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Klobuchar Secures Key Funding for Minnesota in Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill that Passes Senate

Amendment co-sponsored by Klobuchar adds $110 million to Community Oriented Policing Services, with support of Mayor Rybak Bill also includes $2.5 million for Minnesota law enforcement

October 16, 2007

Washington, D.C. – Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today voted in favor of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriation bill, H.R. 3093, to give communities around the nation the help they need to keep streets safe, and fund the Departments of Commerce and Justice (DOJ), the National Atmospheric and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), along with other agencies. The bill passed the Senate tonight by a vote of 75-19.

Last night Sen. Joe Biden’s (D-DE) amendment, co-sponsored by Sen. Klobuchar, to boost funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) hiring program was added to the overall bill. The measure includes $110 million for the (COPS) hiring program, which helps state and local law enforcement agencies hire more police officers. With the amendment, total funding for the overall COPS program stands at $660 million.

“COPS is a successful program with a proven record of reducing crime by helping local police departments put more officers on the street to fight crime,” said Klobuchar.  “As chief prosecutor for Minnesota’s largest county, I saw for myself what a difference it makes when law enforcement officers can actually create a partnership with the community in Minnesota.  This bill invests directly in our local law enforcement agencies, supporting proven programs that make a real impact.”

Last night’s Senate vote to increase COPS funding was lauded by Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, chair of the Mayors and Police Chiefs Task Force on public safety for the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

“Keeping America’s streets and neighborhoods safe is a top priority for America’s mayors,” Mayor Rybak said. “As cities across America fight rising crime, it is essential that the federal government step up to help fund local public safety. These funds will help to reverse the harmful state and federal budget cuts in recent years that lacerated crime enforcement and prevention programs in our cities. With the federal government as a partner, we are much better able to keep our cities safe and prosperous.”

Restoring funding for local law enforcement programs is a top priority for the U.S. Conference of Mayors, as Mayor Rybak and mayors across the country work to create a national agenda against youth violence that would include federal and state as well as local recommendations to stem youth violence. Since it was created in 1994, the COPS program has funded 118,000 officers in more than 12,000 communities nationwide.  Researchers credit it as a significant factor in the national decline in violent crime that began in the 1990s.

Klobuchar is already a co-sponsor of the COPS Improvements Act of 2007 and a bill to authorize the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program at fiscal year 2006 levels through 2012. The program allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime.

Also secured by Klobuchar and included in the bill are more than $2.5 million for Minnesota law enforcement initiatives;

• $600,000 was allocated for Winona State University’s National Child Protection Training Center: Senator Klobuchar participated in the opening of the center and has remained a strong advocate in the U.S. Senate. Among other things, the University’s facility teaches investigators and prosecutors the science of interviewing young children victimized by abuse.

• $150,000 for the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office: for use in coordinating necessarily communications equipment for its neighboring counties of Carlton, Cook, Lake, Koochiching and Pine for a Regional Interoperability Mobile Data System Project of NEMESIS (North East Minnesota Enforcement and Safety Information System). This would lead to greater sharing of information between counties and also increased protection of the Duluth airport, international border and ship port.

• $200,000, White Earth Nation: for the White Earth’s Fighting Meth program, to educate, clean-up and enforce the growing problem of meth use on reservation lands. 

• $250,000, Dakota County: for the Dakota County’s Law Enforcement Connections project, which will use the funds to improve the fiber optic cable looped between the main data center in Hastings and the Dakota Communications Center in Empire Township.

• $250,000, MN Department of Public Safety: for their CriMNet Program, to fund their Name Event Index and Electronic Charging Services. CriMNet works to integrate the many local and state criminal justice and law enforcement databases across the state and provide seamless online access at a keystroke.

• $150,000, Beltrami County: for the At Risk Children Preschool Facility which provides the community with, among other things, at-risk student education for three and four year olds, an on-site registered nurse and childhood mental health professional assistance.

• $350,000, “Bolder Options” program in St. Paul: for the expansion of their children’s mentoring program into St. Paul, rural Minnesota and nationwide that focuses on using physical fitness as a bridge towards building healthier personal relationships and stronger academic performance.

• $250,000, City of St. Paul: for the replacement of its 50 year old warning siren system used to alert the public to tornadoes, terrorist activities and hazardous materials emergencies.

• $200,000, Hennepin County: for the creation of the County’s Automated Criminal Charging Program, so as to enable real time notification of critical justice events. The project includes the development of a web application so that complaints and petitions from prosecutors and law enforcement can be routed on to the courts. Among other things, this will save law enforcement time it currently spends transporting complaints and provide a more efficient tracking and processing system.

• $150,000, Olmsted County: for the Safeguarding Children’s Initiative, which seeks to prevent abuse and neglect of at-risk children. 

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