Senator Hassan Calls for Increased Funding for Police

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, is pushing to increase funding for state and local law enforcement.

“I write to strongly advocate that we increase federal funding for state and local law enforcement in this year’s appropriations bill. Public safety is one of the most important tasks of any government; people, families, and the economy cannot thrive without safe communities,” Senator Hassan wrote in a letter to Congressional leadership. “Yet we have repeatedly seen attempts to decrease funding for our law enforcement. These attempts undermine the incredible bravery and dedication law enforcement show every day in protecting our communities.”

The Senator continued, “Federal support is critical to their efforts, to help cover the cost of officer hiring, overtime, technology, supplies, and more. Task forces made up of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers are an effective means of combating crime, pairing local familiarity with federal expertise and resources.”

The Senator’s letter echoes concerns that she heard during a field hearing that she led in Manchester earlier this month on drug trafficking, where state and local law enforcement in New Hampshire discussed the need for additional federal funding.

The Senator concluded, “As Congress begins its annual appropriations process, we must increase funding for police. Safe communities are essential to the quality of life of our citizens and to our economic growth. I urge you to make sure that Congress does its part, by providing the brave men and women of law enforcement the resources they need to protect all of us.”

The full letter can be read here or below:

­­

Dear Leader Schumer and Speaker Pelosi,

I write to strongly advocate that we increase federal funding for state and local law enforcement in this year’s appropriations bill. Public safety is one of the most important tasks of any government; people, families, and the economy cannot thrive without safe communities. Yet we have repeatedly seen attempts to decrease funding for our law enforcement. These attempts undermine the incredible bravery and dedication law enforcement show every day in protecting our communities.

Federal programs like the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program and grants issued by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) are essential to state and local law enforcement agencies across the nation, and Congress has a responsibility to ensure that we provide the resources necessary to keep our communities safe.

As chair of the Homeland Security Emerging Threats subcommittee, I recently held a hearing in New Hampshire where I heard from federal and state law enforcement officials about the challenges facing our communities, especially their joint efforts to stop the drug traffickers who continue to perpetuate the devastating opioid and broader substance misuse crisis. Federal support is critical to their efforts, to help cover the cost of officer hiring, overtime, technology, supplies, and more. Task forces made up of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers are an effective means of combating crime, pairing local familiarity with federal expertise and resources. Programs like COPS Office and Edward Byrne JAG grants help ensure these task forces are able to continue their important work.

I was pleased to see President Biden’s announcement that he will seek $20.6 billion in funding for the next fiscal year for federal law enforcement, crime prevention, and intervention programs, an increase of $2 billion over the previous year’s budget, and $30 billion in new spending over the next 10 years on law enforcement and crime prevention programs. As Congress begins its annual appropriations process, we must increase funding for police.

Safe communities are essential to the quality of life of our citizens and to our economic growth. I urge you to make sure that Congress does its part, by providing the brave men and women of law enforcement the resources they need to protect all of us.

###