While raising my family and attending law school, I also worked as a U.S. Capitol Police officer.  I still feel a special bond with those who honor the badge by protecting and serving our communities.  During my time in Congress, I have never forgotten the stresses and demands that law enforcement officers face every day.  I remain committed to providing them with the resources they need to keep our communities safe, especially in light of the unique burdens posed in a post 9-11 era.  I will continue to protect an officer’s right to carry firearms, and help agencies develop the alliances needed to fight the drug war domestically and internationally, and protect our children from harm.

Providing the Resources Law Enforcement Needs
Public safety is one of the most important jobs of any government.  Securing adequate funds to fight crime in Nevada and to protect our nation from terrorist attacks is one of my top priorities.

Reducing crime in our state depends on initiatives like  the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program and the Edward Byrne Memorial Grants (Byrne JAG) program.  These programs provide grants to state and local law enforcement agencies to establish anti-drug task forces, hire and train community policing professionals, acquire and deploy crime-fighting technologies, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide community organization with programmatic funding for crime prevention initiatives.  In my view, the law enforcement agencies charged with the vital task of protecting our communities must be properly funded by government.

That’s why I was pleased to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (P.L. 111-5), which allocated $1 billion for the COPS program, and $2 billion for the Byrne JAG program.  I was also pleased to support the FY 2010 budget, which includes almost $6 million for Byrne JAG, almost $2 million for DNA related and forensic programs, and funding for a host of other grant programs that provide law enforcement agencies access to the resources desperately needed to fight crime.

Fighting for Homeland Security Funding
The terrorist attacks of 9-11 changed our world, and nobody knows that better than our law enforcement officers. The creation of the Department of Homeland Security has placed new responsibilities on Nevada law enforcement agencies.

Resources are spread thin, yet there are new demands on communication, manpower, and equipment demands. I am working with each Nevada agency to ensure their highest priority needs are met. Since September 11, 2001, I have secured more than $80 million in grants and other funding for Nevada's law enforcement and homeland security efforts. Most of these funds go to state and local law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and other emergency responders.

I also helped establish the National Center for Combating Terrorism at the Nevada Test Site to better train America's counter-terrorism personnel and first responders. Since then I have secured more than $100 million for the Center to train nearly 10,000 first responders from around the nation.

Protecting Our Children
I have always supported strong measures to protect our children.  I have been active in working to stop child abduction. On July 27, 2006—the 25th anniversary of the tragic abduction and murder of six-year old Adam Walsh—President Bush signed into law the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, of which I was a proud co-sponsor.  I worked closely with John Walsh, Adam’s father, to ensure this important legislation passed the Senate, and I continue to support greater protections for our children.  Among its many important provisions, this law established a national sex offender registry to make it easier for local law enforcement to track sex offenders and prevent repeat offenses.

Last year, I cosponsored the PROTECT Our Children Act.  Law enforcement recently developed the technological ability to track child molesters who trade images of themselves molesting children, but they lacked the resources and training necessary to act on this vital information.  The PROTECT bill creates a task force within the Department of Justice and gives resources and training to local and federal law enforcement so they can use this information to bring predators to justice.

I am committed to continuing to use my leadership position in the Senate to enact laws that provide greater protections against sex offenders.  As a father and grandfather, I know the importance of protecting children from predatory adults.

I believe that as child predators find new ways to exploit children, we must work to adapt our laws to keep pace with the changes in technology and ensure the health and safety of our nation’s greatest asset – our youth.

Illegal Drugs and Methamphetamine
The Obama Administration has shifted the focus on the war on drugs from incarceration to rehabilitation.  While combating the supply of drugs is still an important piece in a comprehensive solution, we can’t ignore the dangers closer to home.

I know many Nevada communities are reporting a drastic increase in the use and production of methamphetamine and other illegal drugs. Methamphetamine robs people of their health and ability to be productive members of society, and it causes increased criminal activity.  Last Congress, I worked to pass The Combat Meth Act and an amendment called the “COPS Hot Spots” to provide more resources to fight meth.  This Congress, I supported the FY 2010 budget, which allocated almost $40 million combat the production of meth, and another $8 million to the Office of National Drug Control Policy for meth prevention advertisements.
 
Additionally, I have supported the creation of task forces throughout our state to seek out and halt the manufacture of methamphetamine.  I secured funding in 2001 to create the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program in Southern Nevada that is now being expanded statewide.  I am committed to helping drug task forces throughout the state receive the funding they need.  I promise to continue supporting legislation that will help combat this horrible scourge.

Juvenile Justice
I am committed to supporting programs that help Nevada’s youth stay away from crime, drugs, and gangs.  Throughout my career in Congress, I have supported funding programs that address the problems faced by at-risk youth including reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Violence Against Women Act, and the Department of Justice Reauthorization Act.

Preventing Gang Violence
Gang violence is a serious problem affecting communities across the nation.  The recent rash of shooting near Nevada schools forcefully reminded us that we are not immune from this problem.  I have consistently supported legislation to increase the penalties for gang-related crimes.  For example, in September 2007 the Senate passed the Gang Abatement and Prevention Act (S.456).  This bill provides police and prosecutors with the tools they need to clamp down on criminal street gangs, and provides the Department of Justice with grants to study more efficient ways to combat youth crime.  

I also supported the Omnibus Crime Bill of 1993 that made membership in a criminal street gang a federal crime and that provided block grants to help states and localities fight criminal street gangs, and I have worked to provide funds for several anti-gang programs such as the Gang Resistance Education and Training Act (GREAT), The Restitution Earned Accountability (REAL) program, and the Richard Steele Youth Boxing Club.  These programs provide much needed counseling and education for at risk youth.

Law Enforcement Weapons-Carry Bill
I worked hard to pass the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, which exempts qualified current and former law enforcement officers from state laws prohibiting the carrying of concealed handguns across state lines. This law ensures that officers who undergo the rigorous training to carry concealed weapons will have their experience recognized in every state. It makes our communities safer by allowing law enforcement officers to effectively fight crime wherever they go, and it protects officers from criminals who carry a grudge.

Identity Theft
Unfortunately, identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States, affecting over 10 million individuals each year.  Most identity thieves steal personal information to establish credit in a victim’s name.  The same electronic methods that have eased many electronic transactions have also led to problems with the protection of personal information including Social Security numbers and credit card data. Currently, two federal laws limit access to consumer information including the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Gramm-Leach-Biley Act.  In 2007, the Senate passed another bill to help curtail this growing problem.  The Identity Theft Enforcement and Restitution Act of 2007 (S.2168), will provide additional funds, penalties, and rights for victim compensation.  I will continue to fight for protection of consumer information, and I am committed to pursuing legislation that implements the newest and best ideas for combating identity theft.