[Senate Hearing 117-]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




 
  COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
                            FISCAL YEAR 2022

                              ----------                              

                                       U.S. Senate,
           Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations,
                                                    Washington, DC.

                       NONDEPARTMENTAL WITNESSES

    [Clerk's Note.--The subcommittee was unable to hold 
hearings on nondepartmental witnesses. The statements and 
letters of those submitting written testimony are as follows:]
           Prepared Statement of the American Bar Association

April 1, 2021

 
 
 
The Honorable Jeanne Shaheen,               The Honorable Jerry Moran,
  Chair                                       Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice,          Subcommittee on Commerce,
 Science, and Related Agencies               Justice, Science, and
Committee on Appropriations                  Related Agencies
United States Senate                        Committee on Appropriations
Washington, DC 20510                        United States Senate
                                            Washington, DC 20510
 
The Honorable Matt Cartwright,              The Honorable Robert
  Chair                                      Aderholt,
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice,            Ranking Member
 Science, and Related Agencies              Subcommittee on Commerce,
Committee on Appropriations                  Justice, Science, and
United States House of Representatives       Related Agencies
Washington, DC 20515                        Committee on Appropriations
                                            United States House of
                                             Representatives
                                            Washington, DC 20515
 


Re: Funding for Tribal Courts to Ensure Access to Justice Following the 
U.S. Supreme Court Decision in McGirt v Oklahoma

Dear Chair Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran, Chair Cartwright, and Ranking 
Member Aderholt:

    On behalf of the American Bar Association (ABA), the largest 
voluntary association of lawyers and legal professionals in the world, 
I write to express our concerns over inadequate funding of Tribal 
criminal justice that has contributed to staggering rates of violent 
crime and victimization on many Indian reservations. This is not a new 
problem.
    The underfunding of the Tribal justice systems has been well-
documented in report after report for over two decades.\1\ Most 
recently, in 2020, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) submitted a 
Report to Congress on Spending, Staffing, and Estimated Funding Costs 
for Public Safety and Justice Programs in Indian Country estimating 
that $1.2 billion was needed for Tribal courts to provide a minimum 
base level of service to all federally recognized Tribal nations in 
2018. A recent Supreme Court decision leaves no doubt that even this 
level of funding, which was never achieved, will not be sufficient to 
meet current needs.
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    \1\ U.S. Civil Rights Commission 1991 Report The Indian Civil 
Rights Act: A Report of the United States Commission on Civil Rights; 
the U. S. Civil Rights Commission 2003 Report A Quiet Crisis: Federal 
Funding and Unmet Needs in Indian Country; the Indian Law and Order 
Commission 2013 report A Roadmap for Making Native America Safer: 
Report to the President & Congress of the United States; the U.S. 
Department of Justice, Attorney General's Advisory Committee on 
American Indian/Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence 2014 Report 
Ending Violence So Children Can Thrive; and the U. S. Civil Rights 
Commission 2018 report Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding 
Shortfall for Native Americans.
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    In July 2020, the United States Supreme Court recognized the 
inherent Tribal jurisdiction over Native American sovereign lands in 
Oklahoma. In its decision in McGirt v Oklahoma, the Court recognized 
that simply because a State encroaches onto sovereign Indian Lands, 
that does not give the State authority to exercise jurisdiction to 
prosecute State law crimes in contravention of treaty provisions.
    As a result, Tribal and Federal courts and law enforcement must now 
devote substantial resources to criminal cases that had been heard in 
State court prior to the decision in McGirt. On March 11, 2021, the 
Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals confirmed that both the Cherokee 
Nation and Chickasaw Nation reservations are intact based on McGirt, 
and the State courts within each of the reservation counties have 
started releasing defendants to be retried before Tribal and or Federal 
courts. (The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has not yet ruled on 
cases involving the Seminole Nation and the Choctaw Nation.) 
Consequently, several thousand cases will now be redirected to Tribal 
courts in Oklahoma, creating an even greater need for funding to ensure 
adequate numbers of judges, support staff, facilities, and equipment to 
address these long overdue proceedings. The need will, of course, be 
much greater if McGirt impacts treaties outside of Oklahoma.
    The American Bar Association has long affirmed that Tribal justice 
systems are the primary and most appropriate institutions for 
maintaining order in Tribal communities. We have repeatedly urged the 
United States Government ``to support quality and accessible justice by 
ensuring adequate, stable, long-term funding for Tribal justice 
systems''.\2\ Despite urgent pleas by Tribes, Tribal courts, and 
concerned organizations representing myriad disciplines for the U.S. 
Government to appropriate the funds that are needed to provide the more 
than 350 Tribal justice systems with the resources they need to do this 
important work, there is a critical funding shortfall that needs to be 
recognized and rectified as we enter the fiscal year 2022 budget cycle.
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    \2\ The ABA has adopted extensive policy supporting Tribal court 
funding, accessible at: https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/
administrative/crsj/native-american-concerns.pdf.
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    We appreciate the recent attention given to the needs of Native 
Americans in the COVID 19 relief bill. However, the funds included in 
that legislation do not begin to address the funding needed to support 
the specific responsibilities of Tribal Courts. The funding of Tribal 
Courts is an area of long-standing neglect and requires immediate 
attention.
    Therefore, we urge you to address this important funding priority 
this year and we stand ready to assist you in whatever way we can.

    [This statement was submitted by Patricia Lee Refo, President.]
                                 ______
                                 
  Prepared Statement of the American Educational Research Association
 fiscal year 2022 appropriations for the national science foundation: 
   education and human resources and social, behavioral and economic 
              sciences directorates and u.s. census bureau
    Chair Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran, and Members of the 
subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony 
on behalf of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). I 
want to begin by recognizing your longstanding support for the National 
Science Foundation and thank you and your staff for your strong 
commitment to maintaining agency flexibility in funding cutting edge 
science. AERA recommends that the National Science Foundation (NSF) 
receive at least $10 billion in fiscal year 2022. This recommendation 
is consistent with that of the Coalition for National Science Funding 
(CNSF), in which AERA is a long-term active member. Furthermore, this 
request aligns with the Biden administration's request and the dear 
colleague letter led by Senator Markey. AERA also recommends $2 billion 
for the Census Bureau, consistent with the recommendation of The Census 
Project.
    AERA is the major national scientific association of 25,000 
faculty, researchers, graduate students, and other distinguished 
professionals dedicated to advancing knowledge about education, 
encouraging scholarly inquiry related to education, and promoting the 
use of research to serve public good. Many of our members are engaged 
in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education 
research. Our members work in a range of settings from universities and 
other academic institutions to research institutes, Federal and State 
agencies, school systems, testing companies, and nonprofit 
organizations engaged in conducting research in all areas of education 
and learning from early childhood through the workforce.
    Given the expertise of the AERA membership, my testimony will focus 
on the importance of the Education and Human Resources (EHR) and the 
Social, Behavioral and Economic (SBE) Sciences Directorates at NSF. In 
addition, many of our members depend on an accurate Census count and 
data from the American Community Survey to do their work.
                      national science foundation
    The Federal investment in research and scientific knowledge at NSF 
has led to innovation and discoveries that are applied in our daily 
lives. We appreciate the bipartisan interest in maintaining U.S. 
leadership and global partnerships in basic research through the 
Federal investments made in NSF.
    The EHR and SBE Directorates are central to the mission of the NSF 
to advance fundamental knowledge and scientific breakthroughs and to 
ensure significant continuing advances across science, engineering, and 
education. EHR support is vital to research discoveries, capacity 
building, and methodological innovations directly related to STEM 
education and learning from early education through workforce 
development. Research and science supported by the EHR and SBE 
Directorates are also inextricably linked to the science and research 
of the other directorates (for example, Computer and Information 
Science and Engineering).
    Furthermore, the EHR and SBE directorates are vital not just to 
producing essential knowledge but also to harnessing that knowledge to 
enhance productivity, innovation, safety, security, and social economic 
well-being. I also wish to highlight the National Science Board Vision 
2030, which calls for expanding the STEM talent pool. Ongoing NSF 
initiatives to broaden participation through programs such as NSF 
INCLUDES in EHR and the Build and Broaden program within SBE are 
examples to increase the diversity of the STEM educator and research 
workforce.
    As indicated in the agency's budget request for fiscal year 2022, 
95 percent of appropriated funds directly supported research and 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education 
through grants and cooperative agreements in fiscal year 2020, with 80 
percent of funding supporting research at colleges and universities. In 
addition, more than 118,000 K-12 students and 40,000 K-12 teachers 
benefitted from programs that directly engage them in STEM experiences 
within and outside the classroom.
Education and Human Resources Directorate
    The EHR Directorate at NSF is responsible for providing the 
research foundation necessary to achieve excellence in U.S. STEM 
education. EHR accomplishes this goal by supporting the development of 
a scientifically-literate citizenry as well as a STEM-skilled 
workforce. Advances in the industries of the future, including 
artificial intelligence and quantum information science, require 
building interest and engagement in STEM throughout the lifespan.
    The EHR Directorate commitment to invest in fundamental research 
related to STEM across all education levels and to promote evidence-
based innovations in teaching practices, instructional tools, and 
programs is essential to advancing STEM education and preparing the 
next generation of STEM professionals. EHR funded researchers are 
asking key questions, for example, about how to spark students' 
interest in math and science and keep them engaged, or about why so 
many students lose interest and confidence and about what can be done 
to keep them engaged. Understanding these and many other questions will 
help the United States build a well-educated and technology-literate 
workforce necessary for a prosperous economic future.
    Key to advancing STEM education research is the EHR Core Research 
(ECR) program, an important resource to the field that builds 
fundamental knowledge and capacity to understand STEM teaching and 
learning and develop the STEM educator and workforce pipeline. ECR 
grants have supported critical work in equity, inclusion, and ethics in 
postsecondary academic workplaces and the academic profession, as well 
as research to improve STEM teaching and learning for students with 
disabilities. We also applaud NSF in investing in midscale research 
infrastructure, serving as a potential resource for addressing key 
needs that include building data infrastructure capacity, constructing 
networked learning laboratories, and developing innovative diagnostic 
assessment tools.
    As the Nation continues to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 
pandemic, research supported by EHR will be critical to fostering STEM 
learning in formal and informal settings. Through the RAPID program, 
EHR provided grants to education researchers to inform remote 
instruction, develop STEM curriculum that incorporated the COVID-19 
pandemic to understand scientific principles, and provide insight into 
issues of equity in STEM education. Additional survey work and research 
supported through RAPID funding highlighted how the pandemic affected 
undergraduate and graduate students, including their engagement and 
interest in STEM and their satisfaction with online STEM coursework.
    Increased investment in EHR is critical to support research to 
inform an educational system that will continue to incorporate 
technology inside and outside the STEM classroom and labs. In addition, 
the EHR Directorate's focus on developing our Nation's scientific 
workforce requires resources to ensure that early career scholars and 
graduate students who have experienced unanticipated disruptions to 
their scientific careers during the pandemic remain in the STEM talent 
pipeline. Some examples include material support to emerging scholars 
(both salary and ``soft support''), mechanisms to connect and build 
communities among scholars, and focus on mentoring.
Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate
    In addition to the significant investments in education sciences 
provided by EHR, AERA values the important role the SBE Directorate in 
funding important education research and in social, family, and peer 
contexts connected to learning. The SBE Directorate also houses the 
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES).
    The SBE Directorate supports research to better understand people 
and reveals basic aspects of human behavior in the context of education 
and learning. SBE funded research adds fundamental knowledge essential 
to promoting the Nation's economy, security, and global leadership. 
Understanding social organizations and how social, economic, and 
cultural forces influence the lives of students is important to 
improving teaching and learning and advancing STEM education.
    The budget for SBE is 4 percent of the budget for Research and 
Related Activities, yet it provides approximately 62 percent of the 
Federal funding for basic research in the social, behavioral, and 
economic sciences at academic institutions.
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES)
    In addition, AERA has a strong interest in the National Center for 
Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) located in the SBE 
Directorate. As one of the Federal principal statistical agencies, 
NCSES provides invaluable statistical information about the science and 
engineering infrastructure and workforce in the U.S. and around the 
world. NCSES collects and analyzes data on the progress of STEM 
education and the research and development, providing valuable 
information on the trajectories of STEM graduates both in STEM and non-
STEM careers.
    Additional resources in funding and staffing in fiscal year 2022 
for NCSES would support critical activities to develop new data 
techniques building on administrative data and to enhance data tools 
and visualizations to facilitate access to statistical resources. These 
methodological advances will be necessary for NCSES to implement the 
Foundations for Evidence-based Policymaking Act and to build the NSF 
data infrastructure to securely link its survey data with 
administrative data in other Federal agencies.
    NCSES will also play a pivotal role in supporting the overall NSF 
priority to bring the ``Missing Millions'' from traditionally 
underrepresented populations into the STEM pipeline. Expanding NCSES 
surveys and incorporating information on inclusion--including data on 
the participations of LGBTQ+ populations, persons with diverse 
(dis)abilities, and other demographic attributes-can help NSF, other 
science agencies and institutions, and fields of science understand 
disparities in STEM and inform broadening participation initiatives.
                             census bureau
    I also wish to emphasize the importance of adequate support for the 
Census Bureau, especially critical in the tabulation of data from the 
2020 Decennial Census and in maintaining important survey collections. 
AERA recommends funding the Census Bureau at $2 billion in fiscal year 
2022.
    We appreciated the inclusion of a robust investment in fiscal year 
2021 to ensure that the Census Bureau had the needed resources to 
conduct the 2020 Decennial Census. The requested amount of $2 billion 
for fiscal year 2022 will provide the agency with needed resources to 
process and finalize the enumeration and related activities for the 
2020 Census, which experienced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 
addition, this amount of funding will provide resources for planning 
for the 2030 Decennial Census and continue the administration of the 
Household Pulse Survey, which has provided valuable, real-time data to 
inform the COVID-19 response. The recommended funding support will also 
allow the Census Bureau to continue to conduct the American Community 
Survey and the Current Population Survey.
    Thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony in 
support of at least $10 billion for the National Science Foundation and 
$2 billion for the Census Bureau in fiscal year 2022 appropriations. 
AERA would welcome the opportunity to work with you and your 
subcommittee to best further the crucial advances of the National 
Science Foundation and the important data provided by the Census 
Bureau. Please do not hesitate to contact me if AERA can provide 
additional information regarding this recommendation or the significant 
science made possible through the support of these agencies.

    [This statement was submitted by Felice J. Levine, PhD, Executive 
Director.]
                                 ______
                                 
          Prepared Statement of the American Geophysical Union
 fiscal year 2022 budget requests for the national aeronautics & space 
  administration, national oceanic & atmospheric administration, and 
                      national science foundation
    The American Geophysical Union (AGU), a non-profit, non-partisan 
scientific society, appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony 
regarding the fiscal year 2022 budget request for the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Science Foundation 
(NSF). AGU, on behalf of its community of 130,000 Earth and space 
scientists, respectfully requests that the 117th Congress appropriate 
the following:

  --$9 billion for NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD),
  --$150 million for NASA's Office of STEM Engagement,
  --at least $6.9 billion for NOAA, and
  --at least $10 billion for NSF.

    AGU's appropriations requests for each respective agency take into 
consideration any previous budget cuts and is driven by the need for 
significant investment in Federal research and development to ensure 
that the U.S. remains at the forefront of research and innovation.\1\
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    \1\ The Perils of Complacency, American Academy of Arts and 
Sciences, September 2020, https://www.amacad.org/sites/default/files/
publication/downloads/Perils-of-Complacency_Report-Brief_4.pdf
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              national aeronautics & space administration
    AGU requests that Congress appropriate $9 billion for NASA's 
Science Mission Directorate (a 23 percent increase over fiscal year 
2021 levels) and $150 million for NASA's Office of STEM Engagement (an 
18 percent increase over fiscal year 2021 levels). This request will 
allow NASA to remain on track to steadily advance existing and new 
missions, provide unique opportunities for the next generation of STEM 
professionals and ensure that the U.S. maintains its global leadership 
in the Earth and space sciences.
    Additionally, we request that Congress appropriate equitable 
funding increases across the science mission divisions within NASA's 
Science Mission Directorate.
Earth Science and Planetary Science Divisions
    Over the last 5 years, billion-dollar disasters have cost the 
United States more than $600 billion and this trend is projected to 
worsen.\2\ It is critical that we increase our investments in NASA's 
Earth Science Division to better understand how Earth's weather and 
climate is changing on daily and long-term scales. Additionally, NASA 
Earth Science produces critical information and data that public and 
private sector decision-makers use to mitigate the resulting risks and 
understand the opportunities.
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    \2\ NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) U.S. 
Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2021). https://
www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/, DOI: 10.25921/stkw-7w73
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    The missions and discoveries of the Planetary Science Division 
inspire future generations of scientists and STEM professionals to 
choose science as a career. Robust funding for Planetary Science will 
allow NASA to pursue human space exploration of the Moon and Mars 
without sacrificing other decadal priorities, such as a balanced 
portfolio of missions and other exploration targets in our solar 
system.
    Earth and planetary sciences are complementary and integrally 
related to one another. From picking the perfect day to launch a 
satellite to ensuring that our understanding of other planets is 
accurate, our knowledge of Earth informs our understanding of other 
worlds in the solar system. In turn, our exploration of other worlds 
advances our knowledge of Earth's evolution and processes.
Heliophysics Division
    Increased funding for Heliophysics will support the continuation of 
the Diversify, Realize, Integrate, Venture, Educate (DRIVE) initiative. 
DRIVE's focus includes enabling novel technologies such as advanced 
computational tools, creating DRIVE Science Centers across the country, 
and supporting the work of early career investigators. Increased 
Heliophysics funding will also advance innovation to address space 
weather, including observational and computational capabilities, as 
well as research-to-operations and operations-to-research efforts. A 
better understanding of space weather will benefit our space- and 
ground-based national security assets and safeguard human health 
against radiation during long-duration deep space exploration 
activities.
Office of STEM Engagement
    As our country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, we must ensure 
that our educational institutions also survive. As such, it is critical 
that we invest in programs such as NASA's efforts to re-engage and 
support students interested in STEM. Increased funding for NASA STEM 
programs, including Space Grant, Minority University Research and 
Education Project (MUREP), and Established Program to Stimulate 
Competitive Research (EPSCoR), will directly benefit every State in the 
Nation by providing additional opportunities for STEM students of all 
ages.
             national oceanic & atmospheric administration
    AGU requests that Congress appropriate at least $6.9 billion for 
NOAA in fiscal year 2022 (29 percent increase over fiscal year 2021 
levels). From weather forecasts to fisheries data, to groundbreaking 
research about the world around us, NOAA provides critical data, 
products and services that are essential to our Nation's economic 
stability and directly benefit the American public, planners, emergency 
managers, and other decision makers. However, NOAA has been severely 
underfunded in previous spending bills and proposals. Since fiscal year 
2018, NOAA's funding has been cut by nearly seven percent.
    From large corporations to small businesses, the decision-based 
forecasts provided by NOAA save vital time, money, and resources. Just 
last year, nearly half of the record 30 named tropical storms during 
the Atlantic hurricane season made landfall-of which seven produced at 
least $1 billion each in damages.\3\
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    \3\ NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information. 
Calculating the cost of weather and climate disasters. https://
www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/calculating-cost-weather-and-climate-
disasters
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    NOAA science also plays a critical role in informing the world 
about changes in the climate system, as well as the effectiveness of 
certain mitigation strategies. For example, agricultural production can 
be boosted by an estimated $300 million annually with improved El Nino 
forecasts.\4\ However, NOAA is struggling to meet the increasing demand 
for climate data.\5\ Significantly investing in climate research and 
filling the consistent gaps in NOAA's workforce are both critical to 
help the agency meet this need. Without robust funding at NOAA, we risk 
losing the data needed to make informed and proactive decisions, and 
our National and economic security will be left in a dangerously 
vulnerable position.
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    \4\ NOAA's Climate Program Office. https://cpo.noaa.gov/Our-Work/
Success-Stories
    \5\ Remarks from NOAA officials during House Committee on 
Appropriations hearing (15 April 2021). https://
appropriations.house.gov/events/hearings/increasing-risks-of-climate-
change-and-noaas-role-in-providing-climate-services
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                      national science foundation
    AGU requests that Congress appropriate at least $10 billion for NSF 
in fiscal year 2022 (an approximately 18 percent increase over fiscal 
year 2021 levels). Ambitious and robust funding for NSF is critical if 
the U.S. hopes to maintain its leadership in science and technology and 
reap the economic and national security benefits of that leadership.
    As an example of the benefits of NSF investments, throughout the 
fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, we have reaped the benefits of 
decades of NSF investment in additive manufacturing and 3-D printing, 
which have enabled the scale up of PPE production, the understanding of 
the ecological transmission of zoonotic diseases, and supercomputing to 
better track the spread of the pandemic.
    However, the pandemic also highlighted the need to increase future 
investments in NSF, especially for STEM programs and systems and 
convergent science to ensure greater understanding of and resilience to 
pressing societal issues, including climate change, which present 
extremely challenging and complex scientific questions.
    In STEM, of particular need of support are K-12 education, 
including furthering our understanding of online teaching 
effectiveness, and programs for graduate students and early career 
students who can too easily fall out of the STEM pipeline at a time 
when our country needs future innovators. Increased funding for NSF is 
also needed to expand STEM opportunities and capacity evenly throughout 
our country, from urban and rural communities to Tribal colleges and 
universities and minority-serving institutions. To remain competitive, 
we must develop a more diverse and inclusive STEM workforce that will 
ask novel questions that will power the science and innovations that 
shape our future.
                               conclusion
    At a time when our Nation is recovering and has many pressing 
priorities that need to be addressed, the future of the U.S. will be 
strengthened by strong and sustained investments in the full scope of 
our research enterprise--particularly the science and education 
programs within NASA, NOAA, and NSF. AGU appreciates the subcommittee's 
leadership in these areas, as well as the opportunity to submit this 
testimony. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of our requests.

