Anthony Weiner: “First of all, the chairman as addressed many times the level to which we exceed the President's request for COPS. Yes…”

“First of all, the chairman as addressed many times the level to which we exceed the President's request for COPS. Yes, the President proposed zero for COPS. He proposed zeroing out the program. This is a bipartisan amendment because we think that is bad idea. The second point that is made is it is going to cost personnel at the Census Bureau. Well, I would just remind my colleagues we do not touch the salaries and expenses line of this budget. We only refer to the part that is periodic censuses and programs, but I can tell my colleagues what eliminating the COPS program has done. It has meant that less cops are on the beat. We have fired cops in the real world because the COPS program is hemorrhaged. Finally, if I can make reference to the final point of the distinguished ranking member about how the City of New York does not hire cops with its funding anymore. That is exactly right. That is why the program is now in a block grant formula that allows police departments to buy radios, something the city has done; paid overtime, something the city has done; and provided overtime. These are ways that the program has become more responsive in response to some of the objections that our colleagues have raised about the COPS program.”