By JIM ABRAMS

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has approved federal funds to help local police departments hire and retain 50,000 officers over the next five years.

The House vote was an endorsement for the Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, grant program, which struggled to survive under the Bush administration.

COPS was created in 1994 by the Clinton administration, which saw it as a vehicle to put 100,000 new beat cops on the nation’s streets. But the Bush White House consistently tried to cut its budget, arguing that it was not cost-effective.

The economic stimulus plan enacted in February also contained $1 billion for the COPS program to help cash-strapped police departments keep and hire officers.

The House-passed bill approves $1.8 billion a year over five years for COPS. It now goes to the Senate.