    [This statement was submitted by Brittany Webster, Program Manager, 
Science Policy & Government Relations and Michael Villafranca, Senior 
Specialist, Science Policy & Government Relations.]
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 Prepared Statement of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium
    On behalf of the Nation's Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), 
which are the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), we 
are pleased to present our fiscal year 2022 recommendations regarding 
the National Science Foundation's TCU Program (NSF-TCUP), Louis Stokes 
Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), and the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration's Minority University Research and 
Education Project (NASA-MUREP). We respectfully recommend the following 
funding levels:
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Education and Human Resources Directorate (EHR):
  --Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP): TCUs urge the 
        subcommittee to fund competitively awarded NSF-TCUP grants at a 
        minimum of $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.
  --Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP): TCUs urge 
        the subcommittee to support the NSF-LSAMP program with an added 
        emphasis for American Indian, Alaska Native, and TCU students.
  --TCUs support President Biden's $100 million request to advance 
        racial equity in science and engineering.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  --NASA Headquarters, Office of Education--Minority University 
        Research and Education Project (MUREP): TCUs urge the 
        subcommittee to expand the NASA MUREP program with robust 
        funding and establish a TCU-specific program within MUREP at 
        $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2022
  --TCUs support President Biden's $20 million request to expand 
        initiatives to attract and retain underserved and 
        underrepresented students in engineering and other STEM fields.
Tribal Colleges and Universities: Raising and Training the Nation's 
        Native STEM Workforce
    TCUs are an essential component of American Indian and Alaska 
Native STEM education, research, and workforce. Currently, 37 TCUs 
operate more than 75 campuses and sites in 16 States. TCU geographic 
boundaries encompass 80 percent of American Indian reservations and 
Federal Indian trust lands. American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) 
TCU students represent more than 230 federally recognized Tribes and 
hail from more than 30 States. Nearly 80 percent receive Federal 
financial aid and more than half are first generation students. In 
total, TCUs serve more than 160,000 AI/ANs and other rural residents 
each year through a wide variety of academic and community-based 
programs. TCUs are public institutions accredited by independent, 
regional accreditation agencies and, like all U.S. institutions of 
higher education, must regularly undergo stringent performance reviews 
to retain their accreditation status.
    The Federal Government, despite its direct trust responsibility and 
binding treaty obligations, has never fully funded TCU institutional 
operations as authorized under Federal law. Yet despite funding 
challenges, TCUs are responding to the STEM workforce needs across the 
country. In fall 2020, 1,733 TCU students were enrolled in one of 191 
STEM program at TCUs. TCUs have established programs in high-demand 
fields: 11 TCUs offer pre-engineering programs, two TCU offers 
bachelor's degrees in industrial and electrical engineering, five TCUs 
offer STEM teacher education programs, and 14 TCUs offer nursing 
programs. These efforts are preparing AI/AN nurses, engineers, and 
science and math teachers who contribute to a robust pipeline of STEM 
professionals in Indian Country. TCUs also train professionals in other 
high-demand STEM fields, including agriculture, information technology, 
and natural resource management.
    TCUs know that to break the cycle of generational poverty and end 
the culture of dependency that grips much of Indian Country, TCUs must 
bring industry partners and STEM jobs to Indian Country. TCUs and 
Tribes must promote new Native-owned and operated STEM-based 
businesses, create public-private partnerships, and build a culture of 
self-sufficiency and innovation. NSF and NASA funding is essential in 
supporting this effort to promote STEM-enabled economic development in 
Indian Country and throughout rural America.
    Each of the following Federal grant programs has invested in the 
development of STEM-centered instruction, research, and job creation 
across Indian country.
                   national science foundation (nsf)
    Education and Human Resources Directorate (EHR)--Tribal Colleges 
and Universities Program (TCUP): TCUs urge the subcommittee to fund 
competitively awarded NSF-TCUP grants at a minimum of $20,000,000. The 
NSF-TCUP, administered by the NSF Education and Human Resources 
Directorate, is a competitive grant program that enables TCUs and 
Alaska Native Serving/Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (AN/NHs) to 
develop and expand critically needed STEM education and research 
programs relevant to their indigenous communities.
    Since the program began in 2001, NSF-TCUP has become the primary 
Federal program for building STEM programmatic and research capacity at 
TCUs. For example, NSF-TCUP funding supported Navajo Technical 
University (Crownpoint, NM) in the development of its electrical and 
industrial engineering programs, which received accreditation from the 
Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) in 2018. This 
marks a significant milestone, with NTU leading the way as the first 
TCU to receive ABET accreditation.
    There are many success stories at the TCUs. In 2014, Cankdeska 
Cikana Community College, Sitting Bull College, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish 
College, and Turtle Mountain Community College established an 
engineering education partnership with North Dakota State University 
(NDSU) through funding from NSF TCUP's Pre-engineering Education 
Collaborative (PEEC). The TCUs and NDSU developed a formal curriculum 
and support system for students to obtain a bachelor's degree in 
engineering, beginning with pre-engineering coursework offered 
collaboratively by TCU and NDSU engineering faculty; then students 
transition to NDSU to complete their bachelor's degree. The first 
graduate of the program, Ryan Brown, was a pre-engineering student at 
CCCC who went on to earn his bachelor of science degree in civil 
engineering at NDSU in 2018. Brown returned to the Spirit Lake 
Reservation and currently serves as a project manager for the Spirit 
Lake Tribal Planning Department.
    Growing up in rural Montana, Cody Natoni Sifford (Dine) \1\ pursued 
a degree in environmental science at Salish Kootenai College (SKC) 
(Pablo, MT), participating in several internships with Federal 
agencies, and completing a master's degree in forest resources at the 
University of Washington Seattle. Sifford has since returned to Montana 
to serve as an adjunct professor at SKC and work as a geographic 
information systems analyst for the Confederated Tribes of Salish and 
Kootenai forest department.
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    \1\ Cody Natoni Sifford, Winds of Change, American Indian Science 
and Engineering Society, April 2017. https://woc.aises.org/content/
cody-natoni-sifford-navajo-confederated-Tribes-salish-and-kootenai-
geographic-information
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    These success stories notwithstanding, AI/AN students are 
disadvantaged from pursuing STEM-centered career from an early age. AI/
AN youth have the highest high school drop-out rate of any ethnic or 
racial group in the country. Those who do pursue postsecondary 
education often require developmental classes before taking on a full 
load of college-level courses. Placement tests administered at TCUs to 
first-time entering students in academic year 2018-19 showed that 36 
percent required remedial math. Our data indicates that while 51 
percent will successfully complete the course, many will take more than 
1 year to do so.
    Through NSF-TCUP grants, TCUs and AN/NHs are actively working to 
address this problem by developing strong partnerships with their K-12 
feeder schools to engage students in culturally appropriate STEM 
education and outreach programs. Salish Kootenai College, located on 
the Flathead Indian Reservation, created a 2-year STEM Academy to 
prepare junior and senior high school students for college. 
Participating high school students engage in collaborative work with 
STEM researchers, conduct culturally relevant research, and take 
courses to earn college credit.
    TCUs use NSF-TCUP funding to provide students with valuable 
research experience in STEM fields. Through these opportunities, 
students conduct place-based research that serves their communities and 
can have national and international impacts. At Northwest Indian 
College (NWIC) (Bellingham, WA), students are conducting complex 
research related to food security focused on salmon, shellfish, and 
indigenous sea cucumbers. Through a partnership with Western Washington 
University, NWIC graduates continue to pursue their academic and career 
goals through WWU's master's degree programs. Aaniiih Nakoda College 
(Harlem, MT) faculty and students monitor streams for contaminants and 
are investigating West Nile virus vectors; and Sitting Bull College 
(SBC) (Fort Yates, ND) has established a water quality monitoring 
laboratory serving the Standing Rock Sioux and surrounding communities. 
SBC studies show that students participating in the college's research 
have retention rates that are double the rate of students who are not 
engaged in research.
    Even with its advances and successes, funding for the NSF-TCUP 
program has been stagnant for years. Therefore, not all of the TCUs 
have had an opportunity to benefit from this very important program. We 
urge the subcommittee to expand the competitively awarded NSF-TCUP 
grants at a minimum of $20,000,000.
    Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP): TCUs urge 
the subcommittee to support the NSF LSAMP program with an added 
emphasis for American Indian, Alaska Native, and TCU students. In 
FY2019, $46 million was appropriated for the LSAMP program to support 
historically underrepresented students in STEM fields. However, only 
one TCU was awarded direct funding under this program. The All Nations 
LSAMP (ANLSAMP) program at Salish Kootenai College (Pablo, MT) has had 
tremendous success in increasing AI/AN degree attainment in STEM 
programs. Many small, underfunded TCU STEM programs consider ANLSAMP as 
an important resource for expanding AI/AN student research 
opportunities, sharing best practices, and student support. ANLSAMP 
scholars receive financial support for conference travel, internship 
opportunities, and research stipends, which would otherwise not be 
possible. Through the combined efforts of the 23 TCUs and 11 mainstream 
institutions, more than 2,000 AI/ANs and under-resourced minority 
students have graduated with bachelor's degrees in STEM. Additionally, 
a recent survey revealed that more than 80 percent of ANLSAMP 
participants contacted had either graduated with a STEM major or 
bridged to an advanced degree program. Unfortunately, since the 
creation of the LSAMP program in 1991, NSF has neglected to prioritize 
AI/AN-serving programs, such as ANLSAMP, which are critically needed to 
support STEM degree attainment in Indian Country.
    In 2018, after several years of no funding for a TCU-led grant 
proposal, $1 million was awarded through an LSAMP grant and supplement 
to support TCU students over the next 5 years. However, it is alarming 
that less than one percent of the total $46 million was awarded to TCUs 
in FY2019. ($200,000 was provided in new funding, as a grant 
supplement, to TCUs in FY2019.) We ask that the subcommittee 
specifically urge NSF to strengthen support for AI/AN students through 
the LSAMP grant program.
          national aeronautics and space administration (nasa)
    Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP): TCUs 
urge the subcommittee to expand the NASA MUREP program with robust 
funding and support a TCU specific program within MUREP at $5,000,000 
for fiscal year 2022. Under its current design, MUREP provides a range 
of competitive awards to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 
Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other Minority Serving 
Institutions to recruit and retain underrepresented students in STEM 
fields. Due to the competitive aspect of current MUREP programs and 
limited funding, TCUs only receive funding from two MUREP grants: MUREP 
Institutional Research Opportunity (MIRO) and MUREP for American Indian 
and Alaska Native STEM Engagement (MAIANSE).
MUREP Institutional Research Opportunity (MIRO)
    In October 2019, under the MUREP MIRO program, Sitting Bull College 
received $1 million to further develop curriculum for an environmental 
science master's degree centered on air quality research on the 
Standing Rock Reservation. SBC students and faculty work with NASA's 
Langley Research Center, NASA's Godard Space Flight Center, and the 
University of North Dakota to develop a regional research facility to 
monitor air quality on the Standing Rock Reservation. In the same MUREP 
MIRO award cycle, Navajo Technical University was selected to perform 
critical research and produce parts through its advanced manufacturing 
program for the Space Launch System at NASA's Marshall Space Flight 
Center. NTU's contributions through advanced manufacturing research and 
innovative parts production are advancing space exploration for the 
entire Nation.
MUREP for American Indian and Alaska Native STEM Engagement (MAIANSE)
    The MAIANSE program provides a unique opportunity for direct 
collaboration between TCUs and NASA to engage students in NASA STEM 
related activities. Despite its popularity and value, participation in 
the MAIANSE program has been limited to three TCU projects each grant 
cycles due to limited funding.
    In order to support the past TCU investment, AIHEC supports 
President Biden's budget request to increase the Office of STEM 
engagement by $20 million and requests that the subcommittee expand the 
NASA MUREP program through robust funding and support a Tribal College 
and University-specific program within MUREP at $5,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2022.
                               conclusion
    Tribal Colleges and Universities provide access to high-quality, 
culturally appropriate postsecondary education opportunities, including 
STEM-focused programs, for thousands of AI/AN students. The modest 
Federal investment in TCUs has paid great dividends in terms of 
employment, education, and economic development. We ask you to renew 
your commitment to help move our students and communities toward self-
sufficiency by full considering our fiscal year 2022 appropriations 
requests. Thank you.
                                 ______
                                 
  Prepared Statement of the American Institute of Biological Sciences
      fiscal year 2022 funding for the national science foundation
    The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) appreciates 
the opportunity to provide testimony in support of fiscal year 2022 
appropriations for the National Science Foundation (NSF). We encourage 
Congress to provide NSF with at least $10.2 billion in fiscal year 
2022.
    AIBS is a scientific association dedicated to promoting informed 
decision-making that advances biological research and education for the 
benefit of science and society. AIBS works to ensure that the public, 
legislators, funders, and the community of biologists have access to 
information that can guide informed decision-making.
    Biological research is in our National interest. Increasing our 
knowledge of how genes, cells, tissues, organisms, and ecosystems 
function is vitally important to efforts to improve the human 
condition. Food security, medicine and public health, national 
security, economic growth, and sound environmental management are 
informed by the biological sciences. The knowledge gained from NSF-
funded research contributes to the development of new research tools 
and industries.
    Biological research strengthens our economy. Research funding from 
NSF powers the expansion of the bioeconomy and has given rise to 
successful companies, such as Genentech, Ekso Bionics, and Ginkgo 
BioWorks, as well as new industries that provide more robust food crops 
or disease detection tools and techniques. The translation of 
biological knowledge into formal and informal education programs foster 
the development of the scientifically and technically skilled workforce 
needed by employers. Data show that employers continue to seek workers 
with scientific and technical skills. Science and engineering 
employment in the United States has grown more rapidly than the 
workforce overall and now represents 5 percent (or about 7 million) of 
all U.S. jobs.
    The cornerstone of NSF excellence is a competitive, merit-based 
review system that underpins the highest standards of excellence. 
Through its research programs, NSF invests in the development of new 
knowledge and tools that solve the most challenging problems facing 
society.

  --Combating emerging diseases: NSF-funded research is playing crucial 
        role in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fundamental 
        research supported by NSF led to the development of critical 
        diagnostic tools and medical devices being used to combat the 
        outbreak. NSF supported the discovery of bacteria from thermal 
        pools at Yellowstone National Park that contain thermostable 
        enzymes that allow for the rapid copying of genetic material 
        through a process called Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). This 
        process was integral to manufacturing a widely used clinical 
        test for determining whether a patient has been infected with 
        SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
  --Mobilizing big data: Access to and analysis of vast amounts of data 
        are driving innovation. NSF enables integration of big data 
        across scientific disciplines, including applications in the 
        biological sciences. Digitization of biodiversity and natural 
        science collections involves multi-disciplinary teams, which 
        have put more than 125 million specimens and their associated 
        data online for use by researchers, educators, and the public.
  --Enabling synthetic biology: DNA editing has become more advanced 
        and targeted with techniques such as CRISPR-CAS9 allowing 
        scientists to rewrite genetic code and redesign biological 
        systems. NSF funds research on how these techniques can be used 
        to bio-manufacture new materials, treat diseases, and 
        accelerate growth of the bioeconomy.

    Other examples of research that have benefited the public are 
chronicled in the AIBS report, ``Biological Innovation: Benefits of 
Federal Investments in Biology,'' which is available at https://
www.aibs.org/assets/pages/policy/AIBS-Biological-
Innovation-Report.pdf.
    The NSF is the primary Federal funding source for biological 
research at our Nation's universities and colleges, providing 67 
percent of extramural Federal support for non-medical, fundamental 
biological and environmental research at academic institutions.
    The NSF is also an important supporter of biological research 
infrastructure, such as field stations, natural history museums, and 
living stock collections. These place-based research centers enable 
studies that take place over long periods of time and variable spatial 
scales.
    Scientific collections are an important component of our Nation's 
research infrastructure. Recent reports have highlighted the value of 
mobilizing biodiversity specimens and data in spurring new scientific 
discoveries that grow our economy, improve our public health and 
wellbeing, and increase our National security. In 2019, the 
Biodiversity Collections Network released their report, Extending U.S. 
Biodiversity Collections to Promote Research and Education, outlining a 
national agenda that leverages digital data in biodiversity collections 
for new uses and calling for building an Extended Specimen Network. A 
2020 report by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and 
Medicine (NASEM), Biological Collections: Ensuring Critical Research 
and Education for the 21st Century, argued that collections are a 
critical part of our Nation's science and innovation infrastructure and 
a fundamental resource for understanding the natural world. Both 
reports articulate a common vision of the future of biological 
collections and define a need to broaden and deepen the collections and 
associated data to realize the potential for biodiversity collections 
to inform 21st century science. This endeavor requires robust 
investments in our Nation's scientific collections, whether they are 
owned by a Federal or State agency or are part of an educational 
institution or free-standing natural history museum or another research 
center. While most Federal agencies have a role to play in supporting 
the development of the Extended Specimen Network, the NSF's leadership 
through the Advancing Digitization of Biodiversity Collections program 
has positioned NSF to play a central role in the development of the 
Extended Specimen Network.
    The NSF supports recruitment and training of our next generation of 
scientists. Support for undergraduate and graduate students is 
critically important to our research enterprise. Students learn science 
by doing science, and NSF programs engage students in the research 
process. NSF awards reached 1,900 colleges, universities, and other 
public and private institutions across the country in fiscal year 2020. 
Initiatives such as the Graduate Research Fellowship and the Faculty 
Early Career Development program are important parts of our National 
effort to attract and retain the next generation of researchers. Since 
1952, the number of students supported by NSF Graduate Research 
Fellowships has grown to more than 60,000. In fiscal year 2020, nearly 
313,000 people, including researchers, postdoctoral fellows, trainees, 
teachers and students, were supported directly by NSF.
    Unfortunately, Federal research and development investments are 
shrinking as a share of the U.S. economy. The U.S. is still the largest 
performer of research and development globally, but our share of 
worldwide scientific activity has declined considerably over the past 
20 years. Countries in East and Southeast Asia, especially China, have 
been rapidly increasing their investments in science. In fact, 
according to the National Science Board and the American Academy of 
Arts and Sciences, China may have recently surpassed the U.S in 
research and development spending. To remain at the global forefront of 
innovation and to fully realize the benefits of NSF-supported research, 
the government must make new and sustained investments in NSF. 
Unpredictable swings in funding disrupt research programs, create 
uncertainty in the research community, and stall the development of the 
next great idea.
    The President's budget request for fiscal year 2022 proposes a 20 
percent boost to NSF. If enacted, this increase will allow for critical 
Federal investments in scientific and educational research, as well as 
support for the development of the scientific workforce. Such an 
increase will also allow NSF to expand support for important new 
initiatives, such as the ``LEAding cultural change through Professional 
Societies (LEAPS) of Biology'' program, which aims to facilitate 
cultural changes in the biological sciences to broaden participation 
and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.
    Providing the NSF with at least $10.2 billion in fiscal year 2022 
is necessary in undoing the recent stagnant funding that slowed 
American scientific discovery. The requested funding will grow and 
sustain the U.S. bioeconomy and enable NSF to accelerate work on 
important initiatives at the frontiers of science and engineering.
    In addition to the appropriations process, Congress is currently 
considering reauthorization legislation relevant to the scientific 
community, including proposals to significantly expand the mission and 
budget of the NSF. Increasing investments in translational research 
will bolster U.S. global leadership and competitiveness in 
innovation.We ask Congress to also make robust investments in basic and 
foundational research.
    We also urge Congress to pass additional funding for U.S. 
researchers and science institutions to accelerate recovery from the 
COVID-19 pandemic. The Research Investment to Spark the Economy (RISE) 
Act (HR. 869 and S. 289) will help natural history museums, botanical 
gardens, field stations, and other research institutions recover from 
the pandemic. These institutions lost revenue due to reduced, 
postponed, and canceled public programs, including formal and informal 
science education programs. Most of these institutions are non-profits 
and operate with budgets with limited capacity to absorb revenue losses 
resulting from reduced public visitation. Pandemic related closures and 
restrictions have also resulted in the loss of a field season for 
outdoor research, leading to research disruptions and a year's worth of 
critical data not being collected. Emergency relief funding proposed 
under the RISE Act, which includes $3 billion for NSF, would support 
U.S. researchers, including graduate students and postdoctoral 
researchers, who have had research interrupted as a result of the 
pandemic.
    We encourage Congress to continue supporting increased investments 
in our Nation's scientific capacity. Thank you for your thoughtful 
consideration of this request and for your prior efforts on behalf of 
science and the National Science Foundation.

    [This statement was submitted by Jyotsna Pandey, Ph.D., Public 
Policy Director.]
                                 ______
                                 
        Prepared Statement of the American Mathematical Society
                      national science foundation
    Founded in 1888, the American Mathematical Society (AMS) is 
dedicated to advancing the interests of mathematical research and 
scholarship and connecting the diverse global mathematical community. 
We do this through our book and journal publications, meetings and 
conferences, database of research publications \1\ that goes back to 
the early 1800s, professional services, advocacy, and awareness 
programs. The AMS has approximately 25,000 individual members worldwide 
and supports mathematical scientists at every career stage.
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    \1\ https://mathscinet.ams.org/mathscinet
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    The AMS appreciates the opportunity to submit written testimony in 
support of fiscal year 2022 appropriations for the National Science 
Foundation (NSF).

    We encourage Congress to provide the NSF with at least $10 billion 
in fiscal year 2022.\2\
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    \2\ This is the same amount supported by the Coalition for National 
Science Funding.

    The NSF accounts for the majority of Federal support done by Ph.D. 
mathematicians at universities and colleges. In fiscal year 2018, 61 
percent of support for academic research in mathematics came from the 
Federal Government,\3\ and roughly half of that came from the NSF.\4\
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    \3\ https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb20202/academic-r-d-in-the-united-
States
    \4\ The DOD contributes approximately 25 percent, and HHS 13 
percent. Other agencies (including DOE, USDA, NASA) contribute the 
remaining funds.
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    Investments in research, including the departments and programs in 
the CJS bill, lead to innovations and new technologies that improve our 
health, grow our economy, and enhance our quality of life. The U.S. was 
once the uncontested leader in science and technology, but has seen our 
advantage erode as other nations have dramatically increased their 
investments in research. In particular, China has continued to 
dramatically increase its investments in science and technology, which 
have grown by 17.3 percent annually between 2010 and 2017.\5\ During 
this same period, the U.S. investment has averaged a 4.3 percent 
increase annually.
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    \5\ Research and Development: U.S. Trends and International 
Comparisons. Science and Engineering Indicators, National Science 
Board, January 2020.
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    The NSF is an efficient agency--almost 95 percent of its 
appropriated funds go out the door in grants and awards to support 
research projects, facilities and STEM education. NSF will continue to 
make strategic investments in basic research, the STEM workforce, and 
research infrastructure that will advance the Nation's global 
competitiveness economically and scientifically. A significant increase 
in congressional appropriations would help address the effects of years 
of high-quality grant proposals that go unfunded due to lack of 
sufficient funding. Those unmet needs continue. A 2019 National Science 
Board report \6\ stated that in fiscal year 2018, ``approximately $3.4 
billion was requested for declined proposals that were rated Very Good 
or higher in the merit review process.'' This accounts for about 5,440 
declined proposals at the NSF. The U.S. is leaving potentially 
transformative scientific research unfunded, while other countries are 
making significant investments.
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    \6\ https://www.nsf.gov/nsb/publications/2020/nsb202013.pdf
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    The entire country benefits from NSF funding; the NSF invests in 
every State supporting researchers and students.\7\ Society has 
benefitted from the many products, procedures, and methods that have 
resulted from NSF supported research in mathematics--research performed 
over many years and typically not focused on specific applications. The 
applications of advances in theoretical science, including theory of 
mathematics, occur on a timescale that means the investment is often 
hard to justify in the short run. And yet if we look back to the 
success, as opposed to ahead to when we expect success, the investment 
in fundamental research has had huge payoffs. These benefits include 
innovations such as the Google Page Rank algorithm, enhancement of 
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and in cybersecurity. The plethora of 
applications that have resulted from basic research in the mathematical 
sciences is described in the National Academies report ``The 
Mathematical Sciences in 2025'' or in the executive summary ``Fueling 
Innovation and Discovery: The Mathematical Sciences in the 21st 
Century''.\8, \\9\
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    \7\ https://nsf.gov/about/congress/factsheets.jsp
    \8\ https://www.nap.edu/catalog/15269/the-mathematical-sciences-in-
2025
    \9\ https://www.nap.edu/catalog/13373/fueling-innovation-and-
discovery-the-mathematical-sciences-in-the-21st
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    Finally, we are at a critical time for building and ensuring a 
stable STEM workforce of the future, a challenge exacerbated by the 
COVID-19 pandemic. Becoming a Ph.D. STEM researcher requires focus and 
dedication; the work is demanding. And the COVID-19 pandemic has 
derailed and even completely shattered many students' dreams and plans. 
Vitally important is NSF support for graduate students, postdoctoral 
fellows, and other early career scientists, who are disproportionately 
affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and are most likely to have had their 
career goals deferred or derailed. We need to reach and support 
promising STEM students across all genders, races, ethnicities, and 
geographies. At this challenging time, we cannot risk losing a 
generation of scientists who leave the field and never return.
    Thank you for your consideration of this request, and for your 
prior efforts on behalf of the NSF.

    [This statement was submitted by Ruth Charney, Ph.D., President, 
and Karen Saxe, Ph.D., Director of Government Relations.]
                                 ______
                                 
  Prepared Statement of the American Society for Engineering Education
 support of fiscal year 2022 national science foundation and national 
              aeronautics and space administration funding
    Summary: This written testimony is submitted on behalf of the 
American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) to the Senate 
subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for 
the official record. ASEE appreciates the Committee's support for the 
National Science Foundation (NSF) and asks you to robustly fund the 
agency in fiscal year 2022, including the Research and Related 
Activities and the Education and Human Resources accounts. ASEE joins 
the Biden Administration in requesting support of at least $10.2 
billion for NSF in fiscal year 2022 to help alleviate impacts of 
historical underinvestment at NSF, continue to grow its core research 
and education activities, establish a new Technology, Innovation and 
Partnerships (TIP) directorate, and address critical technologies where 
the U.S. is facing major competition from China. At NASA, ASEE supports 
the Administration's proposed growth for the Space Technology Mission 
Directorate (STMD) to increase its investment in crosscutting NASA 
technology gaps which support engineers and scientists in developing 
technology to advance science and space missions in the National 
interest. ASEE also supports proposed growth to NASA's Office of 
Education to advance NASA's initiatives to broaden participation of 
underrepresented groups in science and engineering.
    Written Testimony: The American Society for Engineering Education 
(ASEE) is dedicated to advancing engineering and engineering technology 
education and research, and is the only society representing the 
country's schools and colleges of engineering and engineering 
technology. Membership includes over 12,000 individuals hailing from 
all disciplines of engineering and engineering technology and includes 
educators, researchers, and students as well as industry and government 
representatives. As the pre-eminent authority on the education of 
engineering professionals, ASEE works to develop the future engineering 
and technology workforce, expand technological literacy, and convene 
academic and corporate stakeholders to advance innovation and sound 
policy.
                      national science foundation
    Engineering shapes our Nation and powers our innovation ecosystem. 
NSF basic research, conducted in engineering schools and colleges 
around the country, catalyzes new industries and revolutionary 
advances. There is high demand for a workforce of well-trained, 
engineers in industry and government to leverage these discoveries and 
develop innovative new technologies to improve our future. The 
partnership between the Federal Government and universities is 
essential to growth and innovation across our economy, and is helping 
to solve challenges in health, energy, and national security. NSF is a 
tremendously important piece of this innovation ecosystem, funding 
basic engineering and engineering education research at universities 
and supporting students to enable access to engineering education.
    ASEE is grateful for recent increases, yet concerned that these 
investments have not kept pace with international competitors or 
growing research needs. Due to budget limitations, NSF is currently 
unable to fund $2 billion worth of very good and excellently rated 
proposals each year. With more funding, tremendous amounts of 
additional research and development could be undertaken, leading to 
novel and transformative discoveries. As the National Science Board 
predicted, in 2018 China surpassed U.S. investments in research and 
development. As some countries have been steeply accelerating research 
funding, increasing NSF's appropriation would help secure continued 
U.S. global innovation leadership.
    NSF funding has additionally fallen far behind other research 
agencies, risking distortions in the overall STEM ecosystem. For 
example, over the last decade the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of 
Science has grown twice as much as NSF and is now almost the same size 
despite covering a much smaller range of topics. Other agencies depend 
on NSF-funded discoveries and workforce development for their missions. 
NSF-funded research catalyzes fundamental advances that are utilized 
for national security applications while engineers trained with NSF 
funding become key components of the National security workforce and 
industrial base.
    ASEE is thankful for relief and research funding provided to NSF in 
the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan. NSF has a critical role to play 
in promoting economic recovery and research on many aspects of the 
pandemic. Continued support of NSF will be critical as the engineering 
community and the country move into the next phase of the COVID-19 
pandemic. Engineers across the country have adapted quickly but 
challenges and disparities remain. NSF will be crucial to rebuilding 
the STEM pipeline, and building a better, more resilient STEM 
workforce.

