Will come to order. Without objection that shares authorized to declare recesses of the subcommittee at any time. Let me say that we are to vote between 10 45 and 10 50. I will not make an Opening Statement but put my Opening Statement into the record. I will ask every other member to allow us to the witnesses so that they all are able to get their testimony in before we have to leave to go and vote. So without objection all Opening Statements will be placed into the record at this time. We have a very distinguished panel this morning, and i would beginning by swearing in our witnesses before introducing them. Would you all please rise and raise your right hand . [witnesses were sworn in] let the record show that all of the witnesses have answered in the affirmative. I will give an abbreviated introduction for all of the witnesses so that we can hear them and get to as many questions as possible. The first witness is Kenneth Blanco who is the acting assistant attorney general for the C
Preparing capabilities for terrorism, operational coordination, Situational Awareness we would consider that an allowable expense. Are you aware of local Police Department that is purchasing an mrap with their own funds . Im not and nt i couldnt answer that question. The local Police Department buys it. I was around here but according to my briefing here, the First Program was authorized in the Defense Authorization bill. Primarily about the drug wars. Is that correct . Thats correct. What were local Police Departments missing that they needed to be funded or given from the Defense Department to combat the war on drugs. Let me be clear. We do this because were asked to do this. I understand. What what equipment were Police Departments were outgunned by drug gangs so they were looking for protection and fire power. This was expanded in 1997. My note says based on lobbying from Police Organizations. I cant answer why the authorization was expanded. At the time it was for counterterrorism
Interpretation would have serious effects on Small Businesses and other legitimate business conductsuch as routine maintenance and disposal of inventer to. Shy of of offer an opportunity for response . The government has come in for a fair amount of teasing for this case, and so don you know, thats one side of the story. [laughter] heres the other side of the story. That the fisherman is a commercial fisherman. Out in the gulf of mexico and he was visited by a state inspector, and the stay inpicket juror looked at his load of fish and said, gees you got a bunch of group here below the limit that you are allowed to catch, and so i am going to instruct you to take house undersized grouper aside in the box and tape up the box and then when you come back to shore you have to turn it in and well have a proceeding whether you are obi organize vie laying the law lamp the commercial fisherman did after the state inspector left was to instruct one of his employees to take that crate of fish and
Perhaps saying the first thing that we would fund before we begin to Fund Anything else, not a federal mandate but first on your list must be body cams . Has that been discussed at doj or Homeland Security that these officers using this equipment that the best way to check whether or not it is being used appropriately is for every officer to wear a camera . Senator, the office of Justice Programs funs are available for Law Enforcement agencies to use to purchase body cameras and we see value in it. Our National Institute of justice is studying the effectiveness of body cameras and appropriate use of body cameras. But they can buy them now . Yes, maam. It wouldnt be hard if we decided before you get anything else we are going to insist you use our money for body cams before you buy other things like full blown battle gear or camouflage uniforms or grenade launchers. The money is formula money and we do not control how state and local jurisdictions use the money. Video cameras are on the
Indoors through the work of everyone here in mr. Greer, his commitment lives on through the work of everyone here. I was always ashamed by virginias abysmal ranking i have always fought for improved Mental Health services and i was always ashamed by virginias abysmal ranking compared to other states for Mental Health funding. Though i would have to admit, Mental Health was never my top priority. I was involved with economic element, education, transportation, Public Safety, environmental issues. There were many things that were at the top of my keep. My heap. I promise you i would give anything to not be in this position today. When my world changed forever last november, i knew i had to do something to make a change to prevent future tragedies. My family had been dealing with my sons illness for some years, but i never truly understood what gus was going through or how he suffered. I determined to devote my life and efforts to change the law to reduce the likelihood that such tragedie