Washington, Jun 28 -

Today, the House passed an amendment authored by Congressman Scott Garrett to increase funds for local law enforcement through the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Grant Program.  Garrett’s amendment was passed by voice vote during debate on the Science, State, Justice, Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007.  The amendment would take $2 million of U.S. assessed contributions to the UN and give those funds to local law enforcement agencies.

“Since September 11th, this grant program has been utilized by law enforcement officials to help boost their preparedness in case of a terrorist attack,” said Garrett.  “Providing local law enforcement officials with the resources they need to fight terrorism and violent crime, bolstering our homeland security, is absolutely critical.”  

The UN funding in the bill is used in part for the UN Information Center, which lobbies Congress on behalf of the UN.  The Center recently promoted the recent speech by Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown who had chastised the American public for its lack of judgment because it questions UN corruption and scandals.  “I do not feel that the American public needs to be lectured by someone from an institution with the UN’s history of corruption and failed promises,” said Garrett.  “And, I certainly don’t feel that US tax dollars should be used to promote those attacks.”

The Science, State, Justice Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act would fund Federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF), and Customs and Border Patrol.  The House is expected to vote on the funding bill later this week. 

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