Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Throughout its history, the FBI has been an integral part of anti-crime investigatory efforts in the United States. (2)While the FBI has increased its overall FBI field agent numbers by more than 1,000 since pre-9/11 levels, it has increased its counter-terror agents by more than 2,000. While this staffing-up of increased resources for counter-terror investigations is necessary and proper, it has had the unintended consequence of precluding the FBI from adequately and satisfactorily discharging its traditional anti-crime investigatory efforts. (3)The FBI’s shift to counterterrorism has reduced the Bureau’s involvement in traditional crime investigations, including— (A)fewer agents to the successful High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task forces; (B)fewer violent crime cases, as the Bureau has reduced the number of agents committed to Federal-State-local task forces like Safe Streets and Violent Crime Task Forces; and (C)fewer agents handling bank robbery and white collar crimes, which involve technical areas of investigative expertise that State and locals often lack. (4)Before September 11, 2001, the FBI had 7,738 field agents fulfilling traditional anti-crime efforts. The President has proposed a fiscal year 2006 budget with less than 6,700 field agents fulfilling these same functions. (5)The FBI is thus faced with a gap of 1,000 field agents in its traditional anti-crime function, compromising the investigations the FBI is able to undertake and to assist in. (6)The FBI’s traditional anti-crime investigations complement and assist investigations by State and local law enforcement around the country. (7)Through direct assistance and various joint task forces, the FBI provides invaluable expertise and resources to help State and local law enforcement agencies combat criminal enterprises impacting their local communities. (8)The post 9–11 reprogramming of FBI agents from criminal to counterterrorism investigations is occurring at the many State and local agencies that are facing tough budget cuts that is reducing their capacity to fight crime. (9)In a recent survey, 27 of 44 major urban police departments surveyed are experiencing a cop crunch. Cleveland, Ohio, has lost 250 officers in 2004, 15 percent of its force. New York City has lost 3,400 over the last three years. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has lost 1/4 of its force, and Philadelphia has lost 2,000 officers. (10)Compounding the lack of local revenue many local jurisdictions are faced with since 9–11, Federal financial assistance to local law enforcement has been reduced every year for the past 4 years. (11)The FBI is charged with preventing terrorism and fighting traditional crime. In order for the FBI to attain both critical goals, the FBI needs an additional 1,000 agents to do the job.