Tom Harkin: “This bill cuts over $200 million from the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program and over $120 million from the COPS…”

“This bill cuts over $200 million from the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program and over $120 million from the COPS Program. These cuts follow on 3 previous years of cuts that have decimated these important and successful law enforcement assistance programs. In 2002, Byrne was funded at $994 million. Next year, it will be funded at only $416 million--a 60 percent cut. I am also dismayed that after my amendment to add $34 million in funding to legal services programs passed the Senate, not a single dollar was included in the conference report. Meanwhile a study earlier this year found that over half those eligible for legal aid cannot receive the help they need with critical issues including custody, child support, housing, and more critically right now, navigating hurricane related bureaucracy. These programs have now been cut so severely that law enforcement in my State will likely be left with no alternatives to layoffs. That simply isn't acceptable. While I will be voting for this conference report because I believe that the appropriators did the best they could within the situation they faced, I want to serve notice on the Senate that we must restore funding to local law enforcement grant programs and to legal assistance next year. The fault for these drastic cuts to law enforcement programs lies directly with the President and with every Member of Congress who voted for his budget that cut $1.3 billion in law enforcement funding.…”