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Following U.S. Capitol Police Testimony, Pappas Reiterates Call for Full-Year Funding

January 5, 2022

Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) reiterated his call for Congress to pass a full appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2022 - not another Continuing Resolution - following the Senate testimony of USCP Chief Thomas Manger where he stated that the department would be negatively impacted if Congress does not pass a full-year appropriations bill.

"I think the biggest impact would be our inability to increase our staffing, which is so critical," Manger said in his testimony. "All we would be able to do is just replace the people that left. We can't, we can't survive and continue. We have to increase our staffing."

In December, Pappas led his colleagues in a letter to Congressional leadership, urging the passage of a full appropriations bill for FY 2022 to prevent a de facto cut in resources for essential services and programs including funding for public safety, veterans, and COVID first responders.

"Todays' testimony from the U.S. Capitol Police Chief further underscores the need for Congress to stop kicking the can and pass a full-year funding bill to avoid disastrous cuts to public safety - including USCP - as well as veterans and COVID first responders," said Congressman Pappas. "As we approach the one-year anniversary of the deadly insurrection on the Capitol, Congress must do all we can to adequately fund law enforcement, like the US Capitol Police, and first responders who are charged with keeping our communities, families, and our democracy safe. I continue to urge Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress to come together and pass a full-year funding bill as quickly as we can to avoid dangerous cuts to our public health and safety."

Pappas letter also highlighted essential funding that would be lost were Congress to proceed with a continuing resolution rather than a full funding bill for FY 2022, including:

  • $65 million in increased funding lost for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

  • $200 million set aside for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program, which supports essential public safety programs on the state and local level.

  • $10 million for both Assistance to Firefighters Grants and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants if Congress only passes a full-year CR.

  • A $16.99 billion increase for the Veterans Benefits Administration, and the additional $7.69 billion planned for the Veterans Health Administration.

In closing, Rep. Pappas's letter said, "The American people are counting on us to fulfill one of our most basic duties and pass a full-year funding bill, and we urge you to keep that commitment."

The full text of the letter can be found here.

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