    ASEE follows the President's 2022 Budget Request in requesting that 
the Committee fund NSF at $10.2 billion in fiscal year 2022 to drive 
advances in research and education and ensure the U.S. retains global 
competitiveness and scientific leadership. While ASEE supports the 
President's proposal to create a new TIP directorate at NSF, it is 
essential that NSF continues to grow its core research and education 
activities.

    Investments in engineering education and research from NSF are 
essential for having a workforce trained and ready to contribute to 
industry, government, and academia. NSF is a major supporter of 
engineering research and workforce initiatives funding 43 percent of 
engineering and 83 percent of computer science academic fundamental 
research. NSF-funded advancements touch every corner of our lives and 
economy, from wireless systems to advanced manufacturing, and from new 
tools to combat brain diseases to technologies to ensure our 
cybersecurity. NSF supports engineering education at all levels, 
ensuring the next generation of the U.S. engineering workforce is 
appropriately prepared to contribute and innovate.
    The NSF Directorate for Engineering (ENG) provides critical support 
for engineering education and research across the breadth of the 
discipline. These investments have dual outcomes of training future 
engineers that will discover tomorrow's innovations, all while 
furthering today's cutting-edge research. Engineering investments at 
NSF provide critical advancements in areas such as resilient 
infrastructure, advanced materials and manufacturing, and 
bioengineering, in addition to equipping students with the skills they 
need to be the next generation of technological leaders. Divisions such 
as Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) support university research 
and Engineering Research Centers. ENG grantees have robust partnerships 
with industry, expand the boundaries of our understanding of how 
students most effectively learn engineering, provide experiential 
opportunities fundamental to engineering education.
    The NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and 
Engineering also plays a key role supporting engineering education and 
research, particularly within the Division of Information & Intelligent 
Systems, which supports efforts at the frontiers of information 
technology, data science, and artificial intelligence, among other 
areas. These investments are critical as we move into a world even more 
reliant on human-technology interactions. The Division of Computer and 
Network Systems has been building capacity within Minority Service 
Institutions to contribute to both the knowledge base and human 
resource base in computing and engineering.
    ASEE strongly supports NSF Education and Human Resources (EHR) 
funding to foster inclusive and effective learning and learning 
environments. The STEM workforce, particularly engineers, 
technologists, and computer scientists, drives our innovation and 
economic development. We need to fully develop all of our Nation's 
human talent in order to tackle pressing problems. Access to STEM 
experiences and skills are a critical aspect of developing well-rounded 
citizens, technological literacy, and the future STEM workforce. ASEE 
supports EHR programs including Improving Undergraduate STEM Education 
(IUSE) and Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE). The first is 
critical for preparing professional engineers and enhancing engineering 
educational experiences to broaden participation and retention, and the 
latter works to revolutionize graduate studies to best prepare students 
for STEM careers. ASEE supports the growth proposed in the President's 
Budget Request for NSF programs that foster participation in science 
and engineering from individuals from underrepresented groups.
    NSF plays a key role ensuring the development of new tools for 
teaching engineering design and analysis skills, which are under-taught 
in today's K-12 classrooms. As noted in the 2009 National Academies 
report Engineering in K-12 Education, engineering education has 
received little attention yet has the potential to improve student 
learning and achievement in other areas of STEM, increase awareness of 
engineering careers, and increase technological literacy. Engineering's 
focus on design and analysis enhances problem solving, teaches students 
new ways to approach challenges, and encourages students to connect 
science and math topics to real-world applications--all skills critical 
to the future technical workforce. ASEE supports programs to fill 
workforce needs including Advanced Technical Education (ATE) that 
prepares advanced technicians for America's high-skills workforce and 
graduate fellowships to create a pipeline of students knowledgeable and 
excited about engineering.
             national aeronautics and space administration
    ASEE is supportive of the Administration's overall proposed 
increase of 6.3 percent to $24.7 billion in funding for the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), especially in its Space 
Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), which would see a 29.5 percent 
increase to $1.425 billion. Of importance to ASEE, STMD activities 
support the workforce development pipeline of future space engineers 
and technologists by engaging directly with the academic community 
through early career faculty programs, early-stage research grants, and 
university-led multidisciplinary research institutes. The disruptions 
to the STEM pipeline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic makes this work 
even more crucial. STMD's broad portfolio of activities helps to meet 
NASA's science objectives, establishes new commercial and academic 
partnerships, and stimulates the growth of the Nation's technology 
sector. STMD programs fill significant capability gaps for NASA and 
better position the agency to meet its long-term strategic goals in 
areas across all its directorates ranging from propulsion and power 
generation to materials science and high-performance computing. ASEE 
applauds the Administration's support of STMD's vital role and urges 
the Committee to support STMD's ability to focus on a broad array of 
NASA technology challenges, continue its engagement with the academic 
and private sectors, and keep long-term focus beyond specific near-term 
mission goals.
    ASEE is also supportive of the Administration's proposed increase 
for NASA's Office of STEM Engagement and asks that the Committee 
support the proposed funding of $147 million for this office in fiscal 
year 2022 and beyond. NASA STEM Engagement programs inspire students to 
pursue engineering, science, and technology careers, and this office 
plays a vital role coordinating STEM education programs throughout the 
agency, including those at NASA centers. ASEE supports the continuation 
of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program (Space 
Grant), which supports university consortia in all 50 States, funding 
fellowships for engineering and other STEM students, while also 
offering important resources for faculty professional development and 
strengthening curricula. ASEE is also supportive of initiatives at the 
NASA Office of STEM Engagement to broaden participation of 
underrepresented groups in STEM and to bring engineering design and 
analysis experiences to K-12 students.
    Conclusion: NSF education and research investments have truly 
transformed our world through engineering breakthroughs such as the 
internet, fiber-optics, and medical imaging technology. These 
investments keep our communities safe, lower healthcare costs, and spur 
our economy. Today, engineering research is opening possibilities 
through advances in areas such as artificial intelligence, biosensors, 
and advanced materials. We ask that you robustly fund NSF at $10.2 
billion to support critical education and research programs that will 
be instrumental in the Nation's recovery from COVID-19. In addition, at 
NASA we urge you to fund proposed increases for NASA's Space Technology 
Mission Directorate and Office of STEM Engagement. Thank you for the 
opportunity to submit this testimony.

    [This statement was submitted by Sheryl Sorby, President, and 
Norman Fortenberry, Sc.D., Executive Director.]
                                 ______
                                 
      Prepared Statement of the American Society for Microbiology
    The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) appreciates the 
opportunity to submit outside witness testimony for the Fiscal Year 
2022 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies appropriations 
bill in support of increased funding for the National Science 
Foundation (NSF) and increased coordination of microbiome research by 
the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in Fiscal Year 
2022. ASM is one of the oldest and largest life science societies with 
30,000 members in the U.S. and around the world. Our mission is to 
promote and advance the microbial sciences, including programs and 
initiatives funded by the Federal Government departments and agencies, 
by virtue of the integral role microorganisms play in human health and 
society. Microbial science is a cross-cutting endeavor, and our 
members' federally funded research is fundamental to advances in human 
health, agriculture, energy and the environment.

    ASM calls on Congress to provide at least $10 billion for the 
National Science Foundation in Fiscal Year 2022.

    Investments by Congress in NSF-funded discoveries have strengthened 
the science and technology sectors of the U.S. economy, boosted 
workforce development and ensured America's global market 
competitiveness. For over 70 years, the NSF has invested in basic 
research and education at the frontiers of science and engineering, 
including high risk and transformative research not supported by other 
funding sources. NSF is the only Federal agency that supports 
innovative basic research across all fields of science and engineering, 
and its support of multidisciplinary research and education is critical 
to promoting the next generation of scientists, improving the future of 
the Nation's science and engineering enterprise, and maintaining our 
global competitive edge. NSF is divided into seven directorates that 
support science and engineering research and education: Biological 
Sciences, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, 
Engineering, Geosciences, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Social, 
Behavioral and Economic Sciences, and Education and Human Resources.
    Microbes are at the foundation of scientific discovery, and the NSF 
is a key supporter of microbial science research, including microbiome 
research, discovery of emerging pathogens, and global collaboration. 
ASM members around the world are working to improve lives through 
research on human and animal health, agriculture, energy, the 
environment, and biothreats. NSFfunded research advances our 
understanding of the 70 percent of emerging human pathogens that have 
non-human origins, which pose serious threats to human health and 
global health security, as we have recently seen with the emergence of 
COVID-19. Investments in NSF research over several decades facilitated 
the rapid sequencing and identification of the SARS-CoV-2 virus weeks 
after its discovery in late 2019, which enabled infectious disease 
experts to begin work early on to combat the spread of the virus.
    The NSF has excelled in its congressionally mandated mission ``to 
promote the progress of science; to advance the National health, 
prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the National defense.'' The 
NSF's dedication to progress is particularly notable in the area of 
microbiome research. The Understanding the Rules of Life: Microbiome 
Interactions and Mechanisms program is one example of this innovative 
work. The broader NSF Rules of Life Big Idea aims to enable discoveries 
that will improve our understanding of interactions within different 
ecosystems, and to identify causal, predictive relationships across 
different scales (spatial, temporal, levels of biological organization 
and complexity) that help define the ``rules'' for how life functions. 
It also seeks to develop research tools and infrastructure to further 
Rules of Life research, and to provide the capacity to approach more 
complex research questions.
    The goal of the Microbiome Interactions and Mechanisms program 
research within the Rules of Life Big Idea is to understand 
interactions and mechanisms that govern the structure and function of 
microbiomes. By integrating the wide range of accumulated data and 
information on microbiome structure and function, new causal models of 
interactions and interdependencies across scales and systems can be 
generated. To continue to achieve its goals, it is critical that the 
fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill robustly fund NSF.

    ASM urges Congress to request an update from the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy on the implementation and continuation of the 
Interagency Strategic Plan for Microbiome Research.

    Microbiome science aims to advance understanding of microbial 
communities (microbiomes) for applications in areas such as health 
care, food production, and environmental restoration to benefit 
individuals, communities, and the environment. Understanding of the 
microbiome has evolved significantly since the concept of the human 
microbiome emerged roughly two decades ago. Today it is understood that 
microbial communities exist on, in, and around people, plants, animals, 
soil, oceans, and the atmosphere, making the microbiome relevant to all 
living things. The rapid pace of discovery has led to greater 
technology needs and data sharing infrastructure.
    Launched in 2016, the National Microbiome Initiative pledged $121 
million in funding from Federal agencies and $400 million in total cash 
and in-kind contributions from 100 companies, foundations and academic 
institutions. As part of this initiative, the Federal Microbiome 
Interagency Working Group developed the Interagency Strategic Plan for 
Microbiome Research, providing recommendations for improving 
coordination of microbiome research among Federal agencies and between 
agencies and non-Federal domestic and international microbiome research 
efforts. The 5-year Strategic Plan envisioned coordinated microbiome 
research activities across 21 government agencies, set out interagency 
objectives, structure and operating principles, and noted several 
research focus areas. As the Strategic Plan's term ends in 2022, OSTP 
should evaluate the progress made, consider whether the Federal 
investment has been adequate to fully realize the promise of this 
initiative, and begin the process to develop a strategic plan for 
interagency collaboration in this essential research for the next 5 
years.
                               conclusion
    ASM is particularly grateful to Congress for its commitment to 
increased investments in the NSF in recent years. We urge Congress to 
revisit OSTP's past commitment to microbiome research and to increase 
funding for NSF in fiscal year 2022 to at least $10 billion. We look 
forward to continued Federal investment in microbe-powered innovation.

    [This statement was submitted by Allen Segal, Director of Public 
Policy and Advocacy.]
                                 ______
                                 
   Prepared Statement of the American Society for the Prevention of 
                           Cruelty to Animals
    On behalf of our over 2 million supporters, The American Society 
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) appreciates this 
opportunity to submit testimony to the Senate Appropriations 
subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. 
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA is the first humane organization established 
in the U.S. and serves as the Nation's leading voice for animal 
welfare. We respectfully request that the subcommittee consider the 
following concerns when making fiscal year 2022 appropriations.
                      police encounters with pets
    Media reports about violent encounters between law enforcement 
officers and pets--most often family dogs--are commonplace across the 
country. The ASPCA believes that the vast majority of these incidents 
are avoidable. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) can assist in 
reducing these incidents by collecting national data around them and 
including techniques to handle police and dog encounters in law 
enforcement de-escalation trainings. Tragedies like this take a serious 
toll on communities, further eroding trust with law enforcement, 
escalating tense situations, and endangering bystanders. On April 11, 
the New Orleans Police Department (PD) shot and killed an 18-week-old 
rescue puppy in his yard while responding to a 911 call. On March 23, 
the Tampa PD shot the dog of the woman who had called them for help. On 
February 26, an officer with the Lynchburg PD in Virginia shot and 
killed a dog while attempting to take a man into custody for a mental 
health evaluation. On November 16 of last year, an officer with the 
Faulkner County Sheriff's Department in Arkansas shot and killed a 
family dog after responding to the wrong residence. Shootings involving 
pets often account for a significant percentage of the total firearms 
discharges in a particular agency. Data from some municipalities 
suggest that 25-75 percent of all police firearm discharges are 
directed at dogs.\1\ One DOJ official estimated that several thousand 
dogs annually are killed by law enforcement officers and described the 
phenomenon as ``an epidemic''.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Bathurst, Cynthia, Donald Cleary, Karen Delise, Ledy VanKavage, 
and Patricia Rushing. 2015. The Problem of Dog-Related Incidents and 
Encounters. Washington, DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing 
Services; https://cops.usdoj.gov/RIC/Publications/cops-p206-pub.pdf
    \2\ Griffin, David; ``Can Police Stop Killing Dogs?.'' Police 
Magazine; Oct. 29, 2014; https://www.policemag.com/341722/can-police-
stop-killing-dogs
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    Additionally, research reveals that these incidents take a 
disproportionate toll on communities of color. An analysis of officer-
involved shootings in Los Angeles County revealed that between 28-46 
percent of all firearms discharges were directed at dogs, and these 
shootings were geographically clustered in low-income communities of 
color.\3\ This and other available data suggest that pit bull-type 
breeds are far more likely to be shot and killed than are other dog 
breeds. For example, from 2011 to 2014, police officers in Buffalo, New 
York killed 91 dogs--74 of which were identified as pit bull-type 
breeds.
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    \3\ Stefano Bloch, Daniel E. Martinez. 2020. Canicide by Cop: A 
geographical analysis of canine killings by police in Los Angeles. 
Geoforum: 111. 142-154; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/
abs/pii/S0016718520300440
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Encourage documentation and tracking for incidents of police use of 
        force against pets:
    Use of force reporting requirements among State and local law 
enforcement agencies are inconsistent, and many agencies do not require 
documentation for use of force incidents involving pets. Federally, no 
nationwide data exists regarding the prevalence of these tragedies, or 
for officer-involved shootings more broadly. DOJ's Federal Bureau of 
Investigations operates a National Use of Force Data Collection, which 
allows law enforcement to voluntarily provide data on use-of-force 
incidents. The voluntary data, which currently reflects only 40 percent 
of total law enforcement officer population, does not, apparently, 
include incidents involving pets.\4\ A publication by the DOJ's Office 
of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) recognized the lack of 
data on this issue and urged law enforcement agencies to examine 
questions like how often police officers discharge firearms in dog-
related incidents and how many dogs have been killed to better 
understand and address this problem.\5\ Understanding the scope and 
frequency of these incidents is fundamental to avoiding them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\ See ``What is Collected?'' https://crime-data-
explorer.app.cloud.gov/officers/national/united-States/uof
    \5\ Bathurst, Cynthia, Donald Cleary, Karen Delise, Ledy VanKavage, 
and Patricia Rushing. 2015. The Problem of Dog-Related Incidents and 
Encounters. Washington, DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing 
Services; https://cops.usdoj.gov/RIC/Publications/cops-p206-pub.pdf
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Provide resources and training to de-escalate police encounters with 
        pets and reduce violent incidents:
    Sources indicate that officer trainings are beneficial to de-
escalate situations with dogs without resorting to lethal force.\6\ 
Several States including California, Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, Nevada, 
and Illinois mandate training and created programs on proper responses 
to encounters with dogs. The COPS office, which provides training for 
police departments on a variety of topics, published The Problem of 
Dog-Related Incidents and Encounters in 2011 and has adapted the 
contents to a video training series. Funding for the use of such 
trainings or creating incentives to do so could avoid these tragedies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\ Amendola, Karen, Valdovinos, Maria, Perea, Cesar. 2019. An 
Evidence-Based Approach to Dog Shootings in Routine Police Encounters: 
Regulations, Policies, Practices, and Training Implications. https://
www.policefoundation.org/publication/reducing-dog-shootings-in-routine-
police-encounters-regulations-policies-practices-and-training-
implications/
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The ASPCA requests that the subcommittee recognize the impact of law 
        enforcement's use of force in communities and the need to avoid 
        such incidents by including the following report language in 
        its FY22 Appropriations bill:
    It has been estimated that thousands of dogs are killed annually by 
law enforcement officers. Many States and municipalities do not require 
that police shootings directed at pets be reported. However, data from 
some localities suggests that anywhere from 25-75 percent of all law 
enforcement firearms discharges are directed at dogs, and that these 
incidents are geographically clustered in low-income communities of 
color where police shootings involving people are also concentrated. 
Police shootings directed at pets escalate encounters with policed 
communities and erode trust in law enforcement. The Committee is 
concerned about the lack of data and reporting requirements for such 
encounters, and directs the U.S. Department of Justice to include 
incidents involving pets in any nationwide Federal database created to 
track law enforcement's use of force against people, or to provide 
Congress with a report within 180 days on how the Department can 
collect and maintain comprehensive data on law enforcement's use of 
force against people and pets, as well as any policy recommendations 
needed to implement that data collection. Further, the Committee 
encourages the U.S. Department of Justice to include training 
opportunities for police and dog encounters in the Community Oriented 
Policing Service's grants made available for de-escalation training.

    [This statement was submitted by Nancy Perry, Senior Vice 
President, Government Relations.]
                                 ______
                                 
     Prepared Statement of the American Society of Plant Biologists
  addressing the national science foundation's fiscal year 2022 budget
    The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) submits this 
testimony for the official record to support at least $10.2 billion for 
the National Science Foundation (NSF) for fiscal year 2022. ASPB 
recognizes the difficult fiscal environment our Nation faces, but 
believes that sustained investments in scientific research represents a 
critical step toward economic recovery and continued global 
competitiveness for our Nation.
    ASPB would like to thank the subcommittee for its consideration of 
this testimony and for its strong support for the research missions of 
NSF.
    ASPB, founded in 1924 as the American Society of Plant 
Physiologists, was established to promote the growth and development of 
plant biology, to encourage and publish research in plant biology, and 
to promote the interests and professional advancement of plant 
scientists in general. ASPB members educate, mentor, advise, and 
nurture future generations of plant biologists; they work to increase 
understanding of plant biology, as well as science in general, in K-16 
schools and among the general public; they advocate in support of plant 
biology research; they work to convey the relevance and importance of 
plant biology; and they provide expertise in policy decisions world-
wide. Overall, ASPB members, as representatives of the society, work to 
disseminate information and excitement about plant sciences, especially 
through ASPB's advocacy, outreach activities, conferences, and 
publications.
    food, fuel, environment, and health: plant biology research and 
                            america's future
    Plants are vital to our very existence. They harvest sunlight, 
converting it to chemical energy for food and feed; they absorb carbon 
dioxide and produce oxygen; and they are the primary producers on which 
most life depends. Indeed, plant biology research is making many 
fundamental contributions in the areas of energy security and 
environmental stewardship; the continued and sustainable development of 
better foods, fabrics, and building materials; and in the understanding 
of biological principles that underpin improvements in the health and 
nutrition of all Americans.
    Plant science has become that backbone of agricultural innovation, 
and a thriving agricultural sector has become a cornerstone for 
American economic success. Agriculture and agriculture related 
industries comprise 5.4 percent of the U.S. GDP, contributing nearly $1 
trillion and 21 million jobs to the economy.\1\ In fact, despite 
persistent U.S. trade deficits, there has been a surplus in 
agricultural trade since 1960. This surplus is projected to continue, 
in spite of projected decreases in planted acres of major crops.\2\ 
These projections rely on steady increases in yields, a breakthrough 
that is wholly dependent upon continued fundamental and applied 
agricultural research in crop science and plant biology. To maintain 
and increase U.S. agricultural productivity, critical investments in 
basic biological sciences are needed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-
charting-the-essentials/ag-and-food-sectors-and-the-economy/
    \2\ https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/92600/oce-2019-
1.pdf?v=3630.9
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    In particular, plant biology is at the interface of numerous 
scientific breakthroughs. For example, with high throughput 
experimental approaches facilitating extraordinary syntheses of 
information that are NSF-supported, plant biologists are using computer 
science applications to make tremendous strides in our understanding of 
complex biological systems, ranging from single cells to entire 
ecosystems. Understanding how plants function ultimately will result in 
better and more productive crops, new sources of fuel, and the 
development of better medicines to treat diseases like cancer.
    Despite the significant positive impact plants have on our Nation's 
economy and in addressing some of our most urgent challenges, including 
food and energy security, Federal investments in fundamental plant 
biology research are modest. Nevertheless, plant scientists have 
maximized and leveraged this funding to begin to understand the basic 
functions and mechanisms of plants, providing a foundation for vital 
advances in practical applications in agriculture, health, energy, and 
the environment.
           robust funding for the national science foundation
    ASPB encourages strong support for the Directorate of Biological 
Sciences (BIO) and proportional funding increases across all of the 
scientific disciplines NSF supports. As scientific research becomes 
increasingly interdisciplinary with permeable boundaries, a diverse 
portfolio at NSF is needed to maintain transformational research and 
innovation. NSF funding for plant biology specifically enables the 
scientific community to address cross-cutting research questions that 
could ultimately solve grand challenges related to a sustainable food 
supply, energy security, and improved health and nutrition.
    NSF BIO is a critical source of funding for scientific research, 
providing the majority of the Federal support for non-medical basic 
life sciences research at U.S. academic institutions and beyond. BIO 
supports research ranging from the molecular and cellular levels to the 
organismal, ecosystem, and even biosphere levels. These investments 
continue to have significant pay offs, both in terms of the knowledge 
directly generated and in deepening collaborations and fostering 
innovation among communities of scientists.
    The Biological Sciences Directorate's Plant Genome Research Program 
(PGRP) is an excellent example of a high impact program that has laid a 
strong scientific research foundation for understanding plant genomics 
as it relates to energy (biofuels), health (nutrition and functional 
foods), agriculture (impact of changing climates on agronomic 
ecosystems), and the environment (plants' roles as primary producers in 
ecosystems). ASPB asks that the PGRP be funded at the highest possible 
level and have sustained funding growth to address 21st century 
challenges.
    ASPB is also encouraged by the ongoing efforts of the Reintegrating 
Biology initiative. The Society hopes that these efforts will result in 
innovative, cross-disciplinary efforts that advance both plant science 
and biological research as a whole. Finally, ASPB is very pleased to 
see NSF increase its support for biotechnology, both within BIO and as 
proposed in the new Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships 
Directorate. Investments in biotechnology will transform agriculture, 
energy, and healthcare, and fundamental and applied plant science 
research have roles to play in each area.
    Without significant and increased support for BIO and NSF as a 
whole, promising fundamental research discoveries will be delayed and 
vital collaborations around the edges of scientific disciplines will be 
postponed, thus limiting the ability of the U.S. to respond to the 
pressing scientific problems that exist today and the new challenges on 
the horizon. Addressing these scientific priorities would also help to 
improve the competitive position of the U.S. in a global marketplace.
 continued support for nsf education and workforce development programs
    As discussed above, many of the challenges brought by a changing 
world will need be addressed specifically by plant scientists. A 
significant--but sustainable--increase in crop productivity will be 
needed to match the demand for food expected from the rate of 
population growth. At the same time, climate change will present new 
trials for crops and other plant ecosystems. These challenges will 
require efforts to increase productivity beyond current practices, 
including improvement in crop water use efficiency and enhanced crop 
photosynthesis efficiency and performance, to name just a few 
approaches. More knowledge and innovation will be needed to replace 
chemicals from non-renewable sources (from fuels to biomedical 
applications) with plant-derived metabolites. These types of 
innovations will require contributions from basic and applied plant 
science fields and collaboration from other sciences and engineering.
    To tackle these challenges, a strong and diverse community of plant 
scientists, with increased involvement from women and marginalized 
scientists, will be needed. However, the current training pipeline does 
not appear prepared to ensure the availability of this workforce. The 
number of Ph.D. degrees awarded in the U.S. in biomedical sciences in 
the last two decades has increased at an unsustainable rate, even 
triggering warnings from members of the National Academy of Sciences; 
however, this trend has not been paralleled by increases in plant-
related Ph.D. degrees. In fact, plant science doctoral degrees, both 
basic and agronomy-related, have remained stagnant during this time 
period. Clearly, a strong investment in plant science research, both 
basic and applied, renewed efforts to transform public perception of 
plant biology and plant biologists, and a push to increase the number 
of students entering the pipeline leading to plant science degrees are 
necessary to change these trends. Developing the workforce that will 
contribute the solutions to future challenges is urgent.
    The NSF is a major source of funding for the education and training 
of the American scientific workforce and for understanding how 
educational innovations can be most effectively implemented. NSF's 
education portfolio impacts students at all levels, including K-12, 
undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate, as well as the general 
public.
    ASPB urges the subcommittee to support expanding NSF's fellowship 
and career development programs--such as the Postdoctoral Research 
Fellowships in Biology, the Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) and the 
Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) programs--thereby providing 
continuity in funding opportunities for the country's most promising 
early career scientists.
    ASPB urges support for NSF to further develop programs aimed at 
increasing the diversity of the scientific workforce by leveraging 
professional scientific societies' commitment to provide a professional 
home for scientists throughout their education and careers and to help 
promote and sustain broad participation in the sciences. Discrete 
focused training and infrastructure support programs for Hispanic 
Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and 
Tribal Colleges and Universities remain vitally important, because they 
foster a scientific workforce that reflects the U.S. population.
    ASPB urges support for education research that enhances our 
understanding of how educational innovations can be sustainably and 
most effectively implemented in a variety of settings. NSF Education 
and Human Resources programs provide opportunities to expand NSF's 
research and evaluation efforts to address scale-up and sustainability. 
ASPB encourages continued support for education research programs 
within NSF's Education and Human Resources portfolio with a focus on 
understanding how previous investments in educational strategies can be 
made most effective.
    Grand research challenges will not be resolved in a year, an 
administration, or a generation, but will take continued attention and 
investment at Federal research agencies, such as the NSF, over decades.
    Thank you for your consideration of ASPB's testimony. For more 
information about ASPB, please visit www.aspb.org.
                                 ______
                                 
