DeLauro Praises Continued Investment in Community and Local Law Enforcement Efforts

Secures funding for CT's law enforcement, after-school programs

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) welcomed the community reinvestment reflected in the fiscal year 2010 Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) Appropriations Bill and announced the inclusion of critical funding for crime prevention and local law enforcement efforts in Connecticut. The bill – approved today by the House Appropriations Committee – is at the start of the legislative process for approving the annual appropriations bills. Next steps include consideration by the House of Representatives, the Senate, and after it is approved by both chambers, signed into law by the President.

"Protecting our communities and our quality of life is a priority for this Congress. I am pleased that we are providing critical resources to ensure Connecticut remains at the forefront of research on health, science and technology," said DeLauro. "These investments will enhance and expand after school programs, help at-risk youth, as well as assist law enforcement in their efforts to prevent, respond to and solve crimes."

The legislation provides $27.7 billion for the Department of Justice; $13.85 billion for the Department of Commerce; and $30.6 billion for Science, which includes $18.2 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

This means funding for such critical programs as:

• Violence Against Women Act: $400 million to prevent and prosecute violence against women and strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including an increase of $10 million for STOP formula grants and an increase of $1 million for Sexual Assault Victims Services.

• Sexual Assault Services Program::$13 million

• Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS): $298 million, which when combined with $1 billion in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will put 7,000 new officers on the streets

• Office of Justice Programs: $2.2 billion, for grants to state and local organizations to fight and prevent crime, including Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, drug courts, and programs for at risk youth and missing or abused children.

• Economic Development Assistance: $293 million, to help local communities address economic challenges though innovation and competitiveness and to attract private investment to create jobs.

• Manufacturing Extension Partnerships: $125 million to help small and mid-size manufacturers compete globally by providing them with technical advice and access to technology, as well as leveraging private funds to save and create jobs.

• National Science Foundation: $6.9 billion for the most promising scientific research at America's colleges and universities, and supporting scientists with cutting edge labs and equipment, which supports the President's commitment to double funding for basic research in key agencies over 10 years.

• Census Bureau: $7.4 billion, to conduct the 2010 Decennial Census. This is in addition to $1billion provided in the Recovery Act.

• Global Climate Change Research: Over $2.0 billion, to study global climate change, one of the greatest challenges facing our country. This includes:

o NASA: Nearly $1.3 billion, including nearly $150 million to develop and demonstrate space-based climate measurements identified by the National Academy of Science and the science community.

o NOAA: Almost $400 million to enhance climate change research and regional assessments; climate data records, data access and archiving requirements; and climate change educational programs.

o National Science Foundation: An estimated $310 million for climate change research, modeling and education.

o Economic Development Administration: $25 million for green building initiatives.

o National Institute of Standards and Technology: $15 million for the development of greenhouse gas emission standards.

The FY'10 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Bill included funding for the following initiatives in the 3rd Congressional District:

Department of Commerce

Ecosystem Vitality Through Habitat Restoration Southern New England and Long Island Waters Seagrass Research project, $200,000 (The Nature Conservancy located at 55 High Street, Middletown, CT 06457): to support a comprehensive regional seagrass research initiative to help prevent further loss and restore critical habitat. Seagrass meadows have been designated as Essential Fish Habitat by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and a Habitat Area of Particular Concern for many of the region's recreationally and commercially important marine species.

Department of Justice Funding

Children and Families Exposed to Violence and Trauma project, $500,000 (Community Foundation for Greater New Haven located at 70 Audubon Street, New Haven, CT 06510): to support innovative multidisciplinary intervention programs, including both law enforcement and mental health service providers, serving children and families exposed to violence and trauma in and around New Haven, Connecticut.

City of New Haven Prisoner Re-entry Project, $500,000 (City of New Haven located at 165 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510): to develop and implement a comprehensive prisoner reentry plan in New Haven, Connecticut, supporting three major programming goals in the areas of Employment, Assets/Needs Assessment; and Programming for End of Sentence Ex-offenders.

Immersion Presents After School program, $100,000 (Sea Research Foundation located at 55 Coogan Boulevard, Mystic, CT 06355): to support the Immersion Presents After School Program, which offers high-quality academic programs in science and technology for at-risk youth to over 500,000 children across the country.

NCJFCJ Judicial Training, Research and Technical Assistance Project, $600,000 (National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges located at 1041 North Virginia Street, Third Floor, Reno, NV 89503): to give Connecticut courts and juvenile justice system professionals information, education, training, statistics, and research to better serve the needs of children and families.

New Haven Court Team for Maltreated Infants and Toddlers, $300,000 (Zero to Three located at 2000 M Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, D.C.): to continue the development of the specialized New Haven Court Team for Maltreated Infants and Toddlers in Child Welfare, a multidisciplinary initiative that includes child welfare agency representatives, child development experts, attorneys, health care and other service providers to ensure the best possible care and decisions for infants and toddlers involved in the child welfare system.

Regional Crime Scene Response Team project, $200,000 (Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science located at the University of New Haven, 300 Boston Post Road, New Haven, CT 06516): to create a regional Crime Scene Response Team to effectively and efficiently process crime scenes and solve crimes.

West Haven Two-Way Public Safety Radio System Replacement project, $300,000 (City of West Haven located at 355 Main Street, West Haven, CT 06516): to replace existing obsolete radio system for Police and Fire with microwave technology system to foster interoperability between police, fire, emergency management and city government as well as coverage and capability for real-time communications with regional communities.