HR7163-119

What This Bill Does

The PUBLIC SAFETY Act amends Public Law 119-21 reconciliation funding. Section 2 changes a section heading from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to COPS Hiring Program, changes the recipient from the Secretary of Homeland Security for ICE to the Attorney General, and extends availability to September 30, 2030 for grants under the COPS Hiring Program's hiring and rehiring authorities. It waives the usual section 1701(g) requirements for local governments and Tribal governments that employ fewer than 175 law-enforcement officers, making small agencies eligible on easier terms. Section 3 rewrites a separate reconciliation section to appropriate $45 billion to the Attorney General for the Department of Justice in fiscal year 2025, available through September 30, 2029, for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.

Who Benefits and How

Small local police departments, sheriffs' offices, municipal law-enforcement agencies, Tribal police departments, and local governments benefit because money that had been framed for ICE is redirected to COPS hiring grants with a waiver for agencies under 175 officers. State and local criminal-justice agencies benefit from the $45 billion Byrne JAG appropriation, which can support law enforcement, prosecution, prevention, corrections, technology, and other eligible public-safety uses under that program. The Department of Justice benefits from control over the appropriated funds through the Attorney General.

Who Bears the Burden and How

ICE and Department of Homeland Security enforcement priorities lose access to the redirected reconciliation funding. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of the $45 billion Byrne JAG appropriation and the COPS Hiring Program funds. Department of Justice grant staff must administer the COPS and Byrne JAG money, implement the waiver, track eligibility for small local and Tribal agencies, and oversee spending through 2029 or 2030. Local and Tribal grantees must comply with DOJ grant rules and reporting.

Key Provisions

• Amends reconciliation funding language to replace U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with the COPS Hiring Program.
• Provides Attorney General administration in place of Secretary of Homeland Security administration.
• Extends COPS Hiring Program funding availability through September 30, 2030.
• Waives COPS requirements for local and Tribal jurisdictions employing fewer than 175 law-enforcement officers.
• Appropriates $45 billion for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program through September 30, 2029.