           Prepared Statement of the Animal Welfare Institute
fiscal year 2022 funding priorities for the u.s. department of commerce 
            (doc) and the u.s. department of justice (doj).
                      u.s. department of commerce
North Atlantic Right Whale-Related Research and Development--$20 
        million
    In 2020, North Atlantic right whales were designated as critically 
endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature 
(IUCN). Elevated mortalities of the species from entanglements in 
fishing gear and vessel strikes have been declared an Unusual Mortality 
Event (UME) by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA) since 2017. The annual documented rate of anthropogenic 
mortality and serious injury, due to both entanglement in gear and 
vessel strikes, has exceeded the population's potential biological 
removal level (PBR) since 1995.
    In October 2020, scientists from the New England Aquarium released 
a new population estimate for North Atlantic right whales, indicating 
that the population numbered only 356 as of the end of 2019.\1\ Of 
these 356 whales, researchers estimate 70 breeding females remain. 
Without intervention, the current combination of low birth rates and 
increased mortalities could leave the species functionally extinct 
within 20 years.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ New England Aquarium (2020) Statement on North Atlantic right 
whale population estimate. October 29, 2020. Available at https://
www.neaq.org/about-us/news-media/press-kit/press-releases/statement-on-
north-atlantic-right-whale-population-estimate/
    \2\ Cecco, L. (2020). Humans pushing North Atlantic right whale to 
extinction faster than believed. The Guardian. October 30, 2020. 
Available at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/30/north-
atlantic-right-whale-extinction-faster-than-believed
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Right whales are extremely vulnerable to being caught in the 
vertical buoy lines used in lobster and crab trapping gear. 
Entanglement can lead to drowning, reduced mobility, and, in some 
cases, a long, painful death from starvation. Collisions from vessels 
of all sizes can also cause serious injuries, such as blunt force 
trauma, propeller cuts, and broken bones. Three North Atlantic right 
whale calves were killed or seriously injured by vessel strikes in U.S. 
waters in the last 13 months alone. In February 2021, an adult whale 
was confirmed dead due to injuries from entanglement. Two other 
entangled whales have been added to the serious injuries list this 
year.
    Studies have shown that mortalities from known entanglements have 
continued to increase: from 21 percent (1970-2002) to 51 percent (2003-
2018).\3\ Entanglements caused as many as 85 percent of diagnosable 
deaths from 2010 to 2015. In February 2021, a study coauthored by 
leading North Atlantic right whale scientists found that from 1990-
2017, observed carcasses only accounted for 36 percent of North 
Atlantic right whale mortalities.\4\ These ``cryptic mortalities,'' 
i.e., deaths caused by human activities without an observed carcass, 
represent a larger proportion of the total mortality than previously 
believed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ Sharp, S, et.al (2019). Gross and histopathologic diagnoses 
from North Atlantic right whale Eubalaena glacialis mortalities between 
2003 and 2018. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 135(1), 1-31. 
doi:10.3354/dao03376)
    \4\ Pace, R. et al. (2021). Cryptic mortality of North Atlantic 
right whales. Conservation Science and Practice. 3. 10.1111/csp2.346.
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    The final fiscal year 2021 appropriations package included $5 
million for North Atlantic right whales within the Marine Mammals, Sea 
Turtles, and Other Species line item. Within this funding, $1 million 
was directed to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA) for the continuation of a pilot program developing and field-
testing new fishing gear technologies designed to reduce entanglements.
    We appreciate Congress' concern for this species and trust that it 
will recognize that a substantial increase in funding is necessary if 
we are to save North Atlantic right whales from extinction. Along with 
50 other NGOs, AWI submitted a letter to House and Senate CJS 
Appropriations subcommittees that included a proposed spending plan. 
Within that plan, we believe funding should be appropriated to NOAA to 
develop and implement new rules aimed at reducing the mortality rate of 
North Atlantic right whales by vessel strikes, fishing-gear 
entanglements, and other threats. There must also be investment in 
reducing vessel-strike risk in high-traffic areas as well as a 
transition to whale-safe fishing gear. We believe the pilot program to 
refine and field test innovative fishing gear technologies, such as 
ropeless gear, should be expanded, including the development of 
geolocation technologies. Lastly, surveys and monitoring, enforcement, 
disentanglement, stranding response, and plankton recorder surveys are 
crucial to the conservation of this species.
    We encourage Congress to direct investment to the development of 
ropeless technologies instead of expensive, short-term investments in 
``weak rope.'' The use of 1,700-lb breaking strength lines (known as 
``weak rope'') may decrease the severity of entanglement injuries 
suffered by right whales but does not reduce the likelihood of 
entanglement in the first place nor the sub-lethal impacts of 
entanglement on whales. This gear also does not reduce the risk of 
serious injury or mortality for right whales who are less than 2 years 
old.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\ Knowlton et al. (2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    NOAA estimates Americans are willing to pay $4.38 billion annually 
for the recovery of the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Further, 
in 2008, this species generated an estimated $2.3 billion in sales in 
the whale watching industry and across the broader economy.\6\ Research 
has found large whales are worth about $2 million each over their 
lifetimes. This value is based on their contributions to carbon 
sequestration, which combats climate change, as well as their ability 
to enhance fisheries and provide ecotourism value. Overall, the 
estimated economic value of the planet's whale population is over $1 
trillion.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\ NOAA Fisheries (2020, February 24). Protected species economics 
research. Retrieved from https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/
socioeconomics/protected-species-economics-research
    \7\ Chami, R., Cosimano, T., Fullenkamp, C., & Oztosun, S. (2019). 
Nature's solution to climate change. International Monetary Fund: 
Official Website./Finance&Development, 56(4), 34-38. Retrieved from 
https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2019/12/natures-solution-to-
climate-change-chami.htm
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    If we are to save this species, it will require investment and 
cooperation among Congress, agencies, scientists, and industry. We hope 
the subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies 
recognizes the urgency of this situation and invests in protections for 
North Atlantic right whales.
Unusual Mortality Event Fund--$4 million with at least $750,000 
        dedicated to the current UME of Atlantic Florida manatees
    Marine mammals are important indicator species of ocean health. 
Monitoring the health of marine mammals, especially during Unusual 
Mortality Events (UME), can reveal emerging threats, potential impacts 
of human activities, and the effectiveness of management actions. A UME 
is defined as ``a stranding that is unexpected; involves a significant 
die-off of any marine mammal population; and demands immediate 
response.'' There are currently 10 active UMEs around the country in 
every ocean (Alaska ice seals, West Coast gray whales, Northeast 
pinnipeds, Southwest Florida bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic minke 
whales, North Atlantic right whales, Atlantic humpback whales, 
Guadalupe fur seals, Atlantic Florida manatees, and Florida East Coast 
manatees). In the newest UME to be declared, the 2021 Atlantic Florida 
manatee, nearly 750 manatees have died this year alone. Rescue 
organizations are hampered by the lack of facilities and funds for 
responding to overwhelming numbers of live manatees in need of rescue 
and rehabilitation.
    Since 1991, 70 marine mammal UMEs have been declared. The UME 
Contingency Fund was established through the Marine Mammal Protection 
Act to enable the National Marine Fisheries Service to reimburse marine 
mammal stranding network partners for costs related to caring for and 
treating live animals that strand as part of UMEs; collecting, 
preparing, and sending biological samples to the National Marine Mammal 
Tissue Bank and other diagnostic laboratories to investigate the causes 
of UMEs; and collecting important marine mammal health data to inform 
and improve future UME responses and marine conservation. Although 
Congress created this fund in 1992, it provided appropriations only in 
2005; all other contributions to the Fund have been through voluntary 
assistance. Considering the growing number of UMEs, $4 million should 
be allocated to the Unusual Mortality Event Contingency Fund to enable 
robust marine mammal stranding response efforts, with $750,000 
dedicated to the current Atlantic Florida manatee UME.
John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program--$4 
        million
    The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program 
(Prescott Grant Program), a program under NMFS, provides competitive 
grants to marine mammal stranding network organizations to do the 
following: (1) rescue and rehabilitate sick, injured, or distressed 
live marine mammals, and (2) investigate the events surrounding, and 
determine the cause of, the death or injury of marine mammals. Over the 
past 20 years, the Prescott Grant Program has been vital to protecting 
and recovering marine mammals across the country while also generating 
critical information regarding marine mammals and their environment. As 
the sole source of Federal funding for the National Marine Mammal 
Stranding Network, which is comprised of over 90 member organizations 
within 23 States, robust funding is required for the Prescott Grant 
Program to enable it to continue its vital work.
Enforcement and Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP)--$4 million
    The Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) was established in 
2016 to require U.S. importers of certain fish and fish products to 
provide and report key data, with the aim of uncovering illegal, 
unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and/or seafood fraud and 
preventing it from entering US commerce. The program initially oversaw 
imports of 11 species, including sharks and sea cucumbers, two marine 
species that are increasingly threatened by IUU fishing. In 2019, two 
additional species, shrimp, and abalone, entered SIMP, thereby doubling 
the volume of imported products covered by SIMP. The addition of shrimp 
has implications for the critically endangered vaquita, of which only 
about 10 remain. The use of illegal gillnets for catching shrimp in the 
Gulf of California, and the subsequent bycatch of vaquitas, has been a 
major factor in the latter species' decline.
    A 2021 report ``Seafood Obtained via Illegal, Unreported, and 
Unregulated Fishing: U.S. Imports and Economic Impact on U.S. 
Commercial Fisheries,'' compiled by the U.S. International Trade 
Commission found that $2.4 billion worth of seafood imports derived 
from IUU fishing was imported in 2019 (11 percent of total seafood 
imports). Over 13 percent of the U.S. imports caught at sea were 
estimated to be caught using IUU fishing practices. Top species 
included swimming crab, wild-caught warmwater shrimp, yellowfin tuna, 
and squid. The report noted that IUU-sourced seafood is a threat to the 
livelihood of U.S. fishermen. These practices also pose risks to marine 
ecosystems, public health, and human rights.
    In January 2020, the U.S. Government allocated $8 million to fight 
IUU fishing and bolster SIMP as part of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade 
agreement (USMCA) that was approved in January 2021. As part of the 
agreement, funding will go to NOAA to help it cooperate with the 
Mexican Government in fighting illegal fishing through 2023. Additional 
funding of $4 million is necessary to ensure full enforcement of SIMP 
in fiscal year 2022.
Marine Mammal Commission (MMC)--$5.25 million
    The Marine Mammal Commission (MMC) is an independent Federal agency 
established by Congress in 1972 under the MMPA. Responsible for 
overseeing the proper implementation of the MMPA, the MMC provides 
comprehensive, independent, science-based oversight of all Federal and 
international policy and management actions affecting marine mammals. 
The MMC's work is crucial to maintaining healthy populations of marine 
mammals, including whales, manatees, dolphins, seals, sea otters, 
walruses, and polar bears, and ensuring their survival for generations 
to come. Additionally, the MMC seeks to ensure that Alaska Natives can 
meet their subsistence needs through hunting of marine mammals. We are 
grateful that Congress rejected last year's budget request defunding 
this agency and instead funded the MMC at $3.769 million in fiscal year 
2021. In order for the MMC to fully fulfill its obligations, we ask 
that $5.25 million be appropriated for fiscal year 2022.
                       u.s. department of justice
Environment and Natural Resources Division/Environmental Crimes 
        Section--Additional $2 million
    AWI asks the subcommittee to provide an additional $2 million, over 
and above the amount that would otherwise be appropriated, to the 
Environmental Crimes Section of the Department of Justice's Environment 
and Natural Resources Division, to be designated for the Section's work 
on animal cruelty crime.
    Congress has taken significant steps in the last decade to 
strengthen Federal laws to protect animals from cruel treatment. For 
those efforts to be meaningful, it is imperative that the Federal 
Government's enforcement efforts be robustly supported. The attorneys 
in the Environmental Crimes Section are tasked with ensuring that 
justice is served when the Federal statutes and enforcement regimes 
that provide for the humane treatment of captive, farmed, and companion 
animals across the country are violated. These laws include the Animal 
Welfare Act, the Horse Protection Act, the Humane Methods of Slaughter 
Act, the 28-Hour Law, the Animal Crush Video Statute, the Animal 
Fighting Venture Prohibition Act, and, since 2019, the Preventing 
Animal Cruelty and Torture Act.
    This is a tremendous amount of responsibility, and it is a 
responsibility that both Congress and the American public expect to be 
executed vigorously. The resources available to bring criminal 
prosecution under these laws has not kept pace with the improvements 
made in the laws. Given the increased workload the Section has taken on 
in just the last couple of years, a $2 million increase in its funding 
is warranted.

    [This statement was submitted by Nancy Blaney, Director, Government 
Affairs.]
                                 ______
                                 
            Prepared Statement of the Anti-Defamation League
    funding to counter domestic violent extremism, hate crimes, and 
                        discrimination in voting
    On behalf of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), I write to request 
that you designate increased funding for the department of Justice's 
efforts to combat domestic violent extremism, prevent and prosecute 
hate crimes against Jews, Jewish institutions, and other targeted 
communities, and challenge discrimination in voting by vigorously 
enforcing the Voting Rights Act.
Countering Violent Domestic Extremism
    On January 6, we watched as an insurrection fueled by violent 
conspiracy theories and white supremacy gripped the Nation and attacked 
our democracy. Unfortunately, this act of domestic terrorism was not a 
surprise; it is a threat ADL has been warning about for many years, and 
one we had warned law enforcement about once this specific threat 
became clear, even before the tragic events unfolded.
    ADL recommends that Congress make investments that adapt to the 
threat from domestic extremists, which is severe and growing. The 
majority of violence committed against Americans by extremists is now 
homegrown, and we must reorient our counterterrorism capabilities 
accordingly. To address this threat, the Congressional Budget Office 
estimates that an additional 175 FBI field agents, 45 additional 
employees, 25 U.S. Attorney office personnel, and 18 additional DHS 
analysts are needed, as well as a budget to support reporting and 
coordination. These funds for personnel, training, and reporting will 
help catalyze a range of activities to better understand the domestic 
terror threat, to ensure resources are used proportionate to the threat 
posed, and to work across agencies to better prepare to keep 
communities safe. The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (H.R. 350/S. 
963) would in part ensure resources are used based on the threat of a 
terrorist movement. While we work to support the passage of the DTPA, 
personnel for the offices and training opportunities for State and 
local partners can and should be funded separate and apart from the 
bill. ADL supports $11 million in fiscal year 2022 and an estimated 
$184 million over 5 years to increase resources and staffing to help 
counter domestic terrorism. ADL also requests that report language 
reflect the need for transparency and threat-proportionate 
appropriations.
    In addition, ADL recommends increased investment in research that 
closes gaps in our ability to prevent domestic extremism that will 
otherwise endure as an increasingly dangerous and destabilizing force 
in American communities. Data should drive policy. ADL requests $20 
million above current levels to the Office of Justice Programs, 
dedicated specifically to research and data related to domestic violent 
extremism issues.
Eliminating Extremism in Law Enforcement
    ADL urges the Committee to recognize and address the fact that some 
public safety officers are extremists, as evidenced by the 
participation of active law enforcement personnel in the attempted 
insurrection of January 6. Additionally, FBI assessments dating back 
more than 15 years, among other sources, have noted that such 
extremists seek out positions in law enforcement and work to recruit 
law enforcement personnel into their ranks in order to gain access to 
sensitive security-related information as well as tactical knowledge 
and training. The consequences of this infiltration are potentially 
severe, ranging from deterioration of police-community relations to 
destruction, conflict, and death resulting from extremist officers' 
activities. ADL requests that the Committee encourage the Justice 
Department to provide the highest priority to Community Oriented 
Policing Services (COPS) program applicants and law enforcement 
agencies that request support for screening applicants and personnel 
for persistent racism and/or violent extremist ideologies or 
affiliations, and further encourage the Department to prioritize COPS 
grants to program applicants and law enforcement agencies that require 
their employees to complete training on extremism. ADL also asks that 
the Committee support improved security clearance policies, procedures, 
and trainings to ensure that individuals whose possible adherence to 
violent extremist ideologies raises questions about their judgment or 
trustworthiness do not have security clearances, including directing 
the Department to report no later than 90 days after enactment of this 
act on its progress in developing these improved policies, procedures, 
and trainings.
Clearinghouse for Online Extremism
    With domestic violent terrorism posing a growing threat, we must 
seek creative ways to address the critical role that social media plays 
in fueling the rise of extremism. However, we must not empower law 
enforcement to engage so thoroughly in social media investigations that 
civil liberties would be at risk. ADL proposes the creation of an 
independent nonprofit organization, mirroring the founding of the 
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, to investigate 
online threats proactively with careful parameters to ensure that the 
broad nature of these investigations does not provide surveillance 
powers to law enforcement, but is independent. ADL requests $500,000 to 
the National Institute of Justice for a six-month study into the 
feasibility, costs, and operational options for an independent 
clearinghouse for online extremist content.
Strengthening Hate Crimes Data Collection
    A more complete understanding of where, when, and against whom hate 
crimes occur is a necessary component of an effective and coordinated 
campaign to eradicate this scourge. In the nearly 30 years during which 
the FBI has compiled data pursuant to the Hate Crime Statistics Act, 
however, DOJ has yet to produce information that paints an accurate and 
comprehensive picture of hate crime. Multiple factors contribute to 
deficits in our knowledge about this phenomenon, including victimized 
communities' distrust and avoidance of law enforcement agencies; lack 
of training for officers in recognizing and investigating bias 
motivations; and frontline agencies' limited capacity to maintain and 
share records with DOJ combined with the lack of a reporting mandate. 
Congress can and must support stakeholders in overcoming these 
challenges by providing funding for data improvement programs that we 
expect will soon be authorized by the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act. ADL 
recommends that you provide total funding of at least $15 million for 
grant programs to State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to 
implement the National Incident-Based Reporting System, to create 
State-run hate crime reporting hotlines, and to conduct training and 
develop protocols for identifying, analyzing, investigating and 
reporting hate crimes. In addition, we urge you to adopt report 
language that urges DOJ to support hate crime statistics improvement 
through its other funding programs including the Edward Byrne Memorial 
Justice Assistance Grants program, as well as language that urges the 
FBI to increase its outreach to, and consider developing awards or 
other incentives for, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement 
agencies, to encourage them to provide substantive and accurate hate 
crime statistics.
State and Local Police Training on Recognizing and Investigating Hate 
        Crimes
    ADL is alarmed at increases in reports of hate crime. In spite of 
declining law enforcement agency participation, the FBI's Hate Crime 
Statistics Act reports have documented year-to-year growth in the 
number of recorded hate crimes in recent years, culminating in the most 
deadly year on record in 2019, in which at least 51 people lost their 
lives in bias-motivated attacks. Anecdotal data captured by community-
based organizations and surveys that ask Americans about their 
subjective experiences indicate that hate crime is a far more 
widespread and devastating phenomenon than even the FBI's report 
demonstrates. Behind each victim is an entire community of people who 
share the characteristics for which the person was attacked, and who 
experience the fear and instability that these acts cause. The Federal 
Government's leadership is indispensable to the critical task of 
improving effectiveness at tracking, mitigating the harms caused by, 
and ultimately, preventing destructive bias-motivated aggression. ADL 
requests $100 million for grants to State, local, and Tribal law 
enforcement agencies to conduct educational outreach and training on 
hate crimes and to investigate and prosecute hate crimes, as authorized 
by section 4704 of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes 
Prevention Act (Public Law 111-84).
Community Relations Service
    The Community Relations Service saves lives and preserves community 
cohesion, and must be taken to scale to meet expanding demand resulting 
from COVID-19-related hate crimes targeting the Asian-American Pacific 
Islander community, scapegoating of Jews, Muslims, and members of 
immigrant communities for the actions of foreign nations and entities, 
and other increases in discrimination and hate. CRS's efforts are 
symbolically important and practically effective. For example, after a 
gunman killed a worshipper and wounded three others at the Chabad of 
Poway, CA, on April 27, 2019--exactly 6 months after the shooting at 
the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh--members of the surrounding 
community asked CRS to help reestablish community safety and rebuild 
residents' confidence that they could safely attend religious services. 
Within days of the shooting, CRS brought the local U.S. Attorney's 
Office together with leaders of local faith communities to assess 
tensions, identify concerns, and share best practices for addressing 
hate crimes and protecting religious institutions. CRS served as a 
liaison between community stakeholders and the State and Federal 
agencies involved in investigating the shooting and also worked with 
stakeholders to convene continuing conversations, including a Bias 
Incidents and Hate Crimes forum held by an interfaith coalition of San 
Diego-area religious communities and an August 2019 training that 
brought the U.S. Attorney's Office back together with faith community 
leaders to build capacity to prevent and respond to hate crimes. ADL 
supports $40 million for the Community Engagement Relations program to 
offer services in more communities in need.
Voting Rights Act Enforcement by the Voting Section
    Before, during, and after the 2020 Presidential Election, 
disinformation about threats to election security and integrity spread 
widely, and in significant part due to some political figures' repeated 
public critiques of normal procedures such as mail voting and of 
extraordinary measures undertaken to avoid COVID-19-related perils, 
including proactive mailing of mail ballot applications and expansion 
of early voting hours and periods. Election administrators, Federal and 
international experts at agencies like the Department of Homeland 
Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and 
independent audits of paper records of votes cast have all affirmed 
that election results were valid, and no significant or widespread 
fraud or irregularities occurred. Nonetheless, according to the Brennan 
Center for Justice, as of March 24, 2021, State lawmakers had 
introduced 361 bills that would restrict access to the ballot in 47 
States' current legislative sessions. These measures take direct aim at 
aspects of the voting process that disproportionately affect voters of 
color and preserving equal access to elections in 2021 and beyond will 
depend upon the strength and readiness of the most capable and expert 
voting rights prosecutor in the Nation, the Civil Rights Division's 
Voting Section.
    The Voting Section requires expanded capacity to respond to the 
States and localities that already have adopted discriminatory voting 
restrictions or are poised to follow suit. The Voting Section also will 
soon undertake monitoring, evaluation, and enforcement of anti-
discrimination standards in the post-2020 Census redistricting cycle 
which will be the first to occur in the absence of the protective 
mechanisms of the Voting Rights Act's fully-functional preclearance 
process. As a result, Section attorneys will not receive explanation 
and analysis of new district maps from jurisdictions with long 
histories of acting deliberately to limit marginalized voters' 
opportunity to elect representatives of their choice, and will instead 
have to exponentially increase original review of as many as hundreds, 
or thousands, of new plans. As we consider the work before the Voting 
Section, finally, we are mindful of the need for more capacity to 
ensure the effective implementation of Section 203 of the Voting Rights 
Act after new coverage determinations are published in calendar year 
2021. To manage these critical tasks, ADL requests an additional $5 
million for the Civil Rights Division for additional attorney positions 
to conduct Voting Rights Act enforcement activities.

