This Bill Will Keep Our Communities Safe

Today President Obama signed the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (H.R.1), which includes $4 billion
in Department of Justice grant funding to enhance state, local, and
tribal law enforcement efforts, including the hiring of new police
officers, to combat violence against women, and to fight internet
crimes against children, the Department of Justice announced.

"This funding is vital to keeping our communities strong," said Attorney General Eric Holder .
"As governors, mayors, and local law enforcement professionals struggle
with the current economic crisis, we can't afford to decrease our
commitment to fighting crime and keeping our communities safe. These
grants will help ensure states and localities can make the concerted
efforts necessary to protect our most vulnerable communities and
populations."

Specific Department of Justice investments in the Act include:

• $1 billion to fund local
  police officers through Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
  program. These grants will fund an estimated 5,500 local police
  officers through the COPS Hiring Recovery Program.

• $2 billion
  in the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program through the
  Office of Justice Programs (OJP) to fund grants for state and local
  programs that combat crime. The Byrne JAG program is distributed by
  formula -- 60 percent to the states and 40 percent to the local law
  enforcement efforts.

• Resources from the Office on Violence Against Women for programs that help our most vulnerable populations -- $225 million in Violence Against Women Act Grants. Also provides $100 million through OJP for grants to assist victims of crime, $225 million for tribal law enforcement assistance, and $50 million for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces.

• Provides an additional $390 million from OJP for local law enforcement assistance, including $225 million in competitive Byrne grants, $125 million targeted for rural areas, and $40 million for the Southern border (including $10 million for ATF's Project Gunrunner).

The Act also includes funds for the administration of the
Department's Recovery Act grants and associated oversight and
accountability.