Darryl Nirenberg
Partner
Eva Rigamonti
Associate
Patrick Northrup
Legislative Assistant
Steptoe & Johnson LLP

As lawmakers prepare to return to their districts for the August recess and, in many states, local election season slated to begin soon afterward, June and July are critical months for the development of federal policy. With deadlines looming, both real and perceived, Congress must fund the federal government for fiscal year (FY) 2020, while also raising the limit on the amount of debt the federal government may incur, and considering pressing policy issues. As a result of this urgency, several PORAC-supported bills important to law enforcement are moving quickly through Congress, while federal funding that plays an indispensable role in keeping communities across the country safe is up for renewal.

Federal Funding Update

While the Golden State Warriors were locked in a battle for their fourth championship in five years, the U.S. House of Representatives moved forward at full throttle, working toward the passage of a series of bills to fund the federal government in FY2020.

On May 22, the House Appropriations Committee passed the Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) funding bill for FY2020. The CJS bill appropriates funds for the Commerce Department, NASA, the National Science Foundation and, most importantly for law enforcement, the Department of Justice. The Committee maintained the PORAC-endorsed funding levels that had previously been approved by the House CJS Appropriations Subcommittee. Among the funding included in the budget is:

• $530.25 million for Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (compared to $497 million in FY19)
• $323 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program (compared to $303.5 million in FY19)
• $581.5 million to fund the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
• $100 million to support survivors of human trafficking
• $2.357 billion for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to fund additional anti-opioid and gang efforts
• $501 million in assistance to state and local governments for grants authorized by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, as well as other opioid-related activities

The bill has been packaged with funding for the departments of Agriculture, Transportation, Veterans Affairs and other programs and sent to the House floor as H.R. 3055. It is scheduled for a vote the week of June 17. Should the bill pass, as is expected, it will continue on to the Senate, where the levels of funding must be agreed to by the Senate Appropriations Committee and subsequently the full Senate. If it clears these hurdles, any differences with the House-passed bill must be reconciled, the unified bill passed by both chambers, and sent to the desk of President Donald Trump for his signature.

There are numerous discrepancies between the House CJS bill and the president’s budget proposal. It seems unlikely that the House funding bill will be signed into law in its current form. If no agreement is reached by September 30 (the end of FY2019), Congress will be forced to pass a short-term continuing resolution (CR) while negotiations continue.¹

No matter the course negotiations take, PORAC is committed to working with Congress and the administration to ensure that state and local law enforcement grant programs are fully funded and that law enforcement officers across California have the federal help they need to succeed.

House Judiciary Committee Approves Two
PORAC-Supported Bills

Although much of the focus in the House Judiciary Committee has been on investigating President Trump and his administration, two PORAC-supported bills were approved and reported to the House floor on June 12.

H.R. 1327, the Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act, sponsored by Representative Carolyn Maloney (D–N.Y.), will extend the authorization for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund through 2090.

The fund was established in 2001 to aid and compensate the victims of the 9/11 attacks, including many law enforcement officers. H.R. 1327 will ensure these funds do not dry up, and the first responders who performed heroically on 9/11 will continue to receive the compensation they deserve. Maintaining funding for first responders and their families is vital, and PORAC applauds the members of the House Judiciary Committee for prioritizing those affected by those tragic attacks. H.R. 1327 will now move to the House floor for a full vote. An identical bill, S. 546, is sponsored in the Senate by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.) and is pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The House Judiciary Committee also approved H.R. 2368, the Supporting and Treating Officers in Crisis Act, introduced by Representative Guy Reschenthaler (R–Pa.).

H.R. 2368, also endorsed by PORAC, would provide a range of support for law enforcement officers and their families as they deal with the daily stress of police work. The bill would improve and expand police officer family services, stress reduction initiatives, suicide prevention programs and various other mental health services. Identical legislation, S. 998, sponsored by Senator Josh Hawley (R–Mo.), has already passed the Senate. If and when H.R. 2368 is taken up and approved by the House, it will be well on its way to becoming law. We will keep you apprised of developments.