    [This statement was submitted by Max Sevillia, Vice President, 
Government Relations, Advocacy, and Community Engagement.]
                                 ______
                                 
 Prepared Statement of the Association for Psychological Science (APS)
supporting increased appropriations for the national science foundation 
                                 (nsf)
         highlights of aps recommendations for fiscal year 2022
  --APS supports the Administration's recommended funding level of 
        $10.2 billion for NSF in fiscal year 2022. In immediate terms, 
        increased funding is necessary in fiscal year 2022 to help the 
        research community recover from COVID-19 and its effects on 
        research, education, and the professional development of the 
        next generation of scientists. In the longer term, a bold 
        approach to NSF funding advances NSF's transformational Big 
        Ideas initiatives; protects core programs that sustain science 
        and engineering fields; builds and operates world-class 
        research infrastructure, including the human capital that 
        conducts and supports research; and trains a diverse, inclusive 
        future science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) 
        workforce so that the U.S. can remain globally competitive.
  --NSF's Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic (SBE) 
        Sciences conducts research that increases our fundamental 
        understanding of human development, cognition, behavior, and 
        more. One of the best ways to mitigate the crises created by 
        the COVID-19 pandemic is through an understanding of human 
        behavior. Supporting SBE is important to our ability to recover 
        from the problems arising from COVID-19 as well as to prevent 
        or mitigate economic, health, and security problems arising 
        from other national and international problems. Scientific 
        research supported by SBE also enables discovery in other 
        critical areas that range from addressing the needs of an aging 
        population, to strengthening racial equity and limiting bias, 
        to preparing our military with the insights it needs to 
        understand behavior in a changing world. Through its various 
        core programs, as well as its contributions to cross-
        directorate NSF investments, SBE supports approximately 5,000 
        scientists, educators, and students in a typical year. 
        Unfortunately, SBE has often been a popular target for budget 
        cuts and messaging amendments. APS urges the Committee to 
        recognize the important contributions of NSF's Social, 
        Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorate with supportive 
        report language and implied funding increases.
  --NSF's Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) recognizes and 
        supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM 
        disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and 
        doctoral degrees at accredited U.S. institutions. The program 
        encourages the best and brightest students--a diverse cohort--
        to pursue STEM as a career and recognizes those individuals who 
        propose to conduct meritorious scientific research capable of 
        broad impacts; it sets promising students on a trajectory for 
        success in their scientific careers. Given the significant 
        disruptions that COVID-19 has caused for the future careers of 
        student scientists, NSF should be strengthening its support for 
        students. APS urges the Committee to provide the resources 
        necessary to fund no less than 2,000 awards in fiscal year 2022 
        and urges the program to grow to 3,000 in future years.
                  statement of aps executive director
    Madam Chairwoman and Members of the subcommittee, thank you for the 
opportunity to provide testimony as you consider funding priorities for 
Fiscal Year 2022. I am Robert Gropp, Executive Director of the 
Association for Psychological Science (APS). APS is a nonprofit 
scientific organization dedicated to the advancement of scientific 
psychology for the benefit of science and society. APS's 30,000 members 
are scientists and educators at the Nation's universities and colleges, 
conducting research supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). 
The research funded by NSF's Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences 
Directorate (SBE) provides a fundamental understanding of the human 
condition. As the world deals with the COVID-19 pandemic and its 
effects, essential tools at our disposal are behavioral in nature, 
bringing the science supported by SBE to the forefront. SBE-supported 
scientists develop and employ rigorous methods to discover principles 
of human behavior at levels ranging from cells to society and from 
neurons to neighborhoods. We urge the Committee to include supportive 
report language and implied funding increases for the SBE Directorate 
in the Fiscal Year 2022 CJS Appropriations bill and report.
    Madam Chairwoman, APS joins the scientific community in supporting 
a fiscal year 2022 appropriation of $10.2 billion for NSF. This funding 
level would advance innovation, discovery, and productivity; help us 
face current and future societal challenges; and boost our economy 
given the ways science, engineering, and math support so many of our 
country's jobs.
             recognizing the leadership of the subcommittee
    Madam Chairwoman, as the leading voice for scientific psychology in 
all its forms, APS recognizes and appreciates your leadership and the 
leadership of this subcommittee in supporting Federal research. We 
applaud your commitment to maintaining our Nation's economic growth, 
national security, and overall global competitiveness through 
investment in science. We are grateful for the appropriations the 
agency received in fiscal year 2021, yet we respectfully recognize that 
more is required to address the effects of historical underinvestment 
in fundamental research in the United States. According to NSF, in 
fiscal year 2020, 42,727 applications were received, but only 12,172 
were funded. Many of these unfunded applications were deemed 
meritorious by independent scientific reviewers. When deserving 
proposals go unfunded, scientific progress and the resulting benefits 
to society are delayed or lost.
    The potential impact of these missed opportunities is even starker 
when considering the return on investment in scientific research and 
the significant investments that other nations are making in comparable 
research areas. According to the National Science Board's 2020 Science 
and Engineering Indicators, ``Where once the U.S. was the uncontested 
leader in science and engineering, we are now playing a less dominant 
role.'' The United States was the largest R&D performer in 2017, 
followed by China. To remain at the forefront of scientific discovery 
and continue leading the world in science and engineering, we must 
invest strategically and robustly now. NSF increases the 
competitiveness and growth of our country, but also of each State as 
well. In fiscal year 2020, for example, New Hampshire research 
institutions were competitively awarded a total of $42,904,000 in NSF 
grant funding, and Kansas research institutions were awarded a total of 
$44,239,000.
     funding for the national science foundation and policy issues
    As previously noted, APS recommends an fiscal year 2022 funding 
level of $10.2 billion for NSF, a funding level that makes clear that 
scientific research is a national priority.
    APS does not recommend that Congress allocate funding at the 
directorate level. We do encourage Congress to provide sufficient 
funding to allow NSF to make additional and strategic new investments 
in SBE. As mentioned previously, this research is key to responding to 
COVID-19 and its effects, including the ways the pandemic has affected 
disproportionately those from disparity groups. Reports from NSF 
indicate that the SBE community is applying at record rates for funding 
to address behavioral elements of COVID-19, and that these applications 
are exceptionally meritorious and capable of broad and immediate 
impacts.
    In addition to offering potential solutions to COVID-19's effects, 
SBE provides critical support to the behavioral science community 
broadly. Despite being the smallest directorate at NSF, SBE funds 55 
percent of all university-based social and behavioral science research 
in the United States. In 2020, SBE awarded approximately $1.9 million 
and $983,000 in fiscal year 2020 research grants to the Chairwoman and 
Ranking Member's home States of New Hampshire and Kansas, respectively. 
We therefore urge the Committee include the following report language:

          Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE).--The 
        Committee supports SBE and recognizes the fundamental 
        importance of the research it supports in advancing scientific 
        understanding of critical challenges facing our Nation, 
        including increased misinformation, polarization, and bias. SBE 
        sciences also afford insights into advancing public health, 
        defense and security, education and learning, and the interface 
        of humans and technology. SBE funds over half of our Nation's 
        university-based behavioral science research, yet it is among 
        the smallest NSF research directorates. Because the Committee 
        believes SBE research provides an evidence-based understanding 
        of human behavior, it recommends an increase over the fiscal 
        year 2021 levels for SBE activities commensurate with its 
        potential for impact.

    The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship 
Program (GRFP) is the country's oldest fellowship program that directly 
supports graduate students in various science, technology, engineering 
and mathematics fields. These fellows are anticipated to become 
knowledge experts who can contribute significantly to research, 
teaching, and innovations in science and engineering; they are crucial 
to maintaining and advancing the Nation's technological infrastructure 
and national security as well as contributing to the economic well-
being of society at large. Importantly, they enable the most promising 
candidates from groups historically underrepresented in science to 
choose science as a career.
    Over the last several years, both GRFP program solicitations and 
the Administration's budget requests state that NSF is planning to 
reduce the number of awards to 1,600 down from the previous award level 
of 2,000 awards. It is only when Congress intervenes with directive 
report language in the CJS Appropriations reports that the awards are 
brought up to the steady level of 2,000 per year.
    Given that many students are suffering disruptions or delays to 
their education resulting from COVID-19, NSF should be doing more to 
support the careers of student scientists. A cut in the number of GRFP 
awards sends an unintended message to those at early career levels that 
NSF's support is declining. APS urges the following report language be 
included in the fiscal year 2022 report supporting these important 
training grants.

          Graduate Research Fellowship Program.--The Committee notes 
        that the Graduate Research Fellowship program (GRFP) has a long 
        history of selecting recipients who achieve high levels of 
        success in their future academic and professional careers and 
        recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF 
        supported sciences, engineering, and mathematics, including the 
        field of behavioral science. In recognition of the outstanding 
        contributions of this program to launch the careers of talented 
        graduate students as they become lifelong leaders who 
        contribute to scientific innovations and teaching, the 
        Committee has provided the resources necessary to fund more 
        than 3,000 grants in fiscal year 2022 and urges the program 
        continue to grow in future years.

    There is significant support in Congress and the Administration to 
expand the National Science Foundation with increases in funding as 
well as a new Technology and Innovation Directorate. APS appreciates 
the enthusiasm and attention to science and technology, and we 
wholeheartedly support efforts to grow scientific advancement. We 
request that Congress ensure that its efforts further strengthen NSF's 
unique mission of supporting fundamental research in all fields. We 
also encourage Congress to continue to support NSF's initiatives that 
ensure the U.S. science and technology workforce reflects the U.S. 
population, increase the number of leaders in science from historically 
underrepresented backgrounds, and support funding for and outreach to 
deserving colleges and universities that are not typical recipients of 
NSF support.
                         summary and conclusion
    APS shares your commitment to fostering innovation and economic 
competitiveness through investing in our Nation's research 
infrastructure. While we request $10.2 billion for NSF, even more 
Federal funding for the agency could result in more research that can 
lead to new knowledge, new discoveries, and possibly products, 
services, and new industries. Additional SBE research will continue to 
help us understand patterns of stability and change at the individual, 
group, organizational, and societal levels that can be applied to 
promote the progress of science and to advance national health, 
prosperity, and welfare. Continued support for the Graduate Research 
Fellowship program at current levels, or even higher, provides training 
support for our future scientists and engineers.
    We appreciate the opportunity to provide this testimony. and thank 
you for your leadership.

    [This statement was submitted by Robert Gropp, Executive Director.]
                                 ______
                                 
                       Prepared Statement of CAST
                      national science foundation
    Chairwoman Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran and Members of the 
subcommittee, since 1984, CAST (originally the Center for Applied 
Special Technology) has worked relentlessly to ensure that our Nation 
is one where learning has no limits for all individuals. We pioneered 
Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a set of principles and guidelines 
for inclusive curriculum design that is now included in the Every 
Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Higher Education Opportunity Act 
(HEA), the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st 
Century Act (Perkins V) and the National Education Technology Plan.
    CAST is a non-profit organization that uses educational technology 
coupled with our expertise in the learning sciences to ensure all 
learners can and do reach their full potential. With grants provided by 
the National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Departments of Education 
(ED) and Labor (DOL) as well as the private sector, we work to ensure 
the full power of UDL is utilized to harness technology and 
instructional practices to remove barriers to learning in digital as 
well as physical settings. UDL encourages the design of flexible 
learning environments that anticipate learner variability and provide 
alternative routes or paths to success; UDL acknowledges that 
variability across all learners is the norm rather than the exception. 
UDL provides both viable alternatives for all learners to access 
blended and online education and provides a responsive framework to 
support educators in their professional learning and application in any 
teaching environment. CAST's aim is to create a level playing field 
where all learners have equitable opportunities to succeed.

    In fiscal year 2022, CAST requests: (1) National Science 
Foundation: receive a 20 percent overall increase. (2) National Science 
Foundation--Education and Human Resources: receive a 16 percent 
increase from $1.1B to $1.287B.

    Since pioneering UDL more than 30 years ago, CAST has brought UDL 
into K-12 schools, into postsecondary settings and increasingly into 
career and technical education programs including STEM. Currently, 
through public-private partnerships, including funding provided by NSF, 
CAST is working to increase equity, diversity and inclusion of all 
students in STEM including English Learners, students with low 
literacy, and students with disabilities by: developing accessible STEM 
educational resources and making them more widely available to teachers 
and students; increasing engagement of [all] students, youth, adults in 
STEM education/STEM careers; and, ensuring STEM teachers have 
opportunities to be trained and receive a credential in the use of UDL.

    Examples of successful initiatives led by CAST and funded and/or 
co-funded by NSF include:

    STEMfolio: The Career Exploration and Readiness Environment for 
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CEE-STEM) program is 
led by CAST with funding through NSF. CEE-STEM provides an e-portfolio 
called STEMfolio, which supports non-traditional high school students 
to collect information, reflect and record information regarding STEM 
careers of interest, chronicle their STEM learning in both classroom 
and job sites related to those careers, and take actions to connect 
with STEM postsecondary and employment opportunities. For educators, 
rubrics are provided so that teachers can evaluate students' 
understanding of various careers and the quality of materials in the 
student portfolio. STEMfolio is explicitly designed to increase 
diversity and inclusion in STEM, by helping marginalized students see 
the relevance and achievability of STEM career paths. By partnering 
with YouthBuild USA in the design and piloting of the tool, CAST has 
made sure that STEMFolio supports STEM learning and career pathways for 
young adults who are members of ethnic minority groups and who are 
economically disadvantaged, many of whom have dropped out of 
traditional high school paths and may also be justice-involved or be 
young parents.
    UDL for Learning Science Notebook (SNUDLE): With NSF and ED 
funding, the SNUDLE project is designed to support elementary school 
students with learning disabilities in active science learning. Study 
results have shown the tool's support for science learning and the 
science inquiry process have statistically significant effects on 
students with disabilities science performance and their motivation for 
science learning.
    Co-Organize Your Learning (CORGI): With NSF and ED funding, this 
project is designed to enhance student engagement and learning through 
a Google application (app) designed for students and teachers to use to 
collaboratively answer questions requiring higher order reasoning.
    Multi-Gen STEM Makerspaces Project is a Makerspace initiative 
designed to increase access to STEM engagement, multi-disciplinary 
learning and opportunity by residents of low-income communities. 
Makerspaces have cropped up in schools, libraries, museums, and other 
settings, but low-income communities have not had the same access to 
these resources and their learning opportunities as have more affluent 
ones. CAST is changing that by working in partnership with an 
affordable housing complex in Stamford, CT. With NSF funding, we are 
co-designing makerspace guidelines, workshops and a Multi-Gen Makers 
Playbook that can be hosted and sustained in affordable housing 
complexes across the country to provide an engaging, accessible route 
to embed STEM learning in families' lives, allowing caregivers, 
children, young adults, and neighbors to gather and share their 
existing knowledge and skills, collaborate authentically and build on 
it, using STEM to meet personally relevant goals, to pursue a STEM 
career pathway, or to nurture a hobby or interest.
    Advanced Technological Education: Making Community College 
Technician Education More Accessible for Everyone (AccessATE). Through 
support from NSF, the project goal is to support the ATE community and 
provide ATE grantees with the tools and knowledge to increase the 
accessibility and usability of their resources and activities. CAST is 
providing technical assistance on accessibility and UDL to ATE Centers 
and recipients of ATE research grants. Partners include: Internet 
Scout, the Accessible Education Materials Center, DeafTEC, Human 
Engineering Research Laboratories and the National Center for 
Accessible Media. The AccessATE work specifically supports: Community 
college programs (e.g., Corrections, Manchester Community College, CT); 
and Marginalized rural youth (increasing access to work-based learning 
through outdoor recreation).
    Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI). This public-
private initiative to ``secure U.S. global leadership in advanced 
manufacturing'' brings CAST together with career and technical 
education schools, industry partners, and colleges to produce prototype 
career exploration modules that showcase the varied pathways into these 
new industries. The goal is to increase the number of students from 
under-represented populations and backgrounds pursuing careers in these 
nascent fields. Partners are: ARMI (industry and business), ATE 
community and career and technical education (CTE) via Federal Perkins 
funds.
    As you can see, continuing to support NSF's education portfolio is 
essential, especially as the agency seeks to leverage the UDL 
framework. Funding for this work is critical to mitigating the current 
impact of digital, in-person or hybrid learning and, instead, achieving 
the inclusive potential of flexible learning environments because the 
U.S. population of learners is predictably diverse. Federal investments 
made by NSF to support teachers and other educators, as well as 
learners of all ages must plan for this diversity. To ensure equity, it 
is vital that all learners, including K-12 students, hard-to-engage 
youth, first-time career seekers, or adults desiring new opportunities, 
have access to STEM workforce development as well as career pathways 
and programs that are designed with the variability of their learning 
in mind. Continuing to invest in educational innovations that 
incorporate effective implementation of UDL while prioritizing the need 
to include UDL as part of the infrastructure of STEM education, 
including faculty training and expanding community and individual 
awareness creates equity and makes sense.
    CAST appreciates the opportunity to provide recommendations to the 
subcommittee regarding the fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill and 
urges you to expand investments in the NSF as recommended. We look 
forward to working with you as you develop a final appropriations bill 
that supports the NSF and also recognizes UDL as a vital component to 
STEM education and career training to increase and sustain a vital 
workforce.

    [This statement was submitted by Linda G. Gerstle, CEO.]
                                 ______
                                 
    Prepared Statement of the Coastal States Organization, National 
Estuarine Research Reserve, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, IOOS 
                 Association, and Sea Grant Association
    support for fiscal year 2022 appropriations to promote climate 
 resilience and adaptation for the nation's oceans, coasts, and great 
                                 lakes
    This joint statement is submitted on behalf of the non-profit 
organizations listed above who share a deep concern for the health of 
the Nation's oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes. The members of our 
organizations work as partners to assist our coastal communities 
enhance their resilience by leveraging each other's contributions and 
strengths in an effort to ensure we maximize the use of our resources 
towards synergistic outcomes i.e., ``a whole that is greater than the 
sum of the parts.''
    America's coasts are highly desirable places to live, with growing 
populations, however, at this interface between land and water, coastal 
dynamics are constantly in flux, bringing a unique set of challenges:

  --COVID-19. The global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and 
        compounded economic and social challenges at many levels, 
        particularly for disadvantaged communities.
  --Climate Change. Coastal residents are increasingly threatened by 
        hurricanes, fires, flooding, typhoons and tsunamis, as well as 
        chronic challenges, including coastal inundation (due to rising 
        sea levels and land subsidence), erosion, and increasing storm 
        intensity.
  --Racial Equity. Historically underserved and underrepresented 
        communities, particularly Black, Indigenous and people of 
        color, are disproportionately impacted by weather, climate, and 
        disease impacts.
  --Economic Recovery. Loss of jobs and market-related impacts have 
        been acutely felt in coastal communities.

    Coastal resilience is a complex and continuously evolving issue and 
effectively addressing it requires a collaborative framework of 
Federal, State, and local partners. NOAA's partner programs--Coastal 
Zone Management, Sea Grant, National Estuarine Research Reserves, 
National Marine Sanctuaries and the Integrated Ocean Observing System--
work together to provide tailored information, planning resources, 
protected land and water areas, science and science translation that 
provide a comprehensive and integrated set of services to address 
national priorities effectively at the local, State and regional level. 
Depending on geography and the specific challenge, each of these 
partners provides a critical tool in the toolbox needed to support 
communities in addressing coastal resilience and climate adaptation:

  --Innovative science is necessary to develop new coastal resource 
        management, protection, and restoration techniques.
  --Sustained observations and accurate data collection are necessary 
        to inform innovated science.
  --Modeling and visualization tools are necessary to translate data 
        into meaningful information to inform coastal decision-making.
  --Coastal zone management policies informed by data and science are 
        necessary to ensure wise management of the coasts.
  --Policies to enforce wise coastal management, resilience planning, 
        implementation of coastal restoration and resilient 
        infrastructure projects, and timely and robust coastal hazard 
        response are necessary to translate data and science into 
        effective coastal management
  --Education and communication resources for best practices and risk 
        communication are necessary to ensure that the public has 
        reliable and actionable information regarding coastal hazards.
  --Conservation, protection, and stewardship of coastal places is 
        necessary to provide coastal protections from coastal hazards 
        and to study sentinel-sites to inform coastal adaption and 
        hazard mitigation efforts.

