FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          AG
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1996                           (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888
                                
                                
               STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO
                  ON THE FY96 BUDGET AGREEMENT

            COPS Program, Drug Courts, VAWA Preserved

     "Today's budget agreeement is a big win for America's police
and the American people.  The conferees pledged to preserve the
COPS program and reach the President's goal COPS of 100,000, with
$1.4 billion to pay for another 19,000 police this year.  In less
than two years the COPS program has funded more than 33,000
officers and won rave reviews from police departments across
America.  Now we can continue our progress.

     "We are also gratified that the Congress is restoring $15
million for our drug courts program and fully funding our request
under the Violence Against Women Act.  I applaud the bipartisanship
that resolved this dispute, and hope we can continue to work
together to fulfill the pledges we made in the 1994 Crime Act."

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