Law Enforcement Protection and Advancement Act (LEPAA)
Prioritizing Community Safety. Backing Our Officers. Protecting Our Streets.
What It Does:
Expands Federal Funding Access
Significantly increases the availability and accessibility of DOJ COPS Office and Byrne JAG grants for small- and mid-sized police departments, especially those in urban, under-resourced, and high-crime areas.
Provides technical grant-writing assistance so departments with limited staff can compete for funding.
Prioritizes High-Need Departments
Targets departments in distressed ZIP codes for federal prioritization in funding for:
Updated patrol and investigative equipment
De-escalation and crisis-response training
Mental health intervention training
Body and dash cameras with data storage access
Officer wellness and retention programs
Officer Retention Incentive
Introduces a $10,000 federal student loan forgiveness incentive for certified officers who:
Serve 7+ consecutive years in designated high-crime districts or underserved urban areas
Maintain a clean service record and complete required community engagement training
Why It Matters According to Maxwell:
As a mother, a resident, and a believer in order and justice, I am personally committed to restoring safety in our neighborhoods. For too long, good officers have been asked to do more with less—less training, less support, less respect. That’s not sustainable. And it’s not right.
The 1st Congressional District of Illinois deserves both public safety and police accountability. This act ensures Washington works with—not against—our local departments to keep our streets safe.
This isn’t about militarizing communities or growing bureaucracy. It’s about empowering the officers who live among us, protect our children, and uphold the law with courage.
Why It’s Right for IL-1:
Cities like Chicago, towns in Will County, and communities in Kankakee face a dual crisis of rising crime and low police morale.
Departments in these areas are understaffed, underpaid, and under-equipped—but expected to confront increasingly organized criminal activity and violence.
LEPAA addresses these gaps with dignity and strategy, giving our law enforcement officers the resources they need to succeed without federal overreach.
The Bottom Line:
LEPAA is a commonsense, pro-safety, pro-community solution. It’s about:
Investing in the people who protect us
Bringing down crime without politicizing police work
Creating long-term public safety through strategic, local empowerment
