and containing such information as the Administrator may reasonably require, including the size of the jurisdiction served by such applicant, an estimate of the cost of the project for which the grant will be used, and a demonstration of financial need for the grant.
(e)
Uses of funds
In carrying out the purpose described in subsection (a), a recipient of a grant under this section may use funds received for the following:
(1)
The improvement of the provision of emergency services, including either firefighting or affiliated EMS capabilities.
(2)
The training and development of firefighting or EMS personnel.
(3)
The recruitment and retention of such personnel, including by improving safety.
(4)
Community engagement.
(5)
The improvement of community safety.
(f)
Equitable distribution
In awarding grants under this part, the Administrator shall ensure, to the extent practicable, an equitable geographic distribution among the regions of the United States.
(g)
Grant amount
A grant under this section may not exceed $4,000,000.
(h)
Reports on grants
Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act and biennially thereafter for six years, the Administrator shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a report on grants made under this section.
(i)
Reports on construction and renovation needs
(1)
FEMA
To the greatest extent possible, the Administrator shall periodically conduct and publish a study of the met and unmet construction and renovation needs of a national sample of career fire departments, combination fire departments, and volunteer fire departments.
(2)
GAO
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the sufficiency of existing capital infrastructure for career fire departments, combination fire departments, and volunteer fire departments that serve jurisdictions with fewer than 50,000 residents that includes a representative sample nationwide, and includes the met and unmet construction and renovation needs and the provision of emergency services. Such report shall include projections relating to such needs and services over the following periods:
(A)
One to five years.
(B)
Five to ten years.
(C)
More than ten years.
(j)
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to carry out this section.
(k)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Administrator
The term  Administrator  means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(2)
Career fire department
The term  career fire department  means a fire department that has an all-paid force of firefighting personnel other than paid-on-call firefighters.
(3)
Combination fire department
The term  combination fire department  means a fire department that has—
(A)
paid firefighting personnel; and
(B)
volunteer firefighting personnel.
(4)
EMS
The term  EMS  means emergency medical services.
(5)
Volunteer fire department
The term  volunteer fire department  means a fire department that has an all-volunteer force of firefighting personnel.