[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 12, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H3003]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REAUTHORIZE COPS PROGRAM

  (Mr. HOLT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, later today the Department of Justice will 
award a grant for its 100,000 new police officers hired under the COPS 
program.
  For 6 years, in neighborhoods all across the Nation, the COPS program 
and the idea of community-oriented policing have been creating a 
breakthrough in law enforcement. COPS have helped local police fight 
crime, upgrade their equipment and crack down on school violence. COPS 
has empowered citizens and made our streets safer and more livable.
  In New Jersey, the COPS program has helped hire over 3,500 police 
officers and contributed $213 million to our law enforcement agencies. 
In my own district, communities in Hunterdon, Monmouth, Mercer, 
Middlesex, and Somerset Counties have all benefited from the COPS 
program.
  Most importantly, COPS has created a partnership between citizens and 
police joining them together in efforts to fight and prevent crime.
  Mr. Speaker, community policing has been a tremendous success for our 
Nation and the people we represent. Congress should reauthorize the 
COPS program.

                          ____________________