Josh Hawley, U.S. Senator from Missouri since 2019, is a dedicated advocate for law enforcement, known for his conservative values and proactive legislative efforts to support officers and their families. Among his most impactful contributions is the Supporting and Treating Officers in Crisis (STOIC) Act, which he co-authored to address mental health challenges faced by law enforcement personnel. The STOIC Act, first signed into law in 2019, provides grant funding for family-support services, suicide prevention programs, and other critical mental health resources. During National Police Week in 2024, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the reauthorization of the STOIC Act, and by August of that year, the Senate passed bipartisan legislation ensuring the continued availability of these essential grants.
In 2024, Senator Hawley introduced the Educational and Career Opportunities for Public Safety (EdCOPS) Act alongside Senator Mark Kelly. This legislation aims to combat the nationwide crisis in recruiting and retaining qualified law enforcement personnel by offering education benefits to public safety officers and their dependents. By addressing the challenges of recruitment and retention, the EdCOPS Act seeks to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of public safety services across the nation.
Hawley has also co-authored other significant measures, including bipartisan legislation in 2022 to increase mental health resources for law enforcement personnel at the Department of Homeland Security. In 2021, he proposed a bold legislative agenda to hire 100,000 new police officers, emphasizing the need to boost morale and enhance public safety in the face of rising crime rates.