Hal Rogers: “The motion to instruct conferees on the fiscal year 2012 bill will encourage the conferees to consider and support…”

“The motion to instruct conferees on the fiscal year 2012 bill will encourage the conferees to consider and support several funding items as they negotiate the final agreement on this three-pack of bills. While I believe that this motion is unnecessary, I am willing to accept the gentleman's motion as it does address some important issues that will be considered by the conferees. As we move forward, I expect the ranking member and myself to work together to negotiate these issues, and therefore, today, I can accept this motion. First, if approved, this motion would express the House's support for funding for the COPS program within the Department of Justice. While local law enforcement is primarily a State and local responsibility, there is strong bipartisan support for a variety of Federal programs that help first responders, including the COPS program for State and local police. The Commerce/Justice/Science bill has historically included a range of programs to strengthen local law enforcement, including Byrne grants, State Criminal Alien Assistance, Juvenile Accountability, programs to combat violence against women, and COPS programs. COPS has not only supported the hiring and rehiring of new officers, but it has also allowed local police departments to modernize their technology and to address the enforcement and cleanup challenges of the meth epidemic.…”