Democrats Vote Against Funding For Local Law Enforcement

Press Release

Today during the Appropriations Committee mark up of the FY2010 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill, Rep. Ken Calvert offered an amendment to restore funding to the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) to the FY2009 level of $400 million.

"My amendment would take $100 million from the Census Bureau in order to restore funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program to the Fiscal Year 2009 level of $400 million," stated Rep. Calvert at the committee mark up. "The $300 million included in the subcommittee mark is inadequate as counties across the country depend on SCAAP for reimbursement of the costs associated with the detention and incarceration of criminal aliens. Keep in mind, local law enforcement only receives a partial reimbursement through SCAAP. For example, in my district, Riverside County only received about 17% reimbursement for the cost of incarcerating criminal aliens in Fiscal Years 08-09."

Rep. Calvert requested a roll call vote after introducing the amendment. The vote was party-line with Democrats defeating the amendment 30 to 21.

"Illegal immigration is a federal responsibility and we cannot continue to ask more of our local law enforcement communities without providing the necessary resources," said Rep. Calvert after the amendment was defeated. "I will continue to fight on behalf of the local law enforcement community and work to restore funding to SCAAP."

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