STATEMENT OF GLEN D. KING

Dear Senator:

I appreciate the opportunity to submit a statement to the Senate Appropriations Committee on State Justice and Commerce.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police represents over 10, 600 members from 64 nations. Most of our membership, however, are state

and local law enforcement executives from the United States.

My concern here today is with the funding level of the LEAA. The IACP is strongly committed to support the original funding figure of 810 million dollars and would oppose deletion of more than 210 million dollars as has been proposed.

LACP clearly recognizes the economic constraints under which the U. S. Government is functioning and does not oppose fiscal responsibility. We would, however, point out that in many areas of government budgeting, large increases have been noted over the previous fiscal year. While we do not question the necessity for these increases within other government agencies, we do question the decision to arbitrarily reduce LEAA funding by more than one-fourth.

The LEAA's operating budget, as you are well aware, calls for the expenditures of large sums of money through block grants to states as well as the allocation of funds for discretionary grants. The figures submitted in the budget, in our opinion, were not arrived at capriciously, but are amounts that are not only workable but absolutely essential if the states and cities are to carry out their programs.

LEAA has been in existence nearly eight years. It has been the subject of criticism and praise. We have, as an Association, offered both. Many of the grants provided by the LEAA have been useful and will continue to produce results in the years to come. As I said, we have been critical of some expenditures and feel that it is our duty to be frank in our assessment of any agency which deals with law enforcement. In previous testimony before subcommittees, I have pointed out that the LEAA has time and again been criticized for giving priority for equipment research and the dissemination of the information rather than focusing on person-related activities. It is entirely conceivable, that in the early formative years of LEAA, excessive sums of money were expended on hardware and related research. That trend, however, has diminished, to the point where we now honestly believe that hardware expenditures are of a completely defensible nature and level.

More and more of the LEAA funds are going to people-related activities; team policing which is basically the decentralization of the police function is bringing officers into close contact with the people they serve, and thereby increasing police effectiveness. Much effort has gone into corrections, the courts and the prosecution of criminal activity. It is undeniably true that crime in the United States has not shown a marked decrease and it is further true that the penal system is in serious trouble from the standpoint of over population.

What would appear to be happening in this nation at this time as a result of the federal money expended through LEAA is that we have focused much attention on crime, fostered more community support for attacking crime and, thereby, identified more perpetrators, as well as more offenses. As a result of this improvement and the subsequent improvements in prosecution

we have increased the population in the jails. It is my firm belief that the natural result of this and, it will follow, maybe not this year or next year, but it will follow, that increased awareness and popular support for removing the criminal element and the increased likelihood of successful prosecution will eventually have a deterrent effect. Further, that by working in the area of juvenile delinquency and providing protective treatment for juveniles we will rid ourselves of the training ground for the adult offender.

In effect what I am saying is that while some phases of the LEAA program may have been ill-conceived and ill-administered, to cut large sums of money from its budget on the belief that this money, too, will in time be unwisely expended, is to say that those within the program have not learned from past experience.

At this point, I would like to add that the 70 million dollars that have been earmarked for non-budgeted items, juvenile delinquency programs and the Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP) is a wise expenditure.

However, I would urge you, in your deliberations, to consider raising the figure for juvenile justice from 30 million to 100 million. With the LEEP funds added, I am asking you to provide LEAA with an additional $140, 000, 000 for expenditure in juvenile delinquency and education programs. This figure, coupled with the proposed 600 million would leave us with a very acceptable budget of 740 million.

The juvenile delinquency expenditures, along with LEEP, will, I think, offer the most tangible results possible in years to come.

We have stated in previous testimony and will continue to state that the LEEP program is one of the single most important undertakings of LEAA.

The LEEP program in the future will provide law enforcement with a valuable pool of competent managerial personnel, attuned to the thinking of the times, and capable of applying proven techniques to the administration of this nation's law enforcement agencies.

I stress that LEEP is a success by offering to you that in 1968 only 234 educational institutions in this country offered law enforcement degrees of any nature. By 1973, the number had risen to 990 and last year there were more than 1,050 participating institutions and more than 97,000 students are being educated with LEEP assistance. More than 60,000 of those are sworn police officers.