    If any of these tools is missing, or Federal investments do not 
adequately support each of these tools, efforts to address coastal 
climate resilience and adaptation will be hampered and less effective. 
The immense challenges facing our coastal communities and ecosystems 
are much too large for any one organization to be able to solve alone. 
Thriving and collaborative partnerships are essential to supporting the 
vision of safe and sustainable coasts. Each of the partners here play a 
critical role in advancing coastal resilience and adaptation and 
actively work collaboratively to advance these goals.
    Over 126 million residents--40 percent of the population of the 
United States--live in coastal counties occupying only 10 percent of 
the U.S. landmass. These counties employ 56 million people, resulting 
in $3.4 trillion in wages annually, and produce more than $8.3 trillion 
in goods and services. Weather- and climate-related hazards, and the 
resulting loss of life as well as environmental and economic impacts, 
have increased at an alarming rate. Since 1980, the Nation experienced 
285 weather and climate disasters where overall damages reached or 
exceeded $1 billion. The cost of these 285 events exceeds $1.875 
trillion. Just in the last 5 years (2016-2020), the Nation was 
subjected to 81 events that resulted in nearly 4,000 deaths and damages 
that exceed $600 billion.
    These weather and climate coastal hazards threaten critical coastal 
infrastructure, water and food supplies, and lives and livelihoods. 
These hazards can create both governance challenges and social 
instability and have a disproportionate impact on under resourced 
communities and communities of color. The increasing physical and 
economic damages, social justice implications, and community 
devastation is testing governments at all levels, and have shown that 
more is needed to ensure that our coastal communities are prepared for, 
have taken mitigation measures to reduce the impact of, and are able to 
respond to and recover from major episodic and chronic weather and 
climate threats. To ensure coastal communities are prepared to address 
increasing coastal hazards, a robust investment in a networked 
resilience initiative is necessary.
    Sea Level Rise in New Hampshire.--New Hampshire Seacoast 
communities experience increasingly frequent and severe storm impacts. 
This can lead to devastating flooding, as seen in three back-to-back 
Nor'easters in 2018 that knocked out power to millions in New England, 
drove erosion that carved up the coast, and floated dumpsters down main 
streets in Hampton, NH. University of New Hampshire researchers with 
support from New Hampshire Sea Grant in partnership with staff at the 
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Service (NHDES)'s Coastal 
Program spearheaded the Coastal Landowner Technical Assistance Program 
(LTAP)--to guide residents through assessing and mitigating flooding 
and erosion risk on their properties. Since launching in 2019, LTAP has 
helped over 70 participants at 25 flood- and/or erosion-prone sites. 
LTAP provides consistent technical assistance to coastal landowners to 
help understand their potential coastal flood risks and restoration 
opportunities, clarify goals for managing their property, and identify 
conceptual options that may enhance the resilience of their properties, 
neighborhoods, and community's natural resources.
    South Carolina, Delaware, North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia--
Using Data to Prepare for Hurricanes and Severe Storm Impacts.--Downed 
power lines, flooding, damaged buildings--some hurricane impacts are 
easy to spot. Others, like changes in water salinity that impact local 
fisheries, are harder to assess. Not knowing where such changes occur, 
or how long they linger, is a perennial challenge for coastal decision 
makers. To meet this need, the National Estuarine Research Reserve 
System-Wide Monitoring Program (NERRS SWMP) and the Integrated Ocean 
Observing System (IOOS) along the East Coast partnered to track 
salinity changes that resulted from Hurricanes Joaquin in 2015 and 
Matthew in 2016. Both networks collect data that can be used to track 
storm signals: NERRS data typically comes from nearshore and upstream 
areas, and IOOS data is collected further offshore. By putting these 
datasets together, you can paint a picture of a hurricane and its 
impacts in near real-time as a storm moves along the coast and into the 
watershed. The team found that, depending on the location, the changes 
in salinity persisted for a week to more than a month after the storm 
had passed. Using visualizations and data mapping, they showed the 
magnitude and duration of these changes--powerful information for 
managers of fisheries that are sensitive to salinity. By forming an 
extended network of monitoring stations collecting data over large 
geographic areas, NERRS and IOOS have the potential to accelerate 
understanding of the science around a range of storm impacts and their 
drivers.
    Hawaiian Indigenous Seafoods, COVID, and Marine Conservation.--
Food, land, and people are closely interwoven in the mission of 
Hawai`i's He`eia National Estuarine Research Reserve. In 2020, the 
Reserve, Hawai'i Sea Grant Program, Paepae o He`eia and Kako`o `Oiwi 
tied these threads together to help food service workers hit hard by 
the COVID-19 pandemic with a professional development experience based 
on Indigenous seafood. Revitalizing Indigenous food systems and 
associated food culture is a central component of coastal and marine 
conservation in the Hawaiian Islands. In this 7-week training, 
participants explored the history, ecology, cultural practices, 
cultivation, and harvesting techniques of Indigenous seafoods and 
learned how to prepare and preserve them. The food service industry was 
one of the hardest hit in Hawai?i during the pandemic, with a 58 
percent loss of full-time employees between January and April 2020. In 
addition to professional development, training organizers worked to 
support employee retention, increase public understanding of local 
foods, and strengthen partnerships between Indigenous seafood 
practitioners and local restaurants. By providing a stipend to 
participants, the program also was a short-term source of income to 
workers facing unemployment or underemployment due to the pandemic. 
Participants have become informal educators, able to introduce and 
explain native foods and their preparation techniques to the public.
    Collaboration Enhances Hazard Resilience in Washington.--The 
Washington Coastal Zone Management Program (CZM), Washington Sea Grant 
(WSG), and the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) 
are longstanding partners in addressing Federal hazard resilience 
objectives along the State's 3,000-mile marine coastline by applying 
scientific and technical innovations to coastal management policy and 
community assistance programs. The team worked with science partners 
and pilot communities to produce localized sea level rise projections 
that are relevant to existing planning and funding processes. The 
project relied on Washington Sea Grant expertise to rapidly improve the 
scientific information and tools to evaluate risk, CZM planning and 
design guidance to support local adaptation strategies and NERR 
leadership to develop a new climate resilience series in the State's 
Coastal Training Program. A redesigned website for the Washington 
Coastal Hazards Resilience Network provides improved access to related 
technical information and case histories. The net effect has been 
greater collective capacity in Washington to support local initiatives.
    Building Alaskan Community Resilience to Harmful Algal Blooms.--The 
economic, environmental and health impact of harmful algal blooms 
(HABS) is increasing around the country as new species emerge and 
existing problems grow worse. For example, in Alaska the State saw its 
first paralytic shellfish poisoning fatality in more than a decade last 
year. The impacts of HABs on shellfish threaten public health and 
Alaska's economy, which includes an estimated $12.8 billion in economic 
output related to the annual commercial and wild shellfish harvest each 
year. In response to this growing threat, the Alaska Ocean Observing 
System supported detection and early warning of harmful algal blooms 
through the deployment of sensors, development of forecasts and data 
integration and management. The Kachemak Bay National Estuarine 
Research Reserve initiated an ongoing HABs community monitoring program 
that is helping citizens, businesses, and the State--which lacks a 
shellfish monitoring program--respond to the challenge. Working 
together--the Reserve joined the Alaska Sea Grant Program and the 
Alaska Ocean Observing System to form the statewide Alaska Harmful 
Algal Bloom Network. This collaboration is helping to understand and 
track HABs and their impacts on a harvest that yields 36 million pounds 
of wild food annually. These programs work with local shellfish 
growers, Tribes, and resource managers to support phytoplankton 
monitoring, shellfish sampling, workshops, risk communication training, 
public service announcements, and weekly monitoring reports.
    Oregon Shoreline Armoring.--Oregon Sea Grant (OSG) and the Oregon 
Coastal Zone Program within the Oregon Department of Land Conservation 
and Development (DLCD) was tasked with addressing shoreline armoring 
(the practice of using physical structures to protect shorelines from 
coastal erosion) in Goal 18 of Oregon's statewide land use planning 
goals on conserving and protecting Oregon's beaches and dunes, and on 
reducing hazards to human life and property. A diverse focus group, 
including a program manager from the Oregon Department of 
Transportation, a director of a public utility, a county planner, a 
city manager, an engineering geologist, an economist and a land use 
attorney, was asked to address key topics related to shoreline 
armoring. Permits for armoring are limited to areas of development 
prior to 1977, when goal 18 was implemented. The topic is 
controversial, with OSG playing a neutral role. The group ultimately 
produced a consensus report that is used by DLCD in its management of 
the Oregon coast.
    In conclusion, we urge the subcommittee to strongly support 
programs and initiatives in the fiscal year 2022 budget for NOAA) that 
collectively help strengthen our coastal communities' resilience 
specifically:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$107.9 million in fiscal year 2022 for   $40 million for National Oceans
 the National Sea Grant College Program   and Coastal Security Fund
 and $15 million for Sea Grant
 Aquaculture..
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$36.8 million for the Integrated Ocean   $88.5 million for Coastal
 Observing Program.                       Management Grants and $50.45
                                          million for Coastal Zone Mgt
                                          and Services
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$32 million for National Estuarine       $35 million for NOAA Education
 Research Reserve System operations and   programs
 $10 million for procurement,
 acquisition & construction.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$72 million for National Marine          $6 million for the Digital
 Sanctuaries operations and $8.5          Coast Program
 million for procurement, acquisition &
 construction.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes research, education, conservation, 
and resource management programs funded by this subcommittee are 
investments in the future health, resiliency, and well-being of our 
coastal communities which will result in returns of improved quality of 
life, as well as environmental and economic outcomes many times over 
the Federal investment. Thank you for the opportunity to provide this 
joint statement.

                                 ______
                                 
 Prepared Statement of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
    The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) is pleased 
to share our views on the Department of Commerce's fiscal Year 2022 
budget and has identified the following funding needs:

          $109.0 million for Salmon Management Activities of which:

        -- $26.5 million for Mitchell Act Programs to support on-going 
            operation and maintenance of the program and produce the 
            targeted fish mitigation numbers; and
        -- $43.5 million for the Pacific Salmon Treaty in annual 
            operations for the implementation of the 2019-2028 
            Agreement.

          $70 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund to 
        support on-the-ground salmon restoration activities.
          $4 million for Columbia River Pinniped Management to support 
        implementation of the MMPA Section 120(f) permit issued by 
        NOAA-F in 2019
          $80.8 million for Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) in 
        NOAA National Ocean Service budget

        -- $69.5 million supports IOOS Regional Associations, including 
            the NANOOS (Northwest Associations of Network Ocean 
            Observing Systems) regional association, which serves 
            Oregon and Washington.
        -- $11.3 million supports IOOS National program in the 
            Navigation, Observation and Positioning budget line.

    Background: The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission 
(CRITFC) was founded in 1977 by the four Columbia River treaty Tribes: 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Confederated 
Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, Confederated Tribes 
and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and the Nez Perce Tribe. CRITFC 
provides coordination and technical assistance to the Tribes in 
regional, national and international efforts to protect and restore 
fisheries and fish habitat.
    In 1855, the United States entered into treaties with the four 
Tribes.\1\ The Tribes ceded tens of millions of acres of our homelands 
to the U.S. and the U.S. pledged to honor our ancestral rights, 
including the right to fish at all usual and accustomed places. 
Unfortunately, a long history of hydroelectric development, habitat 
destruction, and over-fishing by non-Indians brought the salmon 
resource to the edge of extinction with 12 salmon and steelhead trout 
populations in the Columbia River basin listed under the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Treaty with the Yakama Tribe, June 6, 1855, 12 Stat. 951; 
Treaty with the Tribes of Middle Oregon, June 25, 1855, 12 Stat. 963; 
Treaty with the Umatilla Tribe, June 9, 1855, 12 Stat. 945; Treaty with 
the Nez Perce Tribe, June 11, 1855, 12 Stat. 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Today, the treaties form the bedrock of fisheries management. The 
CRITFC Tribes are among the most successful fishery managers in the 
country, leading restoration efforts and working with State, Federal, 
and private entities. CRITFC's comprehensive plan, Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi Wa-
Kish-Wit, outlines principles and objectives designed to halt the 
decline of salmon, lamprey, and sturgeon populations and rebuild the 
fisheries to levels that support Tribal ceremonial, subsistence, and 
commercial harvests. To achieve these objectives, the plan emphasizes 
strategies that rely on natural production, healthy rivers, and 
collaborative efforts.
    Several key regional agreements were completed in 2008. The 
Columbia Basin Fish Accords set out parameters for management of the 
Federal Columbia River Power System for fish passage. New agreements in 
U.S. v. Oregon and the Pacific Salmon Commission established fishery 
management criteria for fisheries ranging from the Columbia River to 
Southeast Alaska. The U.S. v. Oregon agreement also contains provisions 
for hatchery management in the Columbia River basin. We have 
successfully secured other funds to support our efforts to implement 
these agreements, including funds from the Bonneville Power 
Administration (BPA), the Department of Interior, and the Southern Fund 
of the Pacific Salmon Treaty, to name just a few. Continued Federal 
funding support is needed to accomplish the management objectives 
embodied in the agreements.
Salmon Management Activities
    Columbia River (Mitchell Act) Hatchery Program: We request the 
Mitchell Act be funded at $26.5 million for fiscal Year 2022. The 
Mitchell Act enables Federal agencies to work with the Lower Columbia 
River treaty Tribes and the States of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho to 
establish and operate a series of hatcheries and passage facilities to 
improve declining fish runs in the Columbia River, ensure conservation 
of these critical natural resources, maintain economically viable 
Tribal, commercial, and sports fisheries and provide prey for Southern 
Resident killer whales. Today, the Mitchell Act funds 60 programs that 
produce approximately 40 million fish annually--nearly 30 percent of 
the total salmon and steelhead production in the Columbia Basin.
    The request for an additional $4.5 million in Mitchell act funds 
above the fiscal Year 2021 funding level ($22 million) is to ensure 
that mitigation hatcheries maintain levels of production and meet new 
operating requirements consistent with Federal obligations. There is an 
obligation to treaty Tribes and other stakeholders for mitigation and 
in order to reach mitigation responsibilities, there must be full 
hatchery production.
    Pacific Salmon Treaty Program: CRITFC supports the U.S. Section 
recommendation of $43.5 million for implementation of the revised 
Pacific Salmon Treaty (Treaty).
    The Department of Commerce principally funds programs conducted by 
the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska and the NMFS. 
However, the cost of programs conducted by these States to fulfill 
national commitments created by the Treaty continue to be substantially 
greater than the funding provided in the NMFS budget. Consequently, 
they have supplemented the Federal Treaty appropriations from other 
sources, including their general funds. Many of those funding sources 
are limited or no longer available and this has been exacerbated by the 
ongoing global pandemic.
    The $20 million increase in the fiscal Year 2020 budget and the $5 
million in the fiscal year 2021 budget were greatly appreciated, 
however it falls short of what the U.S. Section estimates is needed to 
fully implement the revised Annex Chapters to the Pacific Salmon 
Treaty.
    Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Program (PCSRF): The PCSRF program 
was developed in 2000 by the State of Alaska, the Pacific Northwest 
States, and the treaty Tribes since the renewal of the Pacific Salmon 
Treaty in 1995 to fulfill the unmet needs for the conservation and 
restoration of salmon stocks shared in the Tribal, State, and 
international fisheries. Since that time, the number of entities 
eligible for receiving funding has grown.
    PCSRF has funded 401 Yakama, Umatilla, Warm Springs, Nez Perce, and 
CRITFC Tribal salmon recovery projects. These projects have contributed 
greatly to the PNW effort to avoid extinction of Columbia Basin salmon 
species and their habitat. Accomplishments include 4,581 stream miles 
monitored; 413 miles of stream made accessible to salmon; 4,971 acres 
of riparian area treated; 11,341 acres conserved by acquisition or 
lease; and 2 million salmon fry/smolts released annually. PCSRF is 
vital to fulfill the region's goal of full salmon recovery and 
sustainability of the fishery and provide for meaningful exercise of 
the treaty-reserved rights of the lower Columbia River treaty Tribes.
    The co-managers have developed an extensive matrix of performance 
standards to address accountability and performance standards, which 
includes the use of monitoring protocols to systematically track 
current and future projects basin-wide. The PCSRF projects implemented 
are based on the best science, adequately monitored, and address the 
limiting factors affecting salmon restoration. Projects undertaken by 
the Tribes are consistent with CRITFC's salmon restoration plan and the 
programmatic areas identified by Congress.
    We recommend a funding level of $70 million for the PCSRF fiscal 
Year 2022 allocation. Long-term economic benefits can be achieved by 
making PCSRF investments on-the- ground to rebuild sustainable, 
harvestable salmon populations into the future.
    Columbia River Section 120 (f) Pinniped Removal Program: Since 
2002, sea lions in the Columbia River have significantly impacted 
endangered and threatened stocks of salmon and steelhead. Sea lions 
also prey on Pacific lamprey and mature sturgeon below Bonneville Dam, 
and on listed salmon and steelhead runs in the Willamette River and 
other tributaries to the Columbia River. Thirty-two wild salmon 
populations bound for the upper Columbia and Snake rivers are 
vulnerable to predation by sea lions immediately below Bonneville Dam. 
Other ESA-listed salmon and steelhead populations passing through the 
lower Columbia River when sea lions are feeding include lower Columbia 
River chinook, lower Columbia River steelhead, middle Columbia River 
steelhead, Snake River basin steelhead, upper Willamette River chinook, 
and upper Willamette River steelhead. All six of these are listed as 
``threatened'' under the ESA.
    Despite non-lethal and limited lethal-take measures, the number of 
salmon and steelhead consumed by sea lions below Bonneville Dam more 
than doubled between 2006 and 2015, as larger Steller sea lions 
increased in numbers and began to take a higher toll; management and 
Federal authorization was initially focused on California sea lions and 
not Steller sea lions. In response, Congress amended the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (MMPA) in December 2018 to provide State and Tribal 
resource managers greater flexibility to manage sea lions. In August, 
2020, the Yakama, Nez Perce, Umatilla, and Warm Springs along with 
Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, received a MMPA Section 120(f) permit 
from the National Marine Fisheries Service to actively manage pinniped 
populations in the lower Columbia River and its tributaries. The 
authority under this permit increases the scope and scale from earlier 
management efforts and expands lethal removal authority to also include 
Steller sea lions. This permit expands the area of potential removals 
and will increase removal activity from 3 months per year to 10 or more 
months per year. Previously, removing sea lions required a multistep 
process which included branding the animals and identifying repeat 
offenders. This new authority will streamline that process and, as a 
result, will increase the number of trappings and removals. In order to 
fully implement the Section 120(f) permit, the States and Tribes are 
requesting $4 million in Federal funds. This will supplement current 
State and Tribal contributions.
    Regional and National Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) in 
NOAA National Ocean Service budget: CRITFC supports the Commerce 
Department's recommendation of $69.5 million for IOOS Regional 
Associations, and $11.3 million in the Navigation, Observations and 
Positioning line for IOOS national program efforts.
    The Commerce Department's budget justification requests increased 
funding for the National IOOS office to create and foster natural and 
economic resilience, including the creation of a Marine Life Program in 
IOOS, and to improve data management and cyberinfrastructure (DMAC) to 
enhance Regional IOOS expertise for stakeholder engagement and co-
development of IOOS decision support products and services.
    IOOS is the Nation's premier coastal and Great Lakes observing 
program, providing information that helps protect lives, economies, and 
our environment. Fully funding IOOS consistent with the Commerce 
Department's budget request will maintain and improve critical program 
management and system development. Prior years' funding levels for IOOS 
have been insufficient to fully fund the identified regional needs for 
observation and modeling that are essential for understanding threats 
to Columbia River salmon in the estuary and ocean.
    In 2020, CRITFC assumed responsibility for the Coastal Margin 
Observation and Prediction (CMOP) program, a modeling and observation 
system covering the Columbia River estuary and coastal ocean. CMOP is 
funded as a component of NANOOS (Northwest Ocean Observing System, the 
Regional Association serving Oregon and Washington. As a Regional 
Association, NANOOS works with local experts, scientists, managers, 
industry, and stakeholders within the community to understand needs, 
identify priorities, and determine cost-effective solutions. NANOOS is 
committed to addressing national priorities in a manner that is 
tailored to the unique needs of our region and that will make a 
difference to stakeholders and constituents.
    In summary, the CRITFC and our four member Tribes have developed 
the capacity and infrastructure to become the regional leaders in 
restoring and rebuilding salmon populations of the Columbia Basin. Our 
collective efforts protect our treaty-reserved fishing rights and 
provides healthy, harvestable salmon populations for all citizens to 
enjoy. We will be pleased to provide any additional information that 
this subcommittee may require.
    Contact: Paul Ward, Director of Government Affairs, 
[email protected].

    [This statement was submitted by Jeremy Takala, Chairman.]
                                 ______
                                 
       Prepared Statement of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership
    On behalf of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership (COL), which 
represents our Nation's leading ocean science, research, and technology 
organizations from academia, industry, and the larger nonprofit sector, 
I appreciate the opportunity to submit for the record our fiscal year 
2022 funding priorities for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
    The last year brought unprecedented challenges to our Nation and 
our world, challenges whose impacts we will be feeling for years to 
come. As our Nation moves from relief to recovery to resilience, it is 
critically important the Federal Government continue to invest in 
sciences outside the medical realm, increasing support for our ocean 
science agencies and programs. As the world's leading maritime nation, 
the success of our National economy is deeply tied to that of the 
maritime, or ``blue'' economy, and a resilient national recovery must 
include a significant revitalization of the blue economy. The blue 
economy has weathered previous recessions better than the overall 
economy; by 2016, employment had increased by 14.5 percent compared to 
pre-recession levels (2007), dwarfing the 4.8 percent employment growth 
of the National economy. Projections also show the growth of the blue 
economy is likely to outpace that of the global economy. While a strong 
pillar of our economy, the blue economy is not exempt from the negative 
impacts of COVID, and it's clear that its revitalization will be 
critical to ensuring our post-COVID economic prosperity.
    Investing in ocean science and technology, in addition to growing 
the blue economy, will allow us to understand our changing ocean and 
climate, enable science-based decision making on topics ranging from 
resource management to offshore wind, protect our coastal communities, 
enable resilience, and strengthen our National security. NOAA, NSF, and 
NASA each play important roles in understanding our Earth system--
including the ocean, in educating our Nation's citizens to create a 
more environmental- and ocean-literate society; in growing a diverse 
and equitable Federal workforce; and much more. Additionally, these 
agencies are already heavily invested in climate research, and it is 
necessary to support and grow these existing programs, as well as the 
opportunity to grow coordination and collaboration across related issue 
areas.
    I appreciate and support the administration's widespread increases 
to ocean agencies and programs in the president's budget request. 
However, I was disappointed in the flat funding ($3 million) proposed 
for the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP). Given the 
current energy surrounding the program, due in part to its 
reauthorization in fiscal year 2021, and the increasingly important 
role of cross-sectoral partnerships, a more robust investment would 
ensure the rapid and flexible creation of multisector partnerships to 
solve complex ocean problems and to advance the economic, 
environmental, and national security interests of the United States. 
Increased investment would also signal to non-Federal partners the 
government's acknowledgement of the importance of their role and the 
potential for partnerships to advance our ocean enterprise. To fully 
utilize NOPP and facilitate the success of projects promoting national 
goals related to ocean knowledge, I respectfully request the 
subcommittee provide at least $20 million in NOPP funding--$10 million 
to NOAA and $10 million to NASA, and I also encourage strong support of 
the program through NSF. Of the $10 million to NOAA, at least $1 
million should be directed to the Ocean Research Advisory Panel (ORAP), 
NOPP's statutory Federal Advisory Committee Act body, as NOAA is now 
statutorily required through the fiscal year 2021 reauthorization to 
provide administrative and technical support.
            national oceanic and atmospheric administration

 I respectfully request at least $7.2 billion for NOAA (3 percent more 
                           than the request).

    To make the best, proactive management decisions possible, it is 
necessary that we first understand our ocean. So much of our ocean 
remains unknown-more than 80 percent is unexplored, unmapped, or 
unobserved. We must grow our Nation's ability to both observe and to 
explore the ocean. I respectfully request at least:

  --$100 million for the Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (130 
        percent more than the request), the only Federal organization 
        dedicated to ocean exploration. Due to the cooperative nature 
        of the enterprise, I also request report language addressing 
        the importance of collaboration and coordination among Federal 
        and State agencies, academic institutions, industry, Indigenous 
        communities, philanthropy and other oceanographic partners to 
        maximize return on investment and advance shared data, science 
        and public engagement, and innovative technology.
  --$69.5 million for the U.S Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) 
        regional system (equal to the request), which includes at least 
        $40.2 million for the National network of regional coastal 
        observing systems; $2.5 million to install high-frequency radar 
        systems to close gaps in the surface current mapping system, 
        $3.5 million to support underwater gliders; $2.5 million to 
        streamline observations, coastal resiliency, and coastal 
        climate observations; $3.5 million to expand pilot projects for 
        a National Harmful Algal Bloom Observing Network; and $4.3 
        million for ocean technology and modeling innovation. 
        Additionally, I request at least $7.3 million for the Program 
        Office. I also support language in the request around the 
        establishment of a Marine Life Program and the $15 million in 
        external grant funding to expand marine life observations 
        (which should include activities around eDNA and 'omics), 
        support analysis, and forecast implications of climate change. 
        Finally, I support authorizing language around maintaining and 
        expanding the Ocean Noise Reference Station Network (in 
        coordination with IOOS) and request $1.5 million for this work.
  --$66.8 million for the Sustained Ocean Observations and Monitoring 
        Program (SOOM) (equal to the request) to maintain observations 
        to better understand and respond to changing ocean conditions. 
        SOOM, whose funding has remained essentially flat since fiscal 
        year 2005, funds an array of monitoring capabilities necessary 
        to understand the long-term impacts of the changing climate; to 
        enhance hurricane forecasting, tsunami warning systems, and 
        storm surge monitoring; to improve weather forecasting; to 
        assess and plan for environmental variability and change; and 
        to sustainably manage marine ecosystems.
  --$10 million for Uncrewed Systems (150 percent more than the 
        request) within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 
        to advance research and evalution for operational readiness, 
        including testing and evaluation in partnership with academia, 
        industry, and other non-governmental organizations in support 
        of the CENOTE Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-394). I respectfully 
        request at least half the funding be for uncrewed maritime 
        systems and that, to the extent practicable, funds be 
        competitively awarded in open competition.

