Statement

The House of Representatives passed two bills that will help local law enforcement agencies obtain equipment and retain officers. I have been a long time supporter of H.R. 6062, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program Reauthorization Act programs. The Byrne-JAG grant program is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions, and offers resources to support a wide range of law enforcement activities including prosecution, prevention, education, planning, corrections, treatment, evaluation, and technology. These grants are essential and have become the life blood for rural law enforcement agencies. H.R. 1550, Federal Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention Act, will help States with high rates of homicide and other violent crime to recruit and retain officers in an attempt to lower their crime rates.