Money to support law enforcement survives House vote

In one closely watched amendment on the Republican spending bill, the House voted 228-203 Wednesday to restore $298 million to the Community Oriented Policing Services program, which provides grants to police departments.

Some 70 Republicans and 158 Democrats joined to reject the termination of the program that was included in the GOP bill.

Reps. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Joe Heck and Dean Heller, both R-Nev., voted to keep the grant program. The Las Vegas Police Protective Association had protested the original $600 million cut.

"Nevada law enforcement officials opposed Republican plans to cut COPS funding because of the negative impact it would have on our state. That is why I voted to restore this funding, and I am very pleased that this amendment passed," Berkley said.

Heck, an emergency physician, said, "I understand how vital programs like COPS are to keeping our families and communities safe."

The Las Vegas Police Protective Association, the largest police organization in the state, said Nevada enforcement agencies had collected $69.8 million in COPS grants since the program was established during the Clinton administration. The grants had helped in the hiring of 456 officers and sheriffs deputies, the group said.