Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) applauded today’s (July 26, 2007) House passage of the FY08 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Act, which makes critical investments in law enforcement, as well as scientific and global warming research programs.  Passed by a vote of 281 to 142, the legislation (HR 3093) funds a wide-variety of programs administered by federal agencies that include the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

To assist local law enforcement efforts, the measure contains a $183 million increase over current spending for local law enforcement agencies, including $100 million for the “COPS on the Beat” hiring program which has not been funded since 2005. 

“Unfortunately, over the last few years, despite evidence of the program’s effectiveness, the Administration and the then Republican-led Congress sharply reduced and eventually eliminated funding for the COPS hiring grants,” Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard said. “With statistics showing that crime is rising in the United States, Congress must do everything possible to support local law enforcement efforts to keep our families and our communities safe.”

The bill also includes $1.41 million in federal funding secured by the congresswoman for a number of important local initiatives to benefit residents of the 34th District and the greater Los Angeles community.

“I am very pleased that the spending bill contains federal investments in a number of worthwhile local projects to improve the quality of life for the families in the 34th District," said Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, who sits on the Appropriations Committee.  “The local law enforcement initiatives funded in this measure for our communities target gang violence and provide officers with the technology they need to get out from behind a desk and patrol our streets.”

The bill also provides funds to several organizations that serve the 34th District to assist survivors of domestic violence and young people battling drug addiction.

• The funding for the following projects was included in the House-passed version of the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Act for FY08:
• $500,000 for the Community Law Enforcement and Recovery (CLEAR)   Program for Boyle Heights and Hollenbeck, a collaborative effort to reduce crime in targeted neighborhoods;
• $250,000 for the City of Bell’s police department to upgrade its current law enforcement technology;
• $150,000 for the City of Bell Garden’s police department to expand its communications technology;
• $60,000 for the Asian Pacific Women’s Center in Downtown Los Angeles, a transitional housing shelter and supportive services for battered women of color and their children;
• $100,000 for Para Los Niños, a nonprofit entity dedicated to providing Los Angeles area teenagers with positive alternatives to gangs, violence, and truancy;
• $250,000 for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Los Angeles, a nonprofit entity which provides trained community volunteers to advocate in court and in the community on behalf of abused and neglected children in the Los Angeles County foster care system; and
• $100,000 for Phoenix House, a drug treatment residential center, to expand adolescent methamphetamine drug treatment services for Los Angeles youth.

In addition to Justice funding, the legislation contains a $2 billion investment above current spending in science and science education to keep our country on the cutting edge of technological breakthroughs.  To address Global Climate Change, the measure invests $1.85 billion, $164 million above the President’s request, for the National Academies’ Climate Change Committee, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for their research to curb global warming.
 

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