[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 19 (Thursday, February 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION

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                      HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR.

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 13, 1997

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, today I am reintroducing legislation to 
ensure that Federal grants for the hiring of local police officers 
actually result in a net increase in the number of ``cops on the 
beat.'' I invite all of my colleagues to become a cosponsor of this 
important legislation.
  As a former sheriff, I know that in too many instances Federal law 
enforcement grants result in the hiring of numerous generals but not 
enough foot soldiers at the local level. In other words, policing grant 
funds are often spent hiring clerks and dispatchers instead of hiring 
uniformed officers to patrol the streets. Specifically, my bill amends 
the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to ensure that 
Federal funds made available to hire or rehire law enforcement officers 
are used to produce a net gain in the number of law enforcement 
officers who perform nonadministrative public safety services--i.e. 
street cops. This legislation will ensure that Federal police grants 
will result in a real increase in the number of street officers on the 
street fighting crime.
  My bill is identical to an amendment I successfully attached to 
legislation in the 104th Congress, H.R. 728, the ``Local Government Law 
Enforcement Block Grants Act,'' which was passed by the House in 
February 1995, and the fiscal year 1996 Commerce, Justice, and State 
appropriations bill. Unfortunately, both bills were vetoed by the 
President. By reintroducing that amendment in bill form, an important 
crime-fighting measure can be debated without the politics associated 
with an all-encompassing bill.
  Mr. Speaker, let's help give our communities a fighting chance 
against crime by putting more police officers on the street than more 
clerks behind desks. I ask that all members take a look at my bill and 
give it their full support.

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