Media Center

Today Congressman David Scott (GA-13) voted with a bipartisan majority in the House to pass the COPS Reauthorization Act (H.R. 1700). The measure authorizes $600 million a year for COPS hiring grants, $350 million a year for COPS technology grants, and $200 million a year for hiring community prosecutors.

“I am proud to support HR 1700, which will restore the tremendously successful COPS program and provide funding to place nearly 1,050 additional police officers on the beat in Georgia,” Congressman Scott said. “With crime on the rise in communities from South Fulton to Cobb and Clayton counties, restoring the COPS Hiring Program is needed more than ever in my district. I heard all too often during my recent town hall meetings of neighborhoods plagued by increases in violent crimes. That is why I strongly support this bill to give our local law enforcement the tools they need to fight crime and make our communities safer.”

Created in 1994 during the Clinton Administration, the COPS hiring grants program helped local law enforcement agencies hire 117,000 additional police officers around the country and contributed to a sharp drop in crime rates from 1995 to 2005. In Georgia, COPS grants totaling $170,884,525 supported the hiring of more than 2,400 officers. However, crime rates began rising again in recent years at the same time the Republican-led Congress reduced and later eliminated funding for COPS grants.

H.R. 1700 reinvigorates the COPS program with funding to hire officers to engage in community policing, serve as School Resource Officers, or engage in counter-terrorism duties. Additionally, COPS technology grants will allow police agencies to purchase crime mapping software, laptops for patrol cars, and interoperable communications equipment.

This legislation is supported by several law enforcement organizations including the Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations and the National Sheriffs’ Association.

H.R. 1700 passed the House today by a 381–34 vote.