Hinds Today

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today highlighted public safety matters she worked to include in the FY2025 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Bill, which received committee approval Thursday.

Hyde-Smith serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee that approved the CJS Appropriations Bill on a 26-3 vote. The bill, which now awaits consideration by the full Senate, recommends significant funding for U.S. Department of Justice programs to fight violent crime, disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking networks, combat the profusion of cybercrime, counter foreign intelligence threats, and support local police and sheriff’s departments.

“American domestic tranquility faces constant and growing threats, despite erroneous claims of lowered crime rates. This Senate appropriations bill outlines critical resources to ensure greater public safety, whether on a national level or on the local level in Mississippi,” Hyde-Smith said. “I will continue to work with my colleagues to advance this legislation.”

Among other items, the Senate measure funds Violence Against Women Act programs, including increased funding for transitional housing, the rural program, civil legal assistance, the Sexual Assault Services Program, and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners program. Resources are also provided for the Byrne-JAG grant program that supports local law enforcement, including many in Mississippi. The bill also supports the Crime Victims Fund, which provides resources for domestic violence shelters, children advocacy centers, and survivors of crimes.

Hyde-Smith worked with her committee colleagues to include items of interest to Mississippi in the Senate bill:

Hyde-Smith also worked to secure funding for projects led by Mississippi State University, Ole Miss, the University of Southern Mississippi, and others with appropriations for the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and other agencies.

The FY2025 CJS Appropriations Bill was among four receiving committee approval on Thursday. Overall, the committee has approved seven of the 12 annual appropriations bills and is slated to take up the final five FY2025 funding bills on Thursday, Aug. 1.

All Senate bills are being written to comply with statutory caps on discretionary funding established under the recently-enacted Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.

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