Press Releases

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) today announced that communities in the 3rd Congressional District will receive over $1.7 million in funding for law enforcement.

The funding announced today was included in the fiscal stimulus package recently signed into law by President Obama, and is available through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. JAG program funds can be used for a variety of efforts such as hiring law enforcement officers; supporting drug and gang task forces; funding crime prevention and domestic violence programs; and supporting courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives.

The procedure for allocating JAG grants is based on a formula of population and violent crime statistics.

-Cities and towns are facing extremely difficult economic times,- Rep. McGovern said. -The federal assistance we are announcing today will help these communities maintain public safety and law enforcement programs. I'm very pleased that these funds were included in the stimulus package and that the Justice Department is making them available so quickly.-

-With serious budget shortfalls and the growing threat of crime facing so many of our communities across the Commonwealth in the current economic crisis, these federal funds are essential in our efforts to ensure public safety,- Sen. Kennedy said. We'll continue to fight for strong federal support for state and local law enforcement. Our communities need this help.-

-As a former prosecutor and someone who has heard from law enforcement officers again and again about the impact of the Byrne program on crime-fighting, I know that this investment will help ensure that even in tough economic times we don't take our eye off of crime,- Sen. Kerry said. -This funding will allow our state's law enforcement officers to continue to deal with the drug problem, keep more cops on our streets, combat gang violence and improve the use of crime-fighting technology.-
The funding announced today will be allocated in the 3rd District as follows:

Attleboro: $69,385
Ashland: $13,054
Auburn: $67,597
Fall River*: $606,943
Marlborough: $17,168
North Attleborough: $23,427
Plainville: $10,730
Seekonk: $20,386
Shrewsbury: $11,087
Somerset: $30,580
Swansea: $28,434
Westborough: $12,876
Worcester: $791,673

TOTAL: $1,703,340


*U.S. Barney Frank (D-MA) shares representation of Fall River with Rep. McGovern