    NOPP is not the only partnership program that brings great benefit 
to the ocean science community. Many programs at NOAA advance 
cooperation and coordination between Federal and non-Federal partners 
and provide extramural funding opportunities. I respectfully request at 
least:

  --$42 million for the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science 
        Competitive Research Program (NCCOS CRP) (equal to the 
        request), which has supported coastal and Great Lakes States 
        and U.S. territories with groundbreaking and innovative 
        research over the last 30 years. The $68.5 million has funded 
        113 projects around a variety of topics, including harmful 
        algal blooms (HABs), hypoxia, coastal change, and regional 
        ecosystems. However, the program has received many more 
        proposals than it has funded, with more than $441 million 
        requested. Continuing to grow this account is necessary to 
        support the increasing demand for these funds to address HABs 
        and hypoxia challenges.
  --$115.7 million for the National Sea Grant College Program (Sea 
        Grant) (equal to the request) and $15 million for Sea Grant 
        (Marine) Aquaculture (15 percent above the request). For 
        decades, Sea Grant has supported coastal and Great Lakes 
        communities, improving community and economic resiliency, 
        ensuring healthy coastal ecosystems, and advancing 
        environmental literacy and workforce education.

    The importance of STEM education and extensions programs cannot be 
overstated. Expanding and growing our ocean-STEM pipeline to reach 
underserved and underrepresented communities is an imperative, as the 
ocean sciences severely lack diversity. This will also benefit the 
ocean-STEM pipeline and associated workforce, whose stability and 
diversity are at risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lingering 
inequities. I respectfully request at least:

  --$50 million for NOAA's Office of Education (22 percent more than 
        the request), including a $20 million increase for NOAA's Bay-
        Watershed Education and Training and Environmental Literacy 
        Program grants (ELP). Sustained and adequate funding for these 
        programs advances NOAA's mission, grows the STEM workforce, and 
        strengthens our economy. As the longest-standing and most 
        comprehensive national grants program with a focus on 
        environmental literacy, ELP grants have and will continue to 
        keep our coastal communities--and our Nation as a whole--safe, 
        secure, and prosperous.
                      national science foundation

I respectfully request at least $10.2 billion for the agency (equal to 
                             the request).

    I thank the subcommittee for providing $127 million in fiscal year 
2019 to finish out the 3-year funding profile to complete construction 
of all three Regional Class Research Vessels (RCRVs). With more modern 
technology and abilities than previous generations, these long-awaited 
RCRVs will provide even more access to the marine realm, and I 
respectfully request the subcommittee maintain full operational and 
maintenance support for these critical research vessels, including 
funding needs related to COVID-19 delays and impacts. I appreciate the 
committee's efforts to bring the RCRVs online and believe now is the 
time to initiate conversations focused on ensuring continued access to 
Global Class Research Vessels in the future.
    NSF's Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) supports basic research 
from the ocean to the poles to the atmosphere. GEO is only growing in 
relevance to NSF's mission, particularly as we gain a better 
understanding of the impacts of a changing climate on everything from 
the ocean and human health to its role as an essential element of our 
National security. This research will help our Nation meet the 
challenges of today, particularly around the changing climate, from 
understanding, adapting to, and mitigating the impacts of change to 
predicting environmental hazards and extreme events. I respectfully 
urge strong support for GEO to help us understand our global 
environment.
    STEM education at NSF plays a vital role in securing our National, 
homeland, economic, energy, food, and water securities. Broadening the 
backgrounds of scientists to represent all people across our Nation, 
better reflecting our diversity of gender, race, class, and 
perspective, is critical for all STEM fields. A diverse, STEM-literate 
workforce strengthens our Nation's economy and is vital to maintaining 
the Nation's leadership in science and technology innovation. It is 
imperative to reinforce the importance of funding Federal programs that 
empower underrepresented groups to become the next generation of ocean-
STEM leaders at every educational and technical level. The NSF INCLUDES 
(Inclusion across the Nation of Communities and Learners of 
Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science) program aims 
to increase access to and participation in STEM learning by demographic 
groups with historically low participation in these fields. Programs 
such as this--that support a more diversified academic core in the 
science and technology workforce--are key to ensuring the inclusion of 
underrepresented groups and in growing our blue economy, and I 
respectfully urge strong support for NSF INCLUDES.
    U.S. investment in scientific ocean drilling over the past 55 years 
has been vital to the health and sustainability of our Nation and our 
planet. Scientific ocean drilling has been and will continue to be a 
foundational platform to make advances of acute societal relevance and 
resilience. For example, it has allowed us to grow our understanding of 
past climate change and sea level rise and is critical to our 
understanding of future climate risk and the assessment of possible 
adaptation and remediation scenarios. Additionally, it has been and 
will continue to provide the critical insights and state-of-the-art 
monitoring data that will enable more reliable forecasts and 
assessments related to understanding the tectonic processes that result 
in mega-earthquakes and tsunami, which cause some of our planet's 
deadliest and most costly natural disasters, impacting highly 
vulnerable communities. Scientific ocean drilling also provides an 
opportunity to grow our STEM leadership and to diversify our workforce 
and represents one of this Nation's most successful, productive, and 
impactful investments advancing national STEM education and basic 
research. Maintaining U.S. leadership in scientific ocean drilling--
through beginning to take actions necessary to build and support 
operations of a new drill ship to carry the International Ocean 
Discovery Program beyond the 2024 horizon that it is scheduled to end--
is of the utmost importance.
             national aeronautics and space administration
    Understanding our home planet is central to NASA's mandate, and 
space provides a unique perspective from which to understand Earth on a 
planetary scale. To grow our understanding of Earth--and to better 
prioritize understanding the changing climate--I respectfully request 
at least $9 billion for the Science Mission Directorate (14 percent 
more than the request) and at least $2.5 billion for NASA Earth Science 
(9 percent more than the request). This should include support for the 
agency's Earth-facing missions, specifically the Plankton, Aerosol, 
Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission and the Climate Absolute Radiance 
and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) Pathfinder instrument. Both were 
recommendations from the 2007 Earth Science decadal survey.
    Education programs bringing students into the STEM pipeline are 
critically important and need to increase their outreach to attract and 
retain underserved and underrepresented students in STEM fields. I 
request at least $147 million for the Office of STEM Engagement (equal 
to the request).
    By maintaining and growing these funding levels across all three 
agencies, the committee would also be supporting our Nation's 
leadership on recently announced U.S.-led initiatives that are part of 
the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

    [This statement was submitted by Dr. Alan P Leonardi, President and 
CEO.]
                                 ______
                                 
  Prepared Statement of the Consortium of Social Science Associations
     support of fiscal year 2022 funding for the national science 
foundation, census bureau, national institute of justice, and bureau of 
                           justice statistics
    On behalf of the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA), 
I offer this written testimony for inclusion in the official committee 
record. For fiscal year 2022, COSSA urges the Committee to appropriate:

  --$10.2 billion for the National Science Foundation
  --$2 billion for the Census Bureau
  --$42 million for the National Institute of Justice
  --$50 million for the Bureau of Justice Statistics

    First, allow me to thank the Committee for its long-standing, 
bipartisan support for scientific research. Strong, sustained funding 
for all U.S. science agencies is essential if we are to make progress 
toward improving the health and economic competitiveness of the Nation. 
The need for increased investment in science has become even more 
pronounced in light of the disruptions caused over the past year by the 
COVID-19 pandemic.
    COSSA serves as a united voice for a broad, diverse network of 
organizations, institutions, communities, and stakeholders who care 
about a successful and vibrant social and behavioral science research 
enterprise. We represent the collective interests of all STEM 
disciplines engaged in the rigorous study of why and how humans behave 
as they do as individuals, groups and within institutions, 
organizations, and society.
    Social and behavioral science research is supported across the 
Federal Government, including at the National Science Foundation and 
the Department of Justice. Further, Federal statistics produced by the 
Census Bureau and other Federal statistical agencies provide data 
needed to conduct social science research to inform policy decisions. 
Taken together, Federal social and behavioral science and statistical 
data help provide answers to complex, human-centered questions.
    In short, knowledge derived from social and behavioral science 
research has made our population healthier, our democracy fairer, our 
Nation safer, and our economy stronger, and not just in times of 
crisis. Without these sciences, policymaking on major national and 
global issues would not be based on evidence, and billions of dollars 
would be wasted.
                      national science foundation
    COSSA joins the broader scientific community in support of $10.2 
billion for the National Science Foundation (NSF) in fiscal year 2022. 
The U.S. scientific enterprise, including NSF, requires stability, 
predictability, and sustainable funding growth, as well as Federal 
policies that are patient and can tolerate a reasonable amount of risk 
in order to achieve the greatest payoff.
Supporting All of STEM
    NSF is the only U.S. Federal agency tasked with supporting basic 
research across all fields of science. NSF supports about a quarter of 
all federally funded basic scientific research conducted at colleges 
and universities nationwide and serves as the largest single funder of 
university-based basic social and behavioral science research. Though 
NSF's Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorate (SBE)--one 
of seven research directorates at NSF--represents less than five 
percent of the entire NSF research budget, it supports around two-
thirds of total Federal funding for academic basic research in the 
social and behavioral sciences (excluding psychology). As the primary 
funding source for the majority of our disciplines, stagnant or reduced 
funding for SBE has an outsized impact on the social and behavioral 
science community. As increased investment is made in NSF, we are 
hopeful the social, behavioral and economic sciences will see 
commensurate investments.
    Further, while by far the smallest of the research directorates, 
SBE's impact is huge. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering 
and Medicine stated in its 2017 consensus report, The Value of Social, 
Behavioral, and Economic Sciences to National Priorities,\1\ that 
``nearly every major challenge the United States faces-from alleviating 
unemployment to protecting itself from terrorism-requires understanding 
the causes and consequences of people's behavior. Even societal 
challenges that at first glance appear to be issues only of medicine or 
engineering or computer science have social and behavioral 
components.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ https://www.nap.edu/catalog/24790/the-value-of-social-
behavioral-and-economic-sciences-to-national-priorities
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Keeping NSF Competitive
    Authorizing proposals for NSF have surfaced in the last year, 
particularly proposals to create new directorates at the agency 
focusing on technology transfer and convergence research. The bills 
would authorize significant funding increases to achieve their goals, 
which is greatly appreciated and needed. COSSA hopes that any effort to 
embolden NSF to continue exploring the frontiers of science will be met 
with a commitment to maintaining the agency's defining characteristic, 
which is to be the incubator for basic scientific discovery across all 
areas of science. NSF's investigator-initiated, discovery-driven 
identity is what makes it special and has kept the American science 
enterprise at the leading edge of innovation. We look forward to 
working with the authorizing committees to develop a roadmap for NSF 
that keeps it at the upper echelon of innovation and urge appropriators 
to stay mindful of NSF's longstanding, unique role as part of the U.S. 
scientific enterprise.
               census bureau, u.s. department of commerce
    COSSA requests that the Committee appropriate $2 billion for the 
Census Bureau in fiscal year 2022. Social scientists across the country 
rely on the Census Bureau for accurate, timely, objective, and relevant 
data to better understand the U.S. population and to produce findings 
that help us shape policies that better serve the American people.
    After a decade in which the Census Bureau received inconsistent and 
delayed funding, had to curtail essential research and testing of 
operations, and experienced significant pandemic-related disruptions, 
investments are needed to not only help the agency recover, but to also 
help it improve the collection and delivery of official statistics for 
the Nation. A modest increase in funding in fiscal year 2022 could help 
the Census Bureau recover from years of postponed enhancements, sustain 
and strengthen its mission, and pursue numerous necessary operational 
innovations. In March 2021, GAO kept the Census on its list of ``High 
Risk'' government operations, in part due to these factors.
    These efforts are intended to provide the public and private 
sectors with more robust, granular and timely data for decision-making. 
COSSA supports efforts in Congress to provide the Bureau with greater 
authority for multi-year funding, beginning in fiscal year 2022, to 
strengthen the innovations necessary to consolidate and integrate 
legacy surveys and systems into a new, more nimble data collection and 
dissemination model.
    In addition, COSSA calls on Congress to fully fund the American 
Community Survey (ACS) and maintain its status as a mandatory Federal 
survey. The ACS is the only source of comparable, consistent, timely, 
and high-quality demographic and socio-economic data for all 
communities in the U.S. As a component of the Decennial Census, the ACS 
is a ``mandatory'' national survey. The disruptions to the 2020 Census 
caused by the pandemic and natural disasters will likely have an impact 
on the quality of census data at smaller geographic levels, particular 
in rural areas. The Census Bureau needs additional funds to expand the 
ACS sample size (which has not been expanded since 2011) to produce 
more timely, granular data for a significant number of geographies and 
sub-populations than currently achievable. This would provide 
communities more timely data to fill in any gaps in the 2020 results.
       national institute of justice, u.s. department of justice
    COSSA requests that the Committee appropriate at least $42 million 
for the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) within the U.S. Department 
of Justice's (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP). NIJ serves as the 
research arm of the Department of Justice, filling an important role in 
helping the agency to understand and implement science-based strategies 
for crime prevention and control. It supports rigorous social science 
research that can be disseminated to criminal justice professionals to 
keep communities safe.
    Despite our growing need for objective, science-backed solutions, 
over the past decade, NIJ's purchasing power has dropped by 36 percent 
due to the combined effect of declining appropriations and inflation. 
Compounding this pressure are Congressionally-mandated directives for 
specific activities, nearly always without the inclusion of additional 
funding to the agency's bottom line. Nearly 40 percent of NIJ's fiscal 
year 2021 appropriation is directed to Congressionally requested 
research, not including a number of additional projects requested 
without allocated funding.
        bureau of justice statistics, u.s. department of justice
    COSSA urges the Committee to appropriate at least $50 million for 
the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) within OJP. As the Department's 
principal statistical agency, the Bureau of Justice Statistics produces 
high-quality data on all aspects of the United States criminal justice 
system, including corrections, courts, crime type, law enforcement 
personnel and expenditures, Federal processing of criminal cases, 
Indian country justice statistics, and victims of crime.
    Despite a growing demand from policymakers, researchers, and other 
stakeholders for high-quality criminal justice data across an expanding 
array of variables, BJS has also faced significant budgetary challenges 
over the past decade. The agency's purchasing power has dropped by more 
than 37 percent since fiscal year 2011 due to the combined effect of 
declining appropriations and inflation. This decline in funding has a 
direct impact on BJS's ability to release its data in a timely manner. 
Over the past several years, the release of numerous reports and 
datasets have been delayed--in some cases by several years. In 
addition, annually collected data has been combined into 2-year 
reports, further increasing the lag between collection and public 
release. Data users' frustrations have been exacerbated by the fact 
that BJS's overall dissemination practices are antiquated and out of 
step with current best practices for statistical agencies. The agency's 
website has not had a significant update since at least 2011 and lags 
its peer statistical agencies in terms of usability, accessibility, and 
visualizations. BJS needs additional investment to ensure it has the 
resources to produce and release data in a timely manner, as well as to 
enhance its capacity to disseminate the invaluable data to stakeholders 
who rely on it.
    Thank you for the opportunity to offer this statement. Please do 
not hesitate to contact me should you require additional information.

    [This statement was submitted by Wendy A. Naus, Executive 
Director.]
                                 ______
                                 
Prepared Statement of the Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardian ad 
                                 Litem
    Chairman Leahy, Chair Shaheen, Vice Chairman Shelby, Ranking Member 
Moran, and Members of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related 
Agencies subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to submit remarks 
on the Department of Justice (DOJ) fiscal year 2022 budget including 
funding of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program through 
the Office of Justice Programs' State and Local Law Enforcement 
Assistance Account at the fiscal year 2022 President's budget request 
level of $14 million.
    CASA/GAL advocacy is a well-established model strongly associated 
with improved long-term outcomes for child victims, for which the need 
continues to be critical. With Congressional support at the requested 
level, the CASA/GAL network in 49 States and the District of Columbia 
will enhance and advance specialized training, tools, and resources to 
continue delivering vital one-on-one best-interest advocacy that 
addresses the complex and ever-evolving needs of traumatized children 
who have been victimized by one or more primary caregivers.
    Emerging issues such as the commercial sexual exploitation of 
children and our Nation's growing opioid epidemic--for which children 
account for an increasing number of victims--both necessitate a greater 
specialization within one-on-one advocacy, with a keen and deliberate 
focus on progressing toward the call within the Victims of Child Abuse 
Act to serve every child victim. As we enrich CASA/GAL advocacy to 
encompass evolving direct service needs, our National network will 
further strengthen its capacity to serve over 276,000 child victims of 
abuse and neglect.
    Child victimization and maltreatment by primary caregivers is 
distressingly on the rise, and with it, so too rises the impact on the 
child and society. Traumatized victims of child abuse and neglect face 
significant and multiple risk factors, most notably, juvenile 
delinquency, adult criminality, and poor educational performance that 
affects future employment and stability. These issues result in a hefty 
impact on Federal, State and local spending--at least one-quarter of 
the DOJ budget is dedicated to our Nation's prison system, and at the 
same time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
estimates the economic and social costs of child abuse and neglect to 
total $124 billion nationwide per annum. Local CASA/GAL programs offer 
an effective service to child victims of abuse and neglect that 
improves outcomes, increases the efficient functioning of our court 
systems, and saves hundreds of millions in Federal and State taxpayer 
dollars annually in the process.
    CASA/GAL programs are, at the heart of their operation, a highly 
effective leveraging of community-based resources to provide dedicated 
and sustained one-on-one advocacy for child victims and advise the 
courts of the child's best interests and needs throughout abuse and 
neglect proceedings. Research has shown that the presence of a caring, 
consistent adult in the life of a child victim is associated with 
improved long-term outcomes. These efforts, which focus on helping the 
child find a safe, permanent home where they can both heal and thrive, 
require thorough background screening, specialized training, and 
resources to promote a nationwide system of programs that adhere to and 
assure the highest quality of services and care for the child victim.
    CASA Program funds through DOJ achieve and uphold national standard 
setting, assessment, accountability, and evaluation across nearly 950 
local, State, and Tribal programs to promote improved child outcomes 
and effective stewardship of public investments in victim advocacy. 
Evidence-based practices, intensive technical assistance, direct 
program guidance and partnerships, and national program standards and 
quality assurance processes all lie at the foundation of effective 
CASA/GAL program service delivery in communities across the Nation.
    Given the nature of the CASA/GAL advocates' intensive work with 
child victims of abuse and neglect, standards of rigorous screening, 
training, supervision, and service are implemented nationwide, with 
congressional support, to ensure consistent quality for victims who 
directly benefit from having their needs and rights championed in the 
courtroom and in the community. Comprehensive pre-service, in-service, 
and issue-focused training curricula--including training in 
disproportionality, cultural competency, and working with older youth--
ensures a cutting edge approach to victim services centered on the 
child thriving well into the future as a member of the community. 
Federal support is foundational to the solid and high-quality 
functioning of a national child advocacy network for victims of abuse 
and neglect.
    As the needs of child victims of abuse and neglect grow and change, 
so must the specialization of one-on-one advocacy and services by CASA/
GAL programs. Since the Victims of Child Abuse Act was passed, the 
landscape of victims' services for children has evolved significantly. 
Researchers and practitioners know more now than ever about trauma, and 
its associated impacts on child development, as well as the significant 
and multiple risk factors and issues faced by abused and neglected 
children such as mental health/post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 
commercial sex trafficking, overmedication, and the growing effects of 
substance abuse and the opioid epidemic in particular. Further, we know 
that youth of color in particular face very significant challenges--in 
addition to victimization--on their path to a thriving adulthood. CASA/
GAL advocates bring one-on-one attention and a dedicated focus to each 
of the issues that the child victim faces, but additional resources are 
needed to enhance and build their knowledge base as part of a 
continuous advocacy development process.
    These complex issues warrant adaptive and responsive training, 
technical assistance, and resources, while continuing on a trajectory 
of maintaining quality care and services within current CASA/GAL 
caseloads and also simultaneously building the capacity to take on 
additional cases when appointed by the court. National CASA/GAL 
Association is committed to continuous improvement of training, 
technical assistance, and resource delivery to strengthen and support 
local CASA/GAL programs and State organizations to help advocates 
remain at the forefront of emerging child welfare issues.
    Federal support at the requested level is instrumental to bridging 
advocacy training and best practice tools into multiple and new 
emerging issue areas including child sex trafficking, substance abuse 
and opioid-overuse, and the overmedication of child victims, for 
example. Advocates need to be well versed in warning signs for these 
issues, as well as the available services, resources, and coordination 
of community and court efforts in order to best address the child 
victim's case.
    Fiscal year 2022 funding of $14 million will be targeted to 
fortifying resources and training generally for CASA/GAL programs, and 
in key focus areas including commercial sexual exploitation, children 
impacted by substance abuse disorders, children of incarcerated parents 
and young people aging out of foster care, based upon existing best 
practices and models. In addition, this Federal funding will be used to 
target resources to serve over 276,000 child victims of abuse and 
neglect, and continue efforts toward the development of State CASA/GAL 
organizations in the States currently without this resource that 
enhances support of program service delivery in local communities. 
Additional projects include sustaining development of training on best 
practices in addressing the needs of children impacted by the opioid 
epidemic and other forms of substance abuse, child sex trafficking, 
unaccompanied children and addressing racial disproportionality in 
child welfare and the need for racially and culturally sensitive 
recruitment and matching of CASA/GAL advocates.
    According to the most recent government data available, the number 
of child maltreatment cases has increased to over 700,000 per annum. 
This remains a significant population with equally significant and 
complex issues and risk factors. Without the benefit of a specially 
trained CASA/GAL advocate that is able to devote dedicated time and 
attention to the details of the case, the child victim faces a complex 
and cumbersome court process and foster care system that is 
overwhelmed, overburdened, and under-resourced. Our ability as a 
national network to serve every child victim of abuse and neglect is 
directly tied to strengthening and expanding a foundational and 
interwoven program of advocate training, technical assistance, 
standards, tools, and resources that are funded with DOJ support.
    While children who are the victims of maltreatment have suffered 
deep layers of trauma, these experiences do not have to be their only 
life story. Juvenile detention and adult incarceration do not have to 
be the path to their future. Substance abuse, PTSD, homelessness, and 
joblessness do not have to be the basis of their experiences. We can 
change their trajectory, together, with congressional support.
    Caring, dedicated, and extensively trained CASA/GAL advocates bring 
about positive changes in the lives of child victims. Full funding is 
needed to continue expanding the advocate pipeline, enhance the 
training, resources, and services provided to and through CASA/GAL 
programs, and strengthen outcomes for future members of our Nation's 
workforce.
    We urge the subcommittee to support the President's fiscal year 
2022 budget request for the Court Appointed Special Advocates Program 
to address the overwhelming need for dedicated advocacy on behalf of 
child victims of abuse and neglect. Thank you for your consideration.

    [This statement was submitted by Tara L. Perry, Chief Executive 
Officer.]
                                 ______
                                 
                  Prepared Statement of CRS Remembered
                          Nos Quoque Servivit
Dear Representative De Lauro and Senator Shaheen:

    CRS Remembered, a private membership organization of retired and 
former employees of the Community Relations Service (CRS)of the U.S. 
Department of Justice, respectfully urges the subcommittee on Commerce, 
Justice, Science, and Related Agencies to provide CRS with a budget of 
not less than $50-million.for its community peace building efforts.
    As you know CRS is the only Federal agency that is specifically 
dedicated to working with community groups and local government 
agencies to prevent, de-escalate, and resolve community-wide conflicts 
based on race, color, and national origin. It was established by 
Congress at a time in 1964 when our country was experiencing increasing 
levels of divisive racial tensions . In this regard at the signing of 
the historic 1964 Civil Right Act President Lyndon Johnson said, 
``come, let us reason together.'' Clearly, now is the time for Congress 
to step up again to support the ideals of a democratic society that 
comes together to work out its racial. Ethnic and other social 
differences thru dialogue at a peace table instead of thru 
confrontation and violence at the street level.
    As the U.S. again hits historic levels of polarization and 
division, America needs CRS (the nation's peacemaker) to effectively 
help civic non-governmental organizations and local government agencies 
resolve local conflicts arising out of differences based on race color, 
national origin and other underlying personal human attributes. 
Unfortunately, CRS is now down to just 16 peacemaking mediators for the 
entire number of States and territories under its jurisdiction. 
President Biden's fiscal year 2022 budget requests $20-million for CRS, 
a funding level is simply not enough to make a dent in the enormous 
problem of endemic intracommunity divisiveness that plagues our Nation 
today.
    In closing we again urge you to invest in America's domestic 
peacebuilding capacity by providing at least $50-million to CRS to also 
include a funding a grants program to support domestic locally-based, 
non-profit peace making groups.

