U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-2nd District, introduced a bill Thursday that would increase penalties for killing or attempting to kill federal law enforcement officers, U.S. judges and federally funded public safety officers.

The Back the Blue Act — co-sponsored by Golden and Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska — aims to better protect law enforcement, Golden said in a written statement the lawmakers issued Thursday afternoon.

“At a time when violence against law enforcement is trending upward, we must do more to protect the protectors,” Golden said.

The act proposes a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years for anyone who kills a federal law enforcement officer, U.S. judge or federally funded public safety officer — which includes police officers, firefighters, chaplains and ambulance crews. The offender would also be subject to the death penalty.

Attempting or conspiring to kill such an officer would carry a minimum sentence of 10 years, as would attempting to flee to avoid prosecution for killing or attempting to kill an officer.

The legislation also proposes up to $20 million in grants to state, local and tribal agencies to improve relationships between law enforcement agencies and their communities.

Golden described the bill as taking “a strategic two-pronged approach.”

“First, it makes clear with new criminal provisions that violence against federal law enforcement officers, judges and other federally funded public safety officers will not be tolerated,” he wrote. “Second, it opens new federal funds to strengthen the relationship between officers and the communities they serve and protect.

“It’s a tough, smart bill to ensure those who attack or kill officers pay a steep price, and to help reduce violence against officers before it happens.”

Bacon said he is eager “to get this long-overdue legislation passed into law.”

“Those who protect our communities — whether it’s on the beat, from the bench, behind a hose, or performing CPR — deserve extra protection from violence directed at them, including assault, intent to kill, or conspiracy to kill,” Bacon said in the statement.

“The anger and violence have risen against these community guardians and this legislation is needed now.”