[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 68 (Friday, May 14, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E843-E844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  FEDERAL FUNDING FOR POLICE OFFICERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 2004

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak today regarding my grave 
concerns about funding for our Nation's police, firefighters, and 
emergency medical personnel.

[[Page E844]]

   This week is National Police Week--a time we set aside to remember 
and honor the brave men and women protecting our streets and 
communities.
   I would like to note that the names of nine New York police officers 
who are being added to National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial at a 
candlelight vigil on Thursday, May 13, 2004. These police officers fell 
as far back as 1906 and as recently as last year. They are:
   1. Rodney J. Andrews, Detective, New York City, New York.
   2. Michael F. Brophy, Sergeant, City of Utica, New York.
   3. James Ivan Broughton, Police Officer, Middletown, New York.
   4. Jeffry Todd Edelson, Sergeant, New York State Police.
   5. Neil A. Forster, Police Officer, New York City, New York.
   6. James Verneuil Nemorin, Detective, New York City, New York.
   7. Fred Preston, Police Officer, Patchogue, New York.
   8. Glenn Matthew Searles, Deputy Sheriff, Onondaga County, New York.
   9. George A. Stillwell, Deputy Sheriff, Suffolk County, New York.
   We here in Congress do many things to honor our police officers. 
Just this term, I authored legislation to name a Post Office in my 
district for Edward O'Grady, Waverly Brown and Peter Paige. Twenty-
three years ago an armed gang attempted to rob a Brinks Armored Truck 
in the middle of the day at a crowded mall and these three brave souls 
fell in the line of duty. But, Congress has another important job to do 
when honoring our ``finest.'' We have a responsibility to provide 
funding to help our police--and in fact all first responders--do their 
jobs.
   The President shares this responsibility. Yet, his budget for fiscal 
year 2005 is woefully inadequate. A few simple figures:
   Provides only $97 million for COPS, a $659 million cut below the 
2004 enacted level--and in FY04 COPS was funded at $748 million;
   Totally eliminates the Byrne formula and discretionary grants, yet 
in FY04 formula grants were funded at $495 million and discretionary 
grants were funded at $208 million; and
   Also it eliminates Local Law Enforcement Block Grant grants, which 
were funded at $223 million in FY04.
   As a New Yorker who was watching from my home in the Bronx on 
September 11--watching as the greatest attack on U.S. civilians was 
ever undertaken--I am greatly disappointed by the President's poor 
request. As a New Yorker who watched the greatest act of heroism I can 
remember--hundreds of firefighters and police officers running into the 
World Trade Center as they burned, I am saddened by the President' weak 
request. As a New Yorker who watched in abject horror as the towers 
fell, killing thousands, including hundreds of firefighters and police, 
I am angered by the President's insufficient request.
   Later, I learned that a police helicopter was circling the Trade 
Center site and could tell the second tower would soon fall. Yet, the 
police could not warn the firefighters inside because they used a 
different radio system. I pledged to myself and my constituents that I 
would do everything I could to make sure this never happened again. 
Thus, I joined my colleagues, Mr. Fossella and Mr. Stupak, in authoring 
legislation to provide funding to our states and localities to purchase 
interoperable radio equipment. H.R. 3370, the Public Safety 
Interoperability Implementation Act would use proceeds from spectrum 
auctions to help our police and firefighters and EMS personnel.
   I urge my other colleagues to join us in this effort.
   I also urge my colleagues to join me and the other speakers here 
tonight in fighting for the funding needed to make our districts safer.

                          ____________________