Bart Stupak: “in this motion to recommit, we are asking that $450 million each year for the life of this crime bill be made available…”

“in this motion to recommit, we are asking that $450 million each year for the life of this crime bill be made available for the Byrne grants. The Byrne grants, for those of you who were not here last year, is very popular. It is 22 programs that States use to do crime prevention, crime enforcement, projects throughout their States. In the bill we currently have, the current crime bill, there is $580 million; fiscal year next year, fiscal year 1996, that goes to $130 million, a 300 percent decrease in 1 year. Every major law enforcement group tells you you cannot fight crime in 1 year. It takes more than 1 year. We will unstabilize funding over 5 years. You wanted flexibility so the locals can do what they want. It is right here, $450 million grant in the Byrne grants that gives you the flexibility you sought for the last few days. Last year when there was some question whether or not Byrne grants would continue, we put together a letter in a bipartisan spirit, 153 Members signed that letter, 47 on that side of the aisle, including the gentleman from Florida [Mr. McCollum], who said, ``Keep the Byrne grants, keep them authorized at $450 million.'' That is what we are asking to do in this motion to recommit.”