[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 26 (Thursday, February 29, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1455-S1456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KERRY:
  S. 1580. A bill to provide funding for community-oriented policing, 
to reduce funding for the Department of Defense, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.


                     The Safer Streets Act of 1996

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I am today introducing the Safer 
Streets Act of 1996 that will address the anxiety of many citizens who 
believe that violence and crime are eating away at the social fabric of 
their communities. The Safer Streets Act would help to restore family 
security by funding an additional 100,000 police officers, above and 
beyond the 100,000 initially funded by the crime bill, to take their 
place on the streets of communities across our Nation.

  Mr. President, to date, Massachusetts has received $53 million in 
funding from the 1994 crime bill for 1,020 new police officers, 
including the redeployment of 407 officers to the street from desk 
duty. Our communities must be able to respond to the threat of violent 
crime with an effort we know is already working in towns and cities 
across Massachusetts. I have listened to police officers and law 
enforcement officials, and citizens across my State, and they tell me 
that there is a real need for an even greater police presence on the 
streets of Massachusetts. Our first effort--putting 100,000 cops on the 
streets of our Nation--is already working to fight crime. There is no 
better deterrent to crime in our communities than a cop on the beat, so 
it is vital that we help communities obtain the police they need to 
keep neighborhoods safe. The Safer Streets Act will fund approximately 
100,000 additional community police positions across the Nation--
effectively doubling the number it was possible to provide from the 
first year's funding. It does this by cutting $6.5 billion from the 
1996 fiscal year Defense Department appropriation and transferring it 
to the Justice Department to fund community policing efforts with 
grants that will be awarded to communities using the same formula as 
the first 100,000 cops on the street initiative. This is money the 
Defense Department did not ask for, and it is money we desperately need 
for more cops on the street.
  Americans are understandably anxious about their economic and 
personal security. How we as a Congress respond to that anxiety--the 
kinds of partnerships we form between government and communities to 
address the concerns of families struggling to keep up and do well--
will determine this Nation's future. That's why a strong, affordable 
effort to expand community policing, that has been proven to be 
extraordinarily successful, is not only our responsibility but is our 
obligation to the people we represent.
  Mr. President, If we know that community policing works; and we know 

[[Page S1456]]
  that our constituents are anxious about their personal security, then 
it would be irresponsible not to act. This legislation addresses the 
personal frustrations of families who see a level of crime and violence 
on their streets and in their neighborhoods that is unacceptable. 
People want their government to respond with what we know can make a 
difference. Community policing with 200,000 more police on the streets 
will make a difference.
  Mr. President, passing the Safer Streets Act is our duty.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record,
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1580

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TRANSFER OF FUNDS.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any provision of the 
     Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1996 (P.L. 104-61), 
     the Secretary of Defense shall transfer $6,500,000,000 of 
     unobligated funds appropriated under such Act for fiscal year 
     1996 to the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund established 
     under section 310001 of the Violent Crime Control and Law 
     Enforcement Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14211).
       (b) Allocation.--The Secretary of Defense shall allocate 
     the amount transferred under subsection (a) from among any 
     programs in the Department of Defense for which funding was 
     not requested in the 1996 budget request of the President.

     SEC. 2. FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY-ORIENTED POLICING PROGRAMS.

       The amount transferred under section 1 shall only be used 
     for community-oriented policing programs under section 
     1701(b) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 
     1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796dd(b)).
                                 ______