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Golden Votes to Increase Funding for Law Enforcement and Border Security

March 17, 2022

WASHINGTON — Following his introduction of standalone legislation to increase federal funding for law enforcement, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) voted recently to substantially increase funding for local law enforcement and border patrol officers as part of the omnibus government funding bill. The bill was passed by the House last week and signed into law by the president this week.

"As we continue to ask more and more of our law enforcement and border patrol officers, it's essential that we give them the resources and support they need to protect us," said Golden. "Providing more funding to law enforcement and to the border patrol across the country will go a long way towards keeping our communities safe and strengthening our borders.

The funding bill includes $3.9 billion for state and local law enforcement, a $506.4 million increase over FY 2021. That includes $512 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) programs, a 31 percent increase over the previous year. Golden has advocated for more resources for COPS grants and other federal programs that support local and rural law enforcement

In addition to support for local law enforcement, the spending bill offers significant funding to strengthen border security. The bill provides $14.8 billion in funding for the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. This funding is $25.7 million above the President's Budget request and includes $256 million for border technology. The bill also includes $8.26 billion in funds for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, $284.7 million above the FY2021 enacted level. $25 million of this funding will go towards improvements on safety of ICE and Border Patrol agents.

This past January, Golden introduced the bipartisan COPS on the Beat Grant Program Reauthorization and Parity Act of 2021. The legislation would nearly triple available funding for the COPS program to over $1 billion in FY2022, reauthorize the program for ten years, and specifically expand access to the grants for rural communities. In 2021, Golden voted to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which included significant funding for border stations across the country, including five land ports of entry in Maine's Second District.

 

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