John Kerry: “I am pleased to vote for the Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary, CJS, conference report today. This legislation…”

“I am pleased to vote for the Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary, CJS, conference report today. This legislation is critical to our continuing efforts to fight terrorism and increase homeland security. I am troubled, however, that the conference report appropriates only $14.4 million for the Police Corps Program, an amount which I believe is insufficient to adequately fund this critically important program. I strongly support the $30 million level of funding that was included in the Senate version of the CJS appropriations bill. The CJS conference report before us today slashes the budget of the Police Corps program in half. It is more important now than ever before that we work to ensure that Americans feel safe within their communities and that our Nation's police forces have strong federal support. The Police Corps Program helps police and sheriffs' departments to increase the number of officers with advanced education and training. It provides Federal scholarships to highly motivated students who agree to serve as police officers or sheriffs' deputies for at least 4 years. Participants in the program are assigned to areas of the country that are in the most desperate need for additional officers. All of the participants serve on community patrol. The benefits of this program can be seen in many ways.…”