For Immediate Release
September 15, 2009

Contact: Jeff Billington
(202) 225-7924

Congresswoman Richardson Salutes the DOJ for Funding for Long Beach Police Department and Announces $25,000 NEH Grant for California State University Dominguez Hills Foundation

WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Laura Richardson announced today that the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) has received a $286,402 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).  The funding was awarded through the National Institute of Justice and will help LBPD continue the operation of its cold case unit through the use of DNA solicitation.

“This funding provides the financial support necessary to continue a critical program in the Long Beach Police Department, where more than 4,700 cases in Los Angeles County remain not only unsolved, but not even tested,” Congresswoman Richardson said.  “While state and local governments continue to face tough budget cuts, it is a relief for all the people of Long Beach that their police department is able to continue the vital work of solving cold cases, thus ensuring justice is served, criminals are off the street and closure for victims is achieved.”

Budget cuts had previously forced the LBPD to eliminate its cold case unit in 2007, but it was reestablished on January 6, 2009.  The funding from the DOJ will support the program through fiscal years 2010 and 2011.

“In addition to this grant, I am committed, through the House appropriation process by approving an additional $100,000 (6/18/09), to ensuring that our police departments are not hindered in their crime solving abilities, despite these tough economic times,” Congresswoman Richardson stated.

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Washington, DC — The California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) Foundation will be awarded a grant in the amount of $25,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Congresswoman Laura Richardson has announced. 

The NEH grant will be used by the CSUDH Foundation for the Tradeswoman Archive Project.  This project is intended to create both a virtual museum and add to the holdings of a physical collection, which is primarily composed of artifacts about women who work in untraditional blue-collar trades. NEH grants are highly competitive and involve a rigorous review and selection process to ensure that the best of humanities research, education, preservation and public programs is cultivated. 

“Encouraging NEH’s support for increasing access, improving quality and adding and inspiring real life opportunities through education is one of my ongoing priorities,” Congresswoman Richardson said.  “This grant will give students and visitors at the university a prime opportunity for learning beyond the traditional classroom, through both virtual and hands-on access to real history.”

The CSUDH Foundation provides services and develops and enhances programs that are an integral part of the educational mission of California State University, Dominguez Hills. 

“When students are given current world experience and examples that they can relate into their areas of study, future workers are almost always more engaged, as well as more likely to land a job in that field,” Congresswoman Richardson added.  “Therefore, it is important to help expand possibilities like this one during these tough economic times so that the rising unemployment in California, now as high as 11.9 percent, can be reduced.”

Congresswoman Richardson is a Democrat from California’s 37^th Congressional District.  She is a member of the House Committees on Transportation & Infrastructure and Homeland Security.  Her district includes Long Beach, Compton, Carson, Watts, Willowbrooke and Signal Hill.

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