By Ed Somers
August 13, 2007

While funding levels for key law enforcement programs continue to increase in the 110th Congress, more action is needed to secure COPS hiring grants – one of the top priorities in the Conference of Mayors’ 10-Point Plan.

The full House of Representatives has approved its FY 2008 funding bill for the Department of Justice, which includes $725 million for the COPS program, of which $100 million is for hiring. This is a $183 million increase, and the first time in several years that there would be hiring grants.

However, the Senate committee-approved bill would provide only level funding of $550 million for COPS, with no hiring grants.

Mayors are urged to contact their Senators and push for increased COPS funding when the Justice Department appropriations bill reaches the floor after the August recess.

In the other major crime prevention program, both the House and Senate would increase funding for the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program from the $520 million FY 2007 level, with the House bill providing $600 million and the Senate bill $595 million for FY 2008.

Following is a chart showing proposed FY 2008 funding levels as compared to recent years.