Senator Cropsey offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 165.

            A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress to reverse cuts to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.

            Whereas, The grants funded through the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program are used throughout Michigan for statewide and local law enforcement efforts. The Byrne program grants assist the apprehension, prosecution, adjudication, detention, and rehabilitation of offenders. The funding supports training, equipment, additional personnel, and other measures to increase the effectiveness of law enforcement and victim assistance; and

            Whereas, The cuts in the fiscal year 2008 appropriations for the Byrne program that were approved by Congress and signed into law are staggering. Michigan will lose two-thirds of the funding received in the previous year, down to only $3.2 million. For programs such as the Office of Drug Control Policy, the slashing of the funds available will cripple the office and force the cancellation of many worthwhile programs. The effects on other state and local programs will be similarly drastic. With the state's budget situation still in question due to negative trends in the national economy that threaten to overwhelm state efforts to restore growth, we clearly cannot replace the lost federal money; and

            Whereas, As the federal government continues to grapple with the budget and economic growth measures, there is still time for Congress to correct the looming crisis in law enforcement efforts in the states. We know that cuts in funding now, when the economic picture is growing bleak, will make the need for effective law enforcement and victim assistance more important than ever. Congress must restore funding to the Byrne program to fiscal year 2007 levels through a supplemental appropriations act in order to prevent the curtailment or cancellation of key criminal justice programs; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the United States Congress to reverse cuts to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.