News

The President's FY13 Budget and Law Enforcement Priorities

For the second consecutive year President Obama has delayed the release of his budget. It appears good things do not come to those who wait.  Despite the growing demand for COPS Hiring and other law enforcement needs, the President’s budget request did not meet NAPO’s expectations. Overall, funding for NAPO’s key initiatives was down compared to FY11 and FY12.

This year the President requested roughly $257.1 million for the COPS Hiring program, a steep decrease of funding request from the past two years.  Although this is still not an adequate amount, it is higher than the FY12 final enactment by Congress (an increase of merely $91,087). The budget request for the Byrne JAG program was at the $430 million level; also a decrease from the President’s funding request in the past, but still higher than final enactment in FY12 Congressional Budget (only a $60,000 increase). The Bulletproof Vest Partnership program received the same funding as in past years $24 million and the VALOR initiative received a first time line item request by the President of $5 million.  

Today, NAPO will be participating in a variety of events with the Administration to review the $3.8 trillion FY13 budget including: a call with the Executive Associate Director for the Office of Management and Budget, attending a FY13 budget meeting with the Department of Justice, consulting with Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, and speaking with other senior members from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Justice on the outline of law enforcement priorities.

In preparation for the White House budget request, NAPO also attended a February 3^rd event with President Obama during which he highlighted the importance of hiring Veterans and grant programs such as COPS Hiring. The President announced that he will be including $4 billion in COPS funding while creating Veterans Jobs Initiatives. NAPO looks forward to advancing the funding request allocated within the President’s Budget and advancing a package that allows for communities and first responders to receive critical grant funds.