Stimulus to Strengthen Law Enforcement Funding Nationwide (Sen. Tom Harkin)

When the Senate Appropriations Committee unveiled its stimulus package, I was very pleased that it contained nearly $4 billion to create and retain state and local law enforcement personnel.  With state and local governments already reeling from budget cuts, the worse thing we could do is lay off these people, especially considering that in a time of severe economic downturns, we often see an increase in criminal activity.

While repeated attempts to cut funding for the Byrne grant program have occurred in recent years, I have led the fight in Congress to ensure the nation’s law enforcement have the tools they need to keep our communities safe. In my home state of Iowa, Byrne grants have played a key role in combating the meth epidemic.  The additional $1.5 billion for Byrne Grants, $1 billion for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and $150 million for Rural Drug Enforcement Assistance programs nationwide will be instrumental in keeping our neighborhoods and streets safe.