In its newest Bipartisan Index, the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University recognized U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly as the fourth-most bipartisan Senator, and the most bipartisan Democrat. Donnelly has a proven and consistent record of bipartisanship that has yielded successful results in advancing legislation on behalf of Hoosiers. His approach of working with Republican and Democratic colleagues has led to 18 of his measures being signed into law since President Trump was inaugurated and 40 measures signed into law since starting in the Senate in 2013.
Donnelly said, “I’m the hired help for Hoosiers, and my focus every day isn’t on Democrat or Republican but on finding solutions and addressing issues important to Indiana. That’s how I have been successful in advancing and getting dozens of provisions signed into law on a range of issues, including to combat the opioid epidemic, improve mental health services for our law enforcement officers, and honor our Vietnam veterans. I will continue working to deliver results for Hoosiers by partnering with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner.”
Recent examples of Donnelly’s successful bipartisanship include the following:
- The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, which Donnelly introduced with Senator Todd Young in early April 2017, was passed by the Senate last year and signed into law earlier this year, will help law enforcement agencies establish or enhance mental health services for their offices. It authorizes grants to initiate peer mentoring pilot programs, directed the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services to develop resources for mental health providers based on the specific mental health challenges faced by law enforcement, and supports law enforcement officers by studying the effectiveness of crisis hotlines and annual mental health checks.
- Legislation that Donnelly introduced with Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) to permanently designate March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day was signed into law in March 2017. Last month, Donnelly welcomed home hundreds of Vietnam War veterans at a ceremony in Plainfield.
- The VA Prescription Drug Accountability Act, which Donnelly introduced with Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) to help the Department of Veterans Affairs more effectively identify and treat opioid abuse among veterans and their dependents was signed into law in November 2017.
Last year the Lugar Center and McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University recognized Donnelly as the second-most bipartisan Senator since 1993 and highest ranking Senator on the index currently serving in the Senate.
The full Senate rankings are available here.
