Congresswoman Lee Fights for Community Policing and Re-entry Program Funding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8th, 2014
Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, offered two justice-related amendments during Committee consideration of the funding bill for Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies.
The first amendment provides additional $177 million in funding to the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) hiring program which provides state, local and tribal governments funding to hire, re-hire and retain police officers. Since its inception, the COPS Hiring program has provided resources to more than 13,000 agencies to hire or re-hire 125,000 officers in our nation’s communities. This additional funding would allow agencies to hire approximately 1,656 more sworn officers across the country.
"In my own district, the COPS Hiring program has a tremendous impact in supplementing an understaffed police force, creating a greater sense of public safety and helping cash-strapped local governments meet the needs of their communities,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee."
The second amendment increases funding for Second Chance Act programs in the Department of Justice. Second Chance Act programs provide grants to state and local governments and nonprofit organizations who are working to improve outcomes for people returning to communities from incarceration by providing assistance in employment, housing, education, substance abuse, mental health and family counseling.
Congresswoman Lee continues, “investments in re-entry programs reduce recidivism, increase public safety, saves taxpayer dollars and gives those who have paid their debt to society a second chance to make positive contributions to our society.
“While one of amendments was rejected along party lines and other one was eventually withdrawn, I will keep fighting and working during the funding process to increase investments in these proven and vital programs public safety and reentry programs. We can and must do better.”
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Follow Barbara Lee on Facebook and Twitter at @RepBarbaraLee. To learn more, visit lee.house.gov.
Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, as well as the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), where she serves as the Co-Chair of the CPC Peace and Security Task Force.