Grace Meng: “I rise in support of this appropriations package. As the ranking member of CJS, this may not be the bill I would have…”

“I rise in support of this appropriations package. As the ranking member of CJS, this may not be the bill I would have drafted if my Democratic colleagues and I were in the majority, but it is a strong, responsible compromise that meets the needs of the American people. I will be voting in favor, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I am proud that this bill increases funding for grants to State and local law enforcement, including for Community Oriented Policing Services programs and the Violence Against Women Act. These funds are vital for the public safety of all of our local communities and for victim services. Earlier proposals, including the President's budget requests in the previous House bill, eliminated funding for the community violence intervention and prevention program. Thanks to Democrats' advocacy, we secured level funding to continue this important program in this bill. Earlier proposals also zeroed out funding for grant programs to prevent hate crimes. I am proud that we ensured these programs will continue without cuts. We secured strong funding levels for the Economic Development Administration and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, which both work to create and preserve good jobs in the United States. We continued and funded three agencies that the Trump administration wanted to eliminate entirely: the Minority Business Development Agency, the Legal Services Corporation, and the DOJ's Community Relations Service.”