Hal Rogers: “This program is neither authorized or even well defined. No one knows what we are talking about here. What is a high gun…”

“This program is neither authorized or even well defined. No one knows what we are talking about here. What is a high gun violence area? There has to be some definitions so we can administer a law when it is passed. No one knows what that means. Does it mean three guns per square mile or 5,000 guns per square mile? I am just tempted to think that this is not thought out very well. In fact, I question whether the $150 million requested for so-called gun prosecutors could even be awarded in fiscal 2001. In fiscal 1999 and in fiscal year 2000 we appropriated a total of $15 million for the Community Prosecutors program; and through April of this year, Department of Justice has yet to award all of its 1999 funding, much less the 2000 year funding. And they tell us that only about 140 communities will apply for funding in fiscal year 2000. Well, if only 140 communities are interested in this program, and they have not spent 1999 monies, why do we need more money in fiscal 2001?”