FEINGOLD
CALLS ON PRESIDENT TO STRENGTHEN SUPPORT FOR CRIME FIGHTING PROGRAMS
Feingold Asks President to Increase Funding for COPS and Byrne Grant
Programs to Help Law Enforcement
January 30, 2008
Washington, D.C. –
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold is calling on President Bush to increase
funding for two law enforcement grant programs with a record of success
in helping fight crime. In a letter to the president, Feingold called
on him to fund the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program
and the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program at their fully authorized
funding levels in his budget proposal. Both programs have not been sufficiently
funded for years and the Bush Administration has repeatedly proposed
cuts in funding for the programs over the past several years. The fully
authorized funding level for the COPS program is $1.05 billion and the
authorized funding level for the Byrne grant program is $1.095 billion.
“When I talk to law
enforcement officials all over Wisconsin about what the federal government
can do to help them better protect Wisconsin communities, supporting
COPS and Byrne grants is at the top of the list,” Feingold said.
“But for some reason, the Bush Administration has proposed cutting
funding for these critical programs every year. With the recent rise
in the violent crime rate, these programs are as important as ever to
get local law enforcement officials the tools they need to protect our
communities.”
The COPS Program is instrumental
in providing funding to train new officers and purchase crime-fighting
technologies. The Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program provides funding
to help fight violent and drug-related crime in a variety of ways, including
support for multi-jurisdictional drug task forces, drug courts, drug
education and prevention programs, and many other efforts to reduce
drug abuse and prosecute drug offenders. According to the 2006 FBI Uniform
Crime Report, violent crime in Wisconsin increased by 18.1 percent,
and preliminary statistics for 2007 indicate that rates have continued
to rise in Milwaukee and Green Bay.
“It is critically important
that we provide sufficient federal funding for state and local law enforcement
agencies. The federal government, in partnership with states and local
communities, has a responsibility to provide the tools, technology,
and training that our nation’s law enforcement officers need to
protect our communities,” Feingold wrote.
Senator Feingold’s
letter is available at: http://feingold.senate.gov/pdf/ltr_bush_013008.pdf
|