Steny Hoyer: “as our Nation commemorates National Police Week this week and the 26th Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Day…”

“as our Nation commemorates National Police Week this week and the 26th Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Day today (May 15), let us honor the memory of those who have fallen in the line of duty and thank those who carry on their legacy, serving in communities across this Nation, keeping the peace, and protecting the American people. It is altogether fitting that today--with thousands of peace officers in Washington to commemorate these events--the Members of this House will consider this very important bipartisan legislation, the COPS Improvements Act of 2007. Mr. Speaker, when we pass this bill, the new Democratic Majority in this House will again demonstrate its absolute commitment to taking decisive action that protects our communities and combats crime. In short, this legislation reauthorizes the highly successful Community Oriented Policing Services Program, or COPS, which was enacted in 1994 under the Clinton Administration and which helped local law enforcement agencies hire 117,000 additional officers between 1995 and 2005--including 908 officers in Maryland's Fifth Congressional District. In fact, the COPS hiring program--with its emphasis on getting more cops on the beat--is credited with reducing the crime rate.”