Biden tells Mayors: ‘Use Unspent COVID Relief $$$s on Crime Prevention’
As crime continues to rise in the country, mayors and law enforcement officials are meeting at the White House on Friday to discuss more funding for public safety programs.
Landwebs
As crime continues to rise in the country, mayors and law enforcement officials are meeting at the White House on Friday to discuss more funding for public safety programs.
In response, President Joe Biden is said to urge states and cities to use unspent money from last year’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package to fund crime prevention, and hire more police officers, NBC News reports.
The White House is also stressing officials to spend the money before the summer months quickly approach, noting that historically, that’s when violent crime rises.
At least $10 billion from the American Rescue Plan, which Congress passed in March 2021, has already been committed to public safety programs — including domestic violence prevention efforts, drug abuse and mental health services, and bonuses for hiring and retaining police officers, the White House said.
In addition, $350 billion from the rescue plan went to help governors, mayors and other local leaders support their responses to and recovery from the pandemic
