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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release May 15, 2000

Protecting and Honoring Our Nation's Law Enforcement

At today's 19th Annual Peace Officers Memorial, President Clinton will announce new efforts to protect law enforcement officers and honor their extraordinary service. Today, the President will announce: 1) that the Justice Department has funded over 92,000 armor vests to date for State and local police officers across the country through the Bulletproof Vest Partnership; 2) the availability of $24 million in FY 2000 funding to double the current number of vests funded; 3) support for authorizing legislation to extend the vest grant program through FY 2004 and double current funding to $150 million; and 4) his directive to the Attorney General to help create a Presidential award of valor to honor the extraordinary service and valor of public safety officers.

IMPROVING OFFICER SAFETY WITH BULLETPROOF VESTS

SUPPORTING THE EXTENSION AND DOUBLING OF THE VEST PROGRAM

CREATING NEW AWARD OF VALOR TO HONOR EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE