Walberg: Congress Prioritizes Pork Over Drug Enforcement

Statement

WALBERG: CONGRESS PRIORITIZES PORK OVER DRUG ENFORCEMENT

Washington, Jan 10 -

U.S. Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) today made the following statement about the omnibus appropriations bill that sharply reduced federal funding for the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.

The Byrne Program, named after Edward Byrne, a New York City police officer who was murdered by gang members in 1988, supports law enforcement programs, prosecution and court programs, prevention and education programs, corrections and community corrections programs, drug treatment and enforcement programs, planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs and crime victim and witness programs.

Congress cut $350 million, or 67 percent, from this program and now law enforcement agencies are scrambling to address crime problems in their local areas.

"Using inside-the-beltway political gamesmanship, Congress passed a massive, 3,417 page pork-filled spending bill that failed to properly fund this important drug enforcement program," Walberg said. "What is more pressing than drug prevention and enforcement? According to Congress, $113,000 for rodent control in Alaska, $213,000 for olive fruit fly research in France, $2 million for Congressman Charlie Rangel's monument to himself in New York City and $50,000 to a Mule and Packers Museum in California are higher priorities. As we know, the American public longs for change in Washington, D.C. and no area begs for more reform than a federal budget process producing classic Washington blunders like this one."

BACKGROUND:

- The 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, legislation recently passed by Congress and signed by President Bush despite Congressman Walberg's opposition, cut the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, or JAG, appropriation of $520 million to $170 million, a 67 percent reduction. Because grant funds are distributed to each state on a formula basis, the cut in the total appropriation is expected to result in a similar reduction for Michigan.

- In 2007, the state of Michigan was awarded $10.1 million and local law enforcement was awarded $4.9 million in Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funds.

- Congressman Walberg is co-sponsor of H. Res. 283, which would amend House rules to prohibit the use of an Omnibus as a funding mechanism and force Congress consider each appropriations bill in a timely manner and in the light of day.

**More information: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/jag.html

Source