FOLLOWING THEIR PUSH, SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND SECURE $547 MILLION IN FEDERAL CRIME PREVENTION FUNDING IN JUST-PASSED BIPARTISAN SPENDING PACKING

Washington, DC -- U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced they secured $547 million for the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program in the just-passed, bipartisan omnibus spending package for Fiscal Year 2020. This program provides funding to states and local governments to support a range of crime prevention activities based on state and local needs. The $547 million amount is a $123.7 million increase from last year’s spending package, and includes $100 million for presidential nominating conventions security. 

“When it comes to protecting the residents of Upstate New York from crime, we must be tough, smart and prepared,” said Senator Schumer. “That’s why in negotiations for the soon-to-pass federal spending package, I fought tooth and nail for a $123.7 million increase for the very successful Byrne JAG grant program, which will be used by Upstate law enforcement agencies to upgrade equipment and training to keep our streets and neighborhoods safe. Making sure the brave men and women that serve in our police departments have the resources they need to do their important work will always be a top priority of mine.”

“This federal funding will ensure that our brave men and women in uniform have the resources and funding they need to keep our communities safe,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This funding supports the continued partnership between law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels, and ensures that they are able to prevent criminal activity all across the country. Protecting our families and communities is one of my top priorities, and I will continue fighting to get our local law enforcement the resources and support they need.”

The Byrne JAG program plays a crucial role in spurring innovation and testing cost-effective, evidence-based approaches to fighting crime and reducing recidivism. The Byrne JAG program provides funding to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and improve the criminal justice system, which include: law enforcement programs; prosecution and court programs; prevention and education programs; corrections and community corrections programs; drug treatment programs; and planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and crime victim witness programs. This collaboration helps combat today’s criminal networks that cross city, state and even international boundaries. 

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