May 21, 2007

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1700 by a vote of 381-34 May 15. The bill would increase the authorization for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Program to $1.15 billion for the next six fiscal years.

The bill, sponsored by Representative Anthony Weiner (NY), would authorize:

• Not less than $600 million annually to hire police officers, including school resource officers and counterterrorism officers;

• No more than $350 million annually for technology grants; and

• No more than $250 million per year to help district attorneys hire community prosecutors.

Conference President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer testified in support of the bill before the House Judiciary Committee on April 24.

Companion legislation (S. 368), sponsored by Senator Joseph Biden (DE), has been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Biden is working to get it to the Senate floor.

Passage of a COPS reauthorization, and full funding for the program, are priorities in the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ 10-Point Plan: Strong Cities, Strong Families, for a Strong America.