Crime

Homeland security, combating crime and improving safety in our homes and neighborhoods are top priorities for Jane Harman. Simply put, local law enforcement must have adequate resources to keep themselves and our communities safe.

Consistent with her no-nonsense approach to fighting crime, Harman has voted to increase penalties for heinous criminal offenses, to ban “cop-killer bullets” and to provide law enforcement with badly needed resources for tracking and apprehending criminals. She is a strong supporter of the COPS program, which provides funding to local police departments to hire additional officers – making our schools and communities safer, friendlier places to work, live and learn.

Well before the tragic events of 9/11, she secured funding for the creation of the Western Regional Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center in El Segundo, which aids police and sheriffs with new crime-fighting technologies and training opportunities.

Since 9/11, Jane Harman has worked closely with LA County and South Bay law enforcement and emergency response professionals to increase both preparedness and response to terrorist threats. Specifically, she has:

• Introduced HR 1425, the HERO Act, to provide by 2006 law enforcement and emergency responders with more broadcast spectrum for public safety communications.
• Authored a new law that improved the sharing of homeland security information between Federal intelligence agencies and State and local entities.
• Secured more than $1 million for LA County to improve radio interoperability.
• Co-authored legislation to improve security at the Port of Los Angeles, the nation’s busiest, and the nation’s other ports.
• Co-authored the Clean, Learn, Educate, Abolish, Neutralize, and Undermine Production (CLEAN-UP) of Methamphetamines Act, which would increase resources to carry out environmental cleanup and remediation programs involving lands that are contaminated by illegal methamphetamine manufacture.
• Co-authored the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act, which became law and ensures survivor benefits for the families of public safety officers who suffer a fatal heart attack or stroke while on duty.
• Co-authored legislation to extend the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program, which helps fund the purchase of bulletproof vests for law enforcement personnel.
• Co-authored legislation to reduce the backlog of DNA samples collected from crime scenes and convicted offenders as well as provide post-conviction testing of DNA evidence to exonerate the innocent.

Harman voted against a proposal to cut the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program – an important source of federal financial assistance for state and local efforts to fight drugs and improve the criminal justice system. Since 9/11, Byrne programs to equip and train local law enforcement personnel have taken on increased significance.

Harman has also voted to expand the range of heinous federal crimes for which the penalty is death and supports mandatory DNA testing of individuals on death row.

Harman’s leadership on law enforcement and crime prevention issues has earned her the endorsement of:

• Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy D. Baca
• The California State Sheriff’s Association
• The California Organization of Police and Sheriffs
• California Police Chiefs' Association
• LA County Firefighters' Local 1014
• California Peace Officers' Association
• Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs