Schiff – Chairman of Safe Neighborhoods Task Force – Introduces Amendment to Increase Funding for Local Law Enforcement Efforts
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Adam Schiff, Chairman of the Safe Neighborhoods Task Force, offered an amendment today to the House budget resolution in the House Rules Committee to restore $1.3 billion in local law enforcement grants cut in the President's budget. Schiff’s amendment, introduced with Task Force Vice-Chair Linda Sanchez and fellow member Rep. Tim Holden, will reinstate funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) program, Edward Byrne grants, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, and juvenile justice programs.
“Safe and secure communities are one of our most important national priorities. Our sense of well-being is bound to drug and crime-free schools, a visible police force rooted in the community, and a readiness to respond to emergencies and potential threats,” Rep. Schiff said. “Unfortunately, with states and localities struggling to meet these priorities under the weight of budget cuts and a sluggish national economy, the proposed budget cuts local law enforcement and juvenile justice programs by nearly $2 billion. The current resolution cuts this funding still further, by another $300 million. To abdicate our responsibilities in this way is unacceptable and that is why I am seeking to restore this important funding.”
"It is unconscionable that this president's budget, while not budging on continued tax cuts for America's wealthiest citizens, would choose to cut local law enforcement funding that helps to protect our families and communities during these uncertain times," said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Bob Menendez (D-NJ). “I want to recognize the Safe Neighborhoods Task Force under the leadership of Chairman Adam Schiff, Vice Chair Linda Sanchez as well as the many other members, who have worked so hard to address this very important issue, and who have brought before this House an effort to restore funding that will make our neighborhoods safer.”
States and localities currently struggle to find the resources necessary to protect our communities and prepare for and respond to emergencies and potential threats. The COPS program, juvenile justice programs, Edward Byrne grants, the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant program, and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program have enabled states and localities to design and implement programs that address their particular crime problems. Schiff’s amendment will help states and localities continue to fund priorities such as hiring and training police officers, securing our schools, preventing youth gang participation, preventing illegal drug use, investigating and prosecuting criminal offenses, and improving the juvenile justice system
Specifically, this amendment restores:
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$700 million in funding for COPS, a program of funding for community-oriented approaches to law enforcement;
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$400 million for the LLEBG Program and Edward Byrne Grants, which provide money for local law enforcement and anti-terrorism efforts;
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$25 million for HIDTA Program, which enhances and coordinates drug control efforts among local, state, and Federal law enforcement agencies.
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$200 million for juvenile justice programs, such as At-Risk Children, Gang-Free Schools and Communities, and the Juvenile Accountability Block Grants.
Rep. Adam Schiff is the Chairman of the Safe Neighborhoods Task Force of the House Democratic Caucus, a group of members of Congress committed to helping local law enforcement, courts and schools keep our communities free of drugs and violent crime. Linda Sanchez is a Vice-Chair of the Task Force and Tim Holden is a member.
Rep. Schiff represents California’s 29th Congressional District, including the communities of Pasadena, Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City. He co-founded the Democratic Study Group on National Security and is a member of both the House Judiciary and International Relations Committees.