As I have said before, without the Law Enforcement Education Program's assistance, education to this extent would not be available to the law enforcement officer.

I am confident, and my confidence is bolstered by the fact that these hearings are taking place, that you are truly concerned with the criminal justice system and the safety of the people of this country. We ask you to seriously weigh the results in cutting such a large amount of money from the LEAA budget and consider what is to be realized by what I recommend.

I will be most happy to respond to any questions you might have.

Sincerely,

Denizing

Glen D. King
Executive Director

LETTER FROM CARL MARCY

March 3, 1976

Dear Senator Pastore:

As your Subcommittee submits its budget estimates for 1977 to the Budget Committee, I hope very much you will include $10,000,000 for the United Nations University which was authorized last year to be appropriated "to the President for fiscal year 1977". This appropriation is, in accordance with the authorizing legislation (Sec. 205 of P.L. 94-141), "to be used for a contribution of the United States to the United Nations University Endowment Fund..."

Although budget authority for this amount has been authorized by law, the President has not yet included it in the 1977 budget. The Department of State from the Secretary on down believe this appropriation is in our national interest.

The amount may be included in a supplementary budget request.

If the amount is not included in a supplementary request from the President, the University hopes your Committee on its own initiative will see fit to include this amount in its appropriations for 1977.

We feel strongly that a U.S. contribution of $10 million at this time would be an important but modest indication of our support for the initiative of the Japanese Government which has already pledged $100,000,000 and provided a site for the University headquarters in Tokyo. The fact that the University is to operate out of an Endowment Fund rather than relying on annual contributions of Governments makes it effectively independent of the politics of the United Nations Assembly, which is not always conducive to the academic freedom which is essential.

As a Washington representative of the United Nations University, I request opportunity to testify in support of this request for an appropriation at such time as you consider it presumably when your Committee takes up State Department appropriations for fiscal 1977.

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Not being quite sure how the relatively new congressional budget procedure will operate, I am sending a copy of this letter to the Chairman of the Budget Committee, Senator Muskie, who was one of the supporters of last year's authorizing legislation.

Sincerely yours,

Carl Manny

STATEMENT OF FRANK MANSON

Mr. Chairman and Distinguished Members of the Subcommittee:

The American Legion strongly supports the request made vy

the Department of State for funds to continue its operation of Radio I ret Europe, Radio Liberty and the Board for International Broadcasting for

Fiscal Year 1977.

It is noted that the request for FY '77 includes $52.9 million for the operation of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty and $400,000 for operation of the Board for International Broadcasting. The total sum requested for FY 77 is $12.2 million less than was requested for FY 1976 and represents savings as a result of consolidation of radios and improved management.

This projected savings is a commendable improvement in

this worthwhile undertaking.

The American Legion has also noted reports that Spain.

re-evaluating agreements relating to the use of transmitting equipment in that country. It is hoped that Spain's past policy of allowing use of its facilities for these broadcasts will be continued.

These radio broadcasts represent one of the most effec

tive methods of insuring that the people of the Soviet Union continue to have access to uncensored information which is denied both. by the Soviet government's press bureau and by its broadcast facities.

The American Legion strongly supports Radio Free

Europe, Radio Liberty and the Board for International 'roadcastlag. A copy of American Legion Resolution #54 is attached which Getails that position.

56TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN LEGION HELD IN MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUGUST 20, 21, 22, 1974

WHEREAS, Radio Liberty, which broadcasts to the Soviet Union, and Radio Free Europe, which broadcasts to the other Communist countries in Eastern Europe, perform essential functions of providing uncensored information about events abroad and at home that are not otherwise available to the people of those nations; and

WHEREAS, Radio Liberty and Radio Free Europe act 35 A substitute for a free press which does not exist in those countries;

and

WHEREAS, Such information assists in the development of international understanding and thereby aids the cause of world peace; and

WHEREAS, There has been a movement in the Congress to cut off U.S. Government funding for these two essential services, thereby, in effect, acceeding to Soviet demands that they be curtailed; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by The American Legion in National Convention assembled in Miami Beach, Florida, August 20, 21, 22, 1974, that we strongly support the continuation of public financing of Radio Liberty and Radio Free Europe and oppose efforts aimed at curtailing or eliminating their services.