    [This statement was submitted by Miguel J. Hernandez on behalf of 
CRS Remembered.]
                                 ______
                                 
               Prepared Statement of Cynthia Mousseau, JD
 On Behalf of New England Innocence Project and the National Innocence 
                                Network
innocence and forensic science programs at the departments of justice & 
                                commerce
    My name is Cynthia Mousseau and I serve as a Staff Attorney at the 
New England Innocence Project (NEIP). On behalf of NEIP and as a member 
of the Innocence Network, a coalition of approximately 60 local 
innocence organizations working to exonerate the innocent and prevent 
wrongful convictions nationwide, thank you for the subcommittee's 
critical funding increases and strong support for innocence and 
forensic science programs in fiscal year 2021. Thank you also for 
allowing me to submit written testimony for the record as you consider 
appropriations requests for fiscal year 2022. I urge you to please 
increase funding for the following programs at the Bureau of Justice 
Assistance at the Department of Justice and at the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology at the Department of Commerce, including:

  --$15 million for the Wrongful Conviction Review Program at the 
        Department of Justice's (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance 
        (BJA) (the Wrongful Conviction Review Program is part of the 
        Capital Litigation Improvement Program);
  --$15 million for the Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing 
        Program at DOJ/BJA
  --$25 million for the Department of Commerce's National Institute of 
        Standards and Technology (NIST) to support and conduct 
        foundational forensic science research, including $2 million 
        for technical merit evaluations.

    These innocence and forensic science programs increase the fairness 
and accuracy of the criminal legal system; address arbitrary racial 
disparities and inequities; provide the strongest possible forensic 
science tools to legal system stakeholders; and generate greater public 
safety for our Nation.

    Data from the National Registry of Exonerations show that the 
number of exonerations has significantly increased since Federal 
innocence programs--the Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing and 
Wrongful Convictions Review programs--began receiving funding in 2008 
and 2009, respectively. Between 2009 and 2016, the total number of 
exonerations increased by 82 percent. This dramatic increase is in part 
a result of the decision to invest in these programs.
    2019 set the record for the highest number of years individuals 
lost to being wrongfully convicted--an average of 13.3 years per 
exoneree. More than 25,000 life years have been lost to wrongful 
incarceration. The National Registry of Exonerations currently lists 
more than 2,800 exonerations since 1989. Half of the people exonerated 
are Black, and innocent Black people spend approximately 45 percent 
longer wrongfully imprisoned than innocent white people. This racial 
disparity holds true across different types of convictions. Investing 
in innocence and forensic science progams helps to increase the 
accuracy, equity, and integrity of the criminal legal system.
    The New England Innocence Project (NEIP), headquarted in 
Massachussetts, is the only innocence organization serving Vermont, 
Maine, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Federal grant funds help expand 
its reach into States that have insufficient resources to meet their 
needs. With the support of Federal funds, NEIP has provided direct 
representation and/or support that has resulted in 16 exonerations over 
the past 17 years. 5 recently released exonerees collectively spent 160 
years in prison. Additionally, NEIP has: (1) organized a work group 
with the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, the Massachusetts public 
defender agency's innocence program, and the Massachusetts State Police 
Crime Lab to establish a pilot program to identify wrongful convictions 
caused by erroneous microscopic hair analysis; (2) conducted numerous 
trainings throughout New England for prosecutors, defense attorneys, 
law enforcement, judges, and the public to raise awareness and prevent 
causes of wrongful conviction, including eyewitness misidentification, 
false confessions, flawed forensic science, and racial bias; and (3) 
provided technical assistance for the proper implementation of 
conviction integrity units.
    Cases without DNA evidence are difficult and often take many years 
to complete. It is a long, arduous, and resource intensive process to 
prove an individual's innocence after he/she has been wrongfully 
convicted. An average case at NEIP requires years of work and thousands 
of dollars to adequately investigate and litigate. During this very 
long time, the innocent person is languishing behind bars.
    Freeing innocent individuals and preventing wrongful convictions 
through reform also greatly benefits public safety. Every time DNA 
identifies a wrongful conviction, it enables the possible 
identification of the person who actually committed the crime. Such 
true perpetrators have been identified in more than half of the DNA 
exoneration cases. Unfortunately, many of these individuals went on to 
commit additional crimes while an innocent person was convicted and 
incarcerated in their place.
    To date 375 individuals in the United States have been exonerated 
through DNA testing, including 21 who served time on death row. 
However, the value of Federal innocence and forensic science programs 
is not to just these exonerated individuals. It is important to fund 
these critical programs because reforms and procedures that help to 
prevent wrongful convictions also enhance the accuracy of criminal 
convictions and result in a fairer and more accountable system for 
victims of crime.
                   wrongful conviction review program
    We know that wrongful convictions occur in cases where DNA evidence 
may be insufficient or unavailable to prove innocence. The National 
Registry of Exonerations currently lists more than 2,800 exonerations 
since 1989, the vast majority of which did not have the presence or 
benefit of testable DNA. The Wrongful Conviction Review Program 
provides critical support to ensure that experts are available to 
navigate the complex landscape of post-conviction litigation, as well 
as oversee the thousands of volunteer hours local innocence 
organizations leverage to help investigate these complex non-DNA cases 
and support the significant legal work they require. The Wrongful 
Conviction Review Program has contributed to approximately 37 
exonerations over the past 4 years.
    For example, in 2019, Darrell Jones, who was wrongfully convicted 
of murder and served 32 years, was freed as a result of the work of the 
Committee for Public Counsel Services Innocence Program. The Wrongful 
Conviction Review Program provided funding that enabled his team to 
hire an investigator who identified exculpatory witnesses as well as 
two forensic experts. In 2020, Arturo Jimenez, who was wrongfully 
convicted of murder and served 25 years, was freed because the Wrongful 
Conviction Review program funded an investigator who uncovered key 
evidence that helped the Northern California Innocence Project secure 
his exoneration.
    The Wrongful Conviction Review Program provides funding to local 
innocence organizations so that they may provide this type of expert, 
high quality, and efficient representation for innocent individuals. 
The program's goals also are to help alleviate burdens placed on the 
criminal legal system through costly and prolonged post-conviction 
litigation and to identify, when possible, the person who actually 
committed the crime.
    In recent years, approximately 10-15 percent of local innocence 
organizations received Wrongful Conviction Review funding. To continue 
and expand this important work, I urge you to provide $15 million for 
the Wrongful Conviction Review Program in fiscal year 2022. (Please 
note the Wrongful Conviction Review Program is part of the Capital 
Litigation Improvement Program.)
    I also urge you to include in the fiscal year 2022 report for the 
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill 
the final fiscal year 2021 report language for the Wrongful Conviction 
Review program. It described the need for legal representation and 
investigation services for individuals with post-conviction claims of 
innocence. It also directed at least 50 percent of funds appropriated 
to the Capital Litigation Improvement and Wrongful Conviction Review 
grant programs support Wrongful Conviction Review grantees providing 
high quality and efficient post-conviction representation for 
defendants in post-conviction claims of innocence. It also clarified 
that Wrongful Conviction Review grantees shall be nonprofit 
organizations, institutions of higher education, and/or State or local 
public defender offices that have in-house post-conviction 
representation programs that show demonstrable experience and 
competence in litigating postconviction claims of innocence. Finally, 
the report language directed that grant funds shall support grantee 
provision of post-conviction legal representation of innocence claims; 
case review, evaluation, and management; experts; potentially 
exonerative forensic testing; and investigation services related 
supporting these post-conviction innocence claims.
          the bloodsworth post-conviction dna testing program
    The Bloodsworth Program supports States and localities that want to 
pursue post-conviction DNA testing in appropriate cases. Grantees range 
from State and local prosecutor offices to law enforcement agencies and 
crime labs, which can collaborate with local innocence organizations 
when appropriate. For example, an Arizona grant allowed the State's 
Attorney General's Office to partner with Arizona Justice Project to 
create the Post-Conviction DNA Testing Project that canvassed 
incarcerated individuals, reviewed cases, located evidence, and filed 
joint requests with the court to release evidence for DNA testing. In 
addition to identifying the innocent, Arizona Attorney General Terry 
Goddard noted that the ``grant enable[d] [his] office to support local 
prosecutors and ensure that those who have committed violent crimes are 
identified and behind bars.''
    The Bloodsworth program is a powerful investment for States seeking 
to free innocent individuals and identify the individuals who actually 
committed the crimes. The program has resulted in the exonerations of 
at least 51 wrongfully convicted persons in 14 States. The person who 
actually committed the crime was identified in 13 of those cases. In 
2020, an additional 5 people were exonerated through the program. The 
success of this program both in generating individual exonerations 
while supporting broader system review when problems arise has made it 
popular--DOJ has reported in recent years that it has received twice as 
many qualified applicants as it has funding to grant.
    For example, Virginian Thomas Haynesworth, who was wrongfully 
incarcerated for 27 years, was freed thanks to Bloodsworth-funded DNA 
testing that also revealed the person who actually committed the crime. 
The culpable person in that case went on to terrorize the community by 
attacking 12 women, with most of the attacks and rapes occurring while 
Mr. Haynesworth was wrongfully incarcerated. Given the importance of 
this program to both innocent individuals and public safety, I urge you 
to provide the $15 million to continue and expand the work of the 
Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Program in fiscal year 2022.
                      forensic science improvement
    To continue the critical work to improve forensic science, and help 
prevent wrongful convictions, I urge you to provide $25 million for 
NIST to support foundational forensic science research, including $2 
million to conduct technical merit evaluations.
    As the Federal entity that is both perfectly positioned and 
institutionally constituted to conduct foundational forensic science 
research, NIST's work will improve the validity and reliability of 
forensic evidence, a need cited by the National Academy of Sciences 
2009 report, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A 
Path Forward. NIST's reputation for innovation will result in 
technological solutions to advance forensic science applications and 
achieve a tremendous cost savings by reducing court costs posed by 
litigating scientific evidence.
    Additionally, some forensic science methods have not yet received 
an evaluation of their technical merit and NIST needs additional 
support to conduct these vital reviews. The forensic science activities 
and research at NIST will help to improve forensic disciplines and 
propel forensic science and the criminal legal system toward greater 
accuracy and reliability, and as a result, help prevent wrongful 
convictions and improve system equity.
                               conclusion
    Thank you for your leadership in ensuring the accuracy, equity, and 
integrity of our Nation's criminal legal system. I urge you to support 
all of the aforementioned programs, including the Wrongful Conviction 
Review and Bloodsworth grant programs at DOJ's Bureau of Justice 
Assistance, as well as NIST forensic science research at the Department 
of Commerce. If you have questions or need additional information, 
please contact Jenny Collier, Federal Policy Advisor to the Innocence 
Project, at [email protected].
                                 ______
                                 
            Prepared Statement of the Daughters of Penelope
   fiscal year 2022 funding: vawa, voca programs & crime victims fund
    Chairwoman Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member Jerry Moran, and 
distinguished Members of the Commerce, Justice, and Science 
Appropriations subcommittee, the Daughters of Penelope (DOP), an 
international service organization for women of Greek heritage and 
Philhellenes, which is dedicated in part to supporting victims of 
domestic violence, is requesting support for Victims of Crime Act 
(VOCA) (Office of Justice Programs--OVC) and Violence Against Women Act 
(VAWA) (Office of Violence Against Women--OVW) programs at the 
Department of Justice. Specifically, we request a Crime Victims Fund 
cap for fiscal year 2022 to be set at least at $2.65 billion and 
without any transfers to programs not authorized under the VOCA 
statute. Further, we call for the Senate to pass S.611, VOCA Fix to 
Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021. Moreover, we support the 
Biden administration's strong proposed investment request of $1 billion 
for VAWA programs and for Congress to pass a strong bipartisan-backed 
reauthorization of VAWA.
                   voca programs & crime victims fund
    The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) created the Crime Victims Fund 
(CVF), which serves as a mechanism to fund compensation and services 
for the Nation's victims of Federal crime. The Fund is comprised of 
money from criminals, and by law, the Fund is dedicated solely to 
victim services. For example, the Fund is used to help pay for State 
victim compensation and assistance programs and grants to victim 
service providers. A considerable amount supports victims' out-of-
pocket expenses such as medical and counseling fees, lost wages, and 
funeral and burial costs. According to the Department of Justice, in 
fiscal year 2018, Victim Assistance programs funded 7,417 unique State 
and local victim service organizations through over 9,472 grant 
awards.\1\ These agencies provided services to nearly millions of 
victims of crime, including victims of murder, assault and sexual 
assault, domestic violence, child abuse, stalking and elder abuse, and 
others.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ https://www.justice.gov/jmd/page/file/1160581/download, Page 
59.
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    The Crime Victims Fund is financed by fines, forfeitures, or other 
penalties paid by Federal crime offenders. Therefore, the Crime Victims 
Fund is not funded by taxpayer dollars. However, it is unfortunate 
Congress often carves out funds from the CVF to use as offsets for 
other government programs. Because CVF is comprised of non-taxpayer 
dollars, it should not be considered available for use for non-VOCA 
programs in the Federal budget. Moreover, according to a previous 
statement of the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus, ``not only does 
raiding the Crime Victims Fund violate the intent of the law, but it 
violates the [VOCA] statute itself...'' Therefore, we recommend to the 
subcommittee that the Fund be used only for programs authorized under 
the VOCA statute. However, recent appropriations bills passed by 
Congress, and previous administrations' budget requests, have carved 
out funds from the Crime Victims Fund for non-VOCA authorized programs. 
As examples, the fiscal year 2021 appropriations year-end legislative 
package transferred $435 million from the CVF to VAWA programs. We 
request the elimination of transfers that harm the Fund's long-term 
viability and ability to commit fully to crime victims. Another 
unfortunate development has been that over the course of the last 
decade, the Department of Justice has brought fewer Federal criminal 
cases and has instead entered into deferred prosecution and non-
prosecution agreements. The monetary penalties from these agreements 
are deposited into the General Treasury rather than into the CVF, 
resulting in the loss of billions of dollars. This has resulted in 
catastrophic cuts to VOCA. Grants have decreased by 70 percent over the 
last 4 years. This is why we support swift passage of S.611, VOCA Fix 
to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 and sincerely thank the 
U.S. House of Representatives for passing its companion bill, H.R.1652. 
Finally, we recommend setting the Crime Victims' Fund cap to at least 
$2.65 billion. Congress established an appropriation cap on funds 
available for distribution intended to maintain the CVF as a stable 
source of support for future victim services. At the cap level, 
Congress will not only ensure the continuation of enhanced services to 
victims to meet their needs, but it also does not contribute or add to 
the National debt or deficit because these are non-taxpayer funds.
                             vawa programs
    Domestic violence is a pervasive, life-threatening crime affecting 
millions of individuals across our Nation regardless of age, gender, 
socio-economic status, race or religion. The statistics are alarming. 
According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV): \2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ NNEDV Domestic Violence Fact Sheet, accessed https://nnedv.org/
wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Library_General_DV_SA_Factsheet.pdf

  --More than 1 in 3 women have experienced rape, physical violence, 
        and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
  --Approximately 8 million women are raped, physically assaulted, and/
        or stalked by a current or former intimate partner each year.
  --1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men have experienced rape in her or his 
        lifetime.
  --Nationwide, an average of 3 women are killed by a current or former 
        intimate partner every day.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
and The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) 
2015 Data Brief:

  --In the United States, intimate partner contact sexual violence, 
        physical violence, and/or stalking was experienced by 36.4 
        percent (or 43.6 million) of U.S. women during their 
        lifetime.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/2015data-
brief508.pdf
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  --One in 4 women and 1 in 10 men have experienced physical violence 
        by an intimate partner during their lifetime.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\ https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/NISVS-infographic-
2016.pdf
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  --In 2015, 1,270 women and men were murdered by an intimate partner 
        (e.g. husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend).\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\ https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/NISVS-
StateReportBook.pdf

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Also, of concern, are the following stats:

  --On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an 
        intimate partner in the United States. During 1 year, this 
        equates to more than 10 million women and men.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\ https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs_report2010-
a.pdf
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  --Nationwide, an average of 3 women are killed by a current or former 
        intimate partner every day.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \7\ NNEDV Domestic Violence Fact Sheet, accessed https://nnedv.org/
mdocs-posts/domestic-violence-and-sexual-assault-factsheet/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  --Approximately 15.5 million children are exposed to domestic 
        violence annually.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \8\ Ibid.

    Our Nation's response to intimate partner and domestic violence is 
driven by VAWA programs. Each of these programs is critical to ensuring 
that victims are safe, that offenders are held accountable, and that 
our communities are more secure. Thanks to VAWA, steady progress has 
been made there are many victims who still suffer in silence. A 2019 
24-hour survey of domestic violence programs across the U.S. found that 
although 19,159 Hotline calls were answered (averaging more than 13 
calls every minute). However, 11,336 requests for services (such as 
emergency shelter, transportation, or legal representation) went unmet 
because programs lacked the resources to provide them.\9\ Sixty-eight 
percent of the unmet services were for Housing and Emergency Shelter. 
In total, 77,226 victims were served in 1 day. The unconscionable gap 
between need and resources only widens.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \9\ 14th Annual National Domestic Violence Counts National Summary.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
   daughters of penelope's work to support domestic violence shelters
    Why are VAWA and VOCA programs important to the Daughters of 
Penelope? In addition to our chapters supporting domestic violence 
shelters in their respective local communities, the Daughters of 
Penelope is a national sponsor and stakeholder of two domestic violence 
shelters--Penelope House in Mobile, Alabama, and Penelope's Place in 
Brockton, Massachusetts. In the past, the Daughters of Penelope has 
supported WIN Hellas, which is an NGO based in Athens, Greece that is 
active in the prevention of violence against women.
    Penelope House was the first shelter established in Alabama when it 
opened its doors in 1979. Since then, Penelope House is recognized as a 
model shelter for others to emulate. VAWA and VOCA grant funding has 
been critical in helping Penelope House to meet its mission of 
providing safety, protection, and support to victims of domestic 
violence and their children through shelter, advocacy, and individual 
and community education. Penelope House has been awarded VAWA and VOCA 
grants from the following programs: Shelter Services, Court Advocate 
Program, and Transitional Living Program. Portions of these grants help 
to fund the case managers, case and court advocates, and children's 
counselors and program coordinators, among other employees who help to 
provide the life-saving support to domestic violence victims and their 
children.
 statistics--effectiveness and importance of vawa & voca grant funding
  --VOCA/VAWA grant funding comprised 30 percent of Penelope House's 
        2020 budget.
  --VOCA is the largest source of Penelope House's funding.

    Penelope House's Court Advocacy Program is funded by VOCA & VAWA. 
Its 2020 stats, which were greatly impacted by the coronavirus 
pandemic, for clients served were:

  --Adult Clients: 5,997
  --Children: 5,344
  --Court Appointments with Clients: 4,078
  --Clients Assisted to obtain protection from abuse or no contact 
        orders: 1,000

    VOCA supports the salaries and benefits for seven Court/Victim 
Advocates who provide services to victims of domestic violence 
throughout Mobile, Washington, Clarke and Choctaw Counties of Alabama 
as they navigate within the court system. (VOCA grant funding has 
become increasingly important to Penelope House because Penelope 
House's services has been expanded to include more counties in 
Alabama.)
    VAWA supports a full-time Court Advocate Administrative Assistant 
and a portion of the salary for a Court/Victim Advocate for the Court 
Advocacy Program. The Court Advocate Administrative Assistant provides 
administrative support to Court/Victim Advocates and assistance to the 
Court Advocacy Supervisor. The assistant also collects and complies 
program data needed for the evaluation of the Court Advocacy Program. 
The Court Advocate Administrative Assistant is dually trained to serve 
as a Court/Victim Advocate when necessary, in case of illness or any 
other absence of court advocates. Thus, a victim will not have to be 
alone as he/she attempts to navigate within the court system.

    Penelope House's Emergency Shelter Program is funded by VOCA. It's 
2020 service stats--again adversely impacted due to the pandemic-were:

  --Adults sheltered: 252
  --Children sheltered: 273
  --Total Client Service Hours: 10,536.5
  --Total Nights of shelter provided: 4,881
  --Crisis calls: 1,419
  --Meals Served: 14,573
                             recommendation
    The Daughters of Penelope (DOP) is requesting support for Victims 
of Crime Act (VOCA) and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs, 
which are vital to DOP programs that serve its mission. Specifically, 
we request a Crime Victims Fund cap for fiscal year 2022 to be set at 
least $2.65 billion and without any transfers to programs not 
authorized under the VOCA statute. We also support the Biden 
administration's strong investment request of $1 billion VAWA programs. 
The Crime Victims Fund is not funded by taxpayer dollars. Therefore, 
the cap can be sustained or raised without adding to the National debt 
or deficit and transfers (or carve outs) must be eliminated in fiscal 
year 2022 and going forward.
    Clearly, as the missions of domestic violence centers across the 
country, such as Penelope House, have expanded into jurisdictions due 
to the unfortunate increased need to provide victims' services, the 
viability of the CVF and VOCA and VAWA grants have become increasingly 
important to meet the victims' needs. Moreover, it is estimated the 
COVID-19 pandemic caused an estimated 8.1 percent increase in domestic 
violence incidents due to stay-at-home orders.\10\ Thank you for the 
opportunity to present and submit our written testimony before the 
subcommittee.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \10\ https://phys.org/news/2021-04-domestic-violence-pandemic.html

    [This statement was submitted by Elena Saviolakis, Executive 
Director.]
                                 ______
                                 
                 Prepared Statement of Demand Progress
  transparency and the public availability of opinions issued by the 
              justice department's office of legal counsel
Dear Chairman Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran, and Members of the 
Committee:

    Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony on improving 
transparency and accountability for legal opinions rendered by the 
Office of Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice.
Background
    The Office of Legal Counsel's (OLC) core function, according to an 
OLC memoranda, is to provide ``controlling advice to Executive Branch 
officials on questions of law that are centrally important to the 
functioning of the Federal Government.'' \1\ This legal advice ``may 
effectively be the final word on the controlling law,'' yet it is 
routinely withheld from both Congress and the public.\2\ This 
withholding in effect creates secret law that controls agency actions 
but is shielded from both public debate and Congressional oversight.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Department of Justice, Memorandum for Attorneys of the Office 
re: Best Practices for OLC Advice and Written Opinions, July 16, 2010, 
available at: https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/olc/legacy/
2010/08/26/olc-legal-advice-opinions.pdf
    \2\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Secrecy undermines accountability. Congress must understand how the 
Executive branch interprets the Constitution and implements laws 
enacted by Congress. Allowing OLC legal opinions to remain the sole 
province of the Executive branch thwarts Congress's lawmaking and 
oversight prerogatives. It removes consequences for agency decisions 
and short-circuits the public feedback process integral to our 
democracy.
    Secrecy also poisons the operations of the Office of Legal Counsel. 
Public scrutiny would create an invisible but persistent pressure for 
the promulgation of responsible, high quality, objective legal 
opinions. By contrast, OLC legal opinion secrecy ensures the most 
salient incentive for OLC attorneys is to lean towards a legal opinion 
that a given administration desires--not the legal opinion that best 
reflects the law. There are high profile examples of this happening.\3\ 
Building transparency into the process helps ensure that OLC legal 
analyses face scrutiny by Congress, scholars, and members of the 
public.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ See, for example, a Statement by Sen. Patrick Leahy at a 
February 26, 2010 hearing before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary 
entitled The Office of Professional Responsibility Investigation into 
the Office of Legal Counsel Memoranda, in which he said, ``The 
fundamental question here is not whether these were shoddy legal memos. 
They were shoddy legal memos. Everybody knows that. . . .  It failed to 
cite significant case law; it twisted the plain meaning of statutes. 
The legal memoranda were designed to achieve an end.'' (emphasis 
added). See also
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In December 2004, 19 former senior DOJ officials--including the 
now-nominee for Assistant Attorney General for OLC, Christopher 
Schroeder--endorsed a document calling for increased transparency, 
entitled Principles to Guide the Office of Legal Counsel.\4\ One 
principle was that ``OLC should publicly disclose its written legal 
opinions in a timely manner, absent strong reasons for delay or 
nondisclosure.'' \5\ According to the Principles document, public 
disclosure of written legal opinions is important because:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\ ``Principles to Guide the Office of Legal Counsel'' (Dec. 21, 
2004), available at: https://
scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://
www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=2927&context=faculty_scholarship. 
In 2020, a related statement was released by the American Constitution 
Society, entitled ``The Office of Legal Counsel and the Rule of Law,'' 
and a comparable constellation of legal experts contributed to that 
document. It endorses a strong presumption in favor