Letters to Congress

When the need arises, NCJA writes letters to educate members of Congress about pending legislation that may impact the smooth and balanced functioning of the criminal justice system. NCJA also joins with other state and local criminal justice stakeholder organizations in expressing united support for continued federal funding for Byrne JAG and other priority programs. Below is a sample of recent letters. Click below to browse the archives of appropriations, dear colleague and legislation letters.

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• Appropriations Letters

• Dear Colleague Letters

• Legislation Letters

 

Appropriations and Budget Letters

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FY2025

• Letter to House and Senate CJS subcommittees for restored funding for the Byrne JAG program in the FY25 appropriations bill and funding for implementation of the Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act signed by 47 national stakeholder organizations (March 22, 2024)

 

FY2024

• Letter to House and Senate CJS subcommittees for restored funding for the Byrne JAG program in the FY24 appropriations bill and funding for implementation of the Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act signed by 45 national stakeholder organizations (March 23, 2023)

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FY2023

• Letter to House and Senate CJS subcommittees for restored funding for the Byrne JAG program in the FY23 appropriations bill (April 22, 2022)

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FY 2022

• Letter to House and Senate CJS subcommittees signed by 53 national stakeholder organizations for restored funding for the Byrne JAG program in the FY22 appropriations bill (April 21, 2021)

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FY 2021

• Letter to House and Senate CJS subcommittees signed by 50 national stakeholder organizations for restored funding for the Byrne JAG program in the FY21 appropriations bill (March 10, 2020)

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FY 2020

• Letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders signed by 81 national, state and local organizations urging Congress to protect and sustain funding for key justice assistance grant programs by reaching a bipartisan FY20 budget cap agreement and ensuring a robust 302(b) allocation for the FY20 CJS bill (April 15, 2019)

• Letter to House and Senate CJS subcommittees signed by 51 national stakeholder organizations for restored funding for the Byrne JAG program in the FY20 appropriations bill (April 12, 2019)

• Letter signed by 45 stakeholder organizations to Attorney General Jeff Sessions urging full funding in the FY20 budget request for the Byrne JAG and COPS Hiring programs (November 5, 2018).

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FY 2019

 

• Letter signed by 64 stakeholder organizations to congressional leaders urging passage of the FY19 CJS bill in the lame duck session (December 11, 2018)

• Letter signed by 59 stakeholder organizations to appropriators letters applauding passage of the FY18/FY19 budget deal and encouraging sufficient 302B funding for CJS programs (Feb 26, 2018).

• Letter describing the importance of the Byrne JAG program addressed to President Trump and congressional leaders and signed by 954 national, state and local organizations (Feb 8, 2018).

 

FY 2018

• Letter to House and Senate CJS subcommittees signed by 58 national stakeholder organizations for continued funding for the Byrne JAG program in the FY18 appropriations bill (April 20, 2017).

FY 2017

• Letter signed by the wider juvenile and criminal justice community urging Congress to protect and sustain the justice assistance grant programs in the final FY17 appropriations bill (April 10, 2017).

• Letter to House and Senate CJS subcommittees for continued funding for the Byrne JAG program in the FY17 appropriations bill (March 21, 2016).

FY 2016

• Letter to House and Senate CJS subcommittees for continued funding for the Byrne JAG program in the FY16 appropriations bill (March 25, 2015).

FY 2015

• Letter to House and Senate CJS subcommittees for continued funding for the Byrne JAG program in the FY15 appropriations bill (March 17, 2014).

FY 2014

• Letter to House and Senate CJS subcommittees, thanking them for strong funding for the Byrne JAG program in the FY14 appropriations bill (February 7, 2014).

• Letter to House and Senate CJS subcommittees, re: funding for the Byrne JAG program in the FY14 appropriations bill (June 5, 2013)

FY 2013

• Letter to leaders of the House and Senate CJS subcommittee thanking them for protecting the grant programs in the final FY13 appropriations bill (April 28, 2013).

 

FY 2012

• Letter to the leaders of the Senate CJS subcommittee on maintaining funding for the DOJ justice assistance grant programs (March 8, 2013).

• Letter signed by law enforcement and prosecution agencies urging Congress to protect the justice assistance grant programs from the sequester in a deficit reduction deal (December 10, 2012).

• Letter signed by the wider criminal justice and public safety community urging Congress to adopt a balanced approach and protect the justice assistance grant programs from the sequester in a deficit reduction deal (December 10, 2012).

• Letter to House and Senate appropriators in support of Byrne JAG funding in the FY13 CJS appropriations bill signed by 38 national stakeholder groups (March 15, 2012).