[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 149 (Thursday, November 10, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2862, SCIENCE STATE, JUSTICE, COMMERCE, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006

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                               speech of

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 9, 2005

  Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, this week, the House of Representatives 
passed the conference report to H.R. 2862, the FY 2006 Science, State, 
Justice, and Commerce Appropriations bill on a vote of 397-19.
  I voted for this conference report because it provides funding for 
important law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, the Department of Justice, and the Drug Enforcement 
Agency. However, I was reluctant to support this conference report 
during final passage because I was extremely disappointed and concerned 
that this legislation drastically cuts funds for the Community Oriented 
Policing Services program, or COPS program, and subsequently eliminates 
all federal funding for the hiring of police officers. The passage of 
this conference report has placed an undue burden on local law 
enforcement's ability to ensure the safety and security of our 
communities and our families.
  H.R. 2862 contains only $478 million in funding for COPS, which is 
$120 million less than last year's funding level. When the House first 
considered H.R. 2862 on June 14, 2005, I supported an amendment offered 
by Congressman Obey to increase the COPS funding level to $666 million. 
Unfortunately, the House chose to put our law enforcement and the 
safety of our street and communities at risk by rejecting the 
amendment.
  This conference report contains only $416 million for the Byrne 
Discretionary and Justice Assistance Grant Programs, also known as 
Byrne-JAG grants. This is $386 million less than the FY '05 amount of 
$792 million. Byrne-JAG grants provide vital funding for multi-
jurisdictional drug task forces, anti-drug education programs, 
treatment programs, long-range corrections and sentencing strategy 
programs, anti-terrorism training programs, and for the enforcement of 
child abuse and neglect laws, and the improvement the criminal justice 
systems' response to domestic and family abuse. When the House first 
considered H.R. 2862, I offered a bipartisan amendment to increase 
Byrne-JAG grants funding, but unfortunately, my amendment failed to 
garner enough votes.
  As a former Escanaba city police officer and Michigan State Trooper 
as well as co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, I 
understand how much our local communities need and rely on COPS and 
Byrne-JAG grant program monies. Post-9/11, our Nation's public safety 
officers are faced with more challenges than ever before in performing 
their duties, and we must do everything in our power to support their 
effort. We should be providing public safety officers with the 
resources necessary to keep our communities safe from both terrorist 
threats and daily crime, and unfortunately this conference report 
shortchanges these men and women who protect and serve our Nation.

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