Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz successfully defeated a Republican effort that would have cut $298 million from the COPS hiring program. Schwartz, along with four of her colleagues, offered an amendment to the Republican’s Continuing Resolution today to ensure that the nation’s police officers have the tools and resources they need to keep our communities safe.

The Continuing Resolution, which is being debated on the House floor this week, is the mechanism that will fund the federal government from now until September 2011. In order to meet an arbitrary number of spending cuts, House Republicans slashed funding from this key effort that helps cities and communities hire police officers.

“The Republican’s slash and burn budget proposal is a reckless approach that, if enacted, would devastate our economy and our communities,” Schwartz said. “We need tough cuts in order to balance our budget and reduce the federal deficit, but this is the absolute wrong approach. It is deplorable that some in Congress are willing to take police officers off our streets simply to meet a political goal. The COPS Program has been vital to ensuring that these brave men and women can continue to protect our communities. I am proud to have stood up with my colleagues today to successfully reinstate this funding.”  

The Republican Continuing Resolution cuts the COPS Program by an astounding 65 percent.  It eliminates the entire portion that COPS funding uses to hire police officers, cutting 1,300 officers across the country. It also slashes the funding that allows over 550 law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking. 

The Weiner Amendment, #125, was introduced by Schwartz, Rep. Anthony Weiner (NY), Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR), Rep. Bill Pascrell (NJ), and Rep. Larry Kissell (NC), and was passed today by a vote of 228 to 203.

Schwartz has long been a supporter of the COPS Program, and has a history of supporting local municipalities in their efforts to access this funding. 

“Congresswoman Schwartz stepped up for Philadelphia on this important issue and we appreciate her effort,” said Philadelphia Police Department Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey.

“Allyson Schwartz has always stood up for Philadelphia’s police officers. It is wrong and irresponsible that some in Congress are trying to cut funding from a critical initiative that puts police officers on America’s streets,” said John McNesby, President of Lodge #Five Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police. “We greatly appreciate her leadership and willingness to fight to ensure that COPS funding is maintained.”

“I cannot say enough about Representative Schwartz’s leadership in protecting this program that is so critical to effective law enforcement across our nation,” said Ambler Police Department Chief Bill Foley.

“We are so proud that our Representative in Congress fought to make sure that these dollars are available to police departments for technology and staffing needs,” said Jenkintown Police Department Chief Albert DiValentino.

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