PUBLIC SAFETY Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7163
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Economics and Public Finance
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-20: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-07T08:05:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The PUBLIC SAFETY Act (H.R. 7163) aims to redirect and allocate federal funds originally designated for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) toward supporting local law enforcement hiring and justice assistance programs. This shift prioritizes community-based policing and crime prevention efforts over federal immigration enforcement activities.
Key Provisions
- Funding for COPS Hiring Program (Section 2):
- Redirects funds to the Attorney General (Department of Justice) for grants under the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, as outlined in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. These grants support hiring additional law enforcement officers in local communities.
- Extends fund availability through September 30, 2030.
- Introduces a waiver of certain hiring requirements (e.g., maintaining officer levels post-grant) for small jurisdictions, defined as those employing fewer than 175 law enforcement officers. This includes counties, municipalities, towns, townships, villages, parishes, boroughs, and Tribal governments.
- Funding for Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) Program (Section 3):
- Appropriates an additional $45 billion for fiscal year 2025, available until September 30, 2029, to the Attorney General for the Byrne JAG program. This program provides flexible grants to states and localities for criminal justice initiatives, such as crime prevention, drug enforcement, and victim services.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends sections of Public Law 119-21 (a prior reconciliation act), which previously allocated funds to the Secretary of Homeland Security for ICE operations related to removal proceedings (deportations).
- Replaces ICE-focused funding with support for DOJ-administered local law enforcement programs, effectively repurposing the money.
- Modifies the COPS program's section heading and eligibility rules to broaden access for smaller agencies, waiving the usual mandate that grantees maintain their pre-grant staffing levels.
- Increases Byrne JAG funding substantially, from any prior appropriations, to a fixed $45 billion infusion.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Boosts resources for the Department of Justice to distribute grants, potentially easing administrative burdens on local police departments. Conversely, it reduces funding streams for the Department of Homeland Security's ICE, which may limit federal immigration enforcement capacity.
- On Citizens: Enhances local public safety by funding more police hires and justice programs, particularly benefiting residents in small towns, rural areas, and Tribal communities through improved policing and crime reduction efforts.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though the redirection away from ICE funding could indirectly affect U.S. immigration policy enforcement, potentially influencing perceptions of U.S. border security by international partners.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Local Law Enforcement Agencies: Primary beneficiaries, gaining access to hiring grants and flexible justice funding, especially smaller agencies (under 175 officers) that receive waivers.
- Tribal Governments: Explicitly included for waivers, supporting Native American communities' policing needs.
- State and Local Governments: Eligible for Byrne JAG grants to address broader criminal justice priorities.
- Federal Agencies: Department of Justice gains funding authority; Department of Homeland Security/ICE loses repurposed allocations.
- Communities: Residents in underserved areas may see improved safety services, while immigrant communities could experience reduced federal enforcement pressure.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill operates within congressional appropriations authority under Article I of the U.S. Constitution, allowing reallocation of unspent Treasury funds. It amends existing statutes without creating new mandates, but the waivers could streamline grant processes while ensuring compliance with anti-discrimination laws in hiring.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges noted; the redirection respects separation of powers by Congress controlling the purse strings, though it may spark debates on federalism (balancing national vs. local priorities).
- Political: Represents a policy pivot from immigration enforcement to domestic public safety, potentially appealing to bipartisan support for local policing amid concerns over federal overreach. It could fuel partisan divides on immigration funding, with implications for future budget reconciliation bills.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (16)
Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4], Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3], Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2], Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4], Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-20: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-20: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-01-20: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-20: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Providing Useful Budgets for Localities to Invest in Cops by Substituting Appropriations from Federal Enforcement To Yield Results Act — issued 2026-01-20 — PDF (3 pages)