Golden, Rice, Spanberger, Herrera Beutler Lead Bipartisan Bill to Dramatically Increase Recruiting, Training Grants for Local Law Enforcement

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02), along with Representatives Tom Rice (SC-07), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), and Jaime Herrera-Beutler (WA-03), announced the introduction of the bipartisan COPS on the Beat Grant Program Reauthorization and Parity Act of 2021. The legislation would nearly triple available funding for the COPS grant program to over $1 billion in FY2022, reauthorize the program for ten years, and specifically expand access to the grants for rural communities.

Since the program's establishment in 1994, the COPS Grant Program has awarded more than $14 billion to local law enforcement agencies to hire and train officers for community policing. However, funding for the program has been cut significantly since 2011. Golden and Rice's bill would reauthorize the program with $7 billion in new funding for the next decade.

"Working in law enforcement has always been a demanding job, but right now we ask more of our officers than ever before," said Golden. "We need to do more to help departments — particularly in rural areas — recruit, hire, and train more officers. In Maine, many of our rural communities are experiencing a serious and sustained shortage of officers, which affects public safety, emergency response, and peace of mind in towns across the state. This bipartisan bill is designed to help address this problem and will nearly triple the COPS grant funding available for departments. I'm proud to work across the aisle with Reps. Rice, Spanberger, and Herrera Beutler to support law enforcement."

Law enforcement leaders from Maine and national groups praised Golden's work on the bill:

"Congressman Golden understands that COPS grants are one of the best tools local law enforcement have to bring new officers onto the force and get them out there protecting their communities. It's safe to say that without this program, town police departments all over Maine would have fewer officers, being paid less, with less training. There is a clear need, both in our state and across the country, for a larger COPS program that is more focused on rural areas and I'm glad to see Congressman Golden leading the charge with this bill." - Colonel Craig A. Poulin, Maine State Police (ret.), Executive Director, Maine State Troopers Association

"Many Maine sheriffs' offices depend on essential COPS grants to provide services counties are unable to fund through local taxpayers. We commend Congressman Golden for focusing on expanding the COPS program and directing more of its resources to law enforcement in rural areas. Passage of this legislation is one of the most important things the federal government can do to support Maine sheriffs and the citizens they are committed to serve." - Mary-Anne LaMarre, Executive Director, Maine Sheriffs' Association

"We're very grateful to Representative Golden for his leadership role in developing and introducing the ‘COPS on the Beat Grant Program Reauthorization and Parity Act.' As our nation grapples with an increase in crime, particularly violent crime, and the profession of law enforcement is struggling to hire and retain good officers to keep our communities safe. This legislation affirms our national commitment to the community-oriented policing strategy—which the FOP believes is the most effective way to promote public safety and to enhance the quality of life in a community. The bill reauthorizes the COPS on the Beat Program and will help direct resources to rural and lower-income jurisdictions by removing the program's preferential treatment of agencies that can afford a higher match." - Patrick Yoes, National President, Fraternal Order of Police

Golden, Rice, Spanberger, and Herrera Beutler's legislation contains important provisions that prioritize the needs of rural law enforcement agencies and increase rural communities access to grants' by:

• Allowing rural, lower-income communities to use COPS hiring grants to increase law enforcement wages
• Removing the program's preference for agencies that can afford to exceed the local matching fund requirement
• Increasing federal cost share for rural, lower-income communities

This legislation is supported by the Fraternal Order of Police, National Troopers Coalition, Major Cities Chiefs Association, Major County Sheriffs Association, National Organization of Police Officers, National Sheriffs Association, and Sergeants Benevolent Association.

Reps. John Katko (R-NY), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Burgess Owens (R-UT), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Young Kim (R-CA), and Ron Kind (D-WI) also cosponsored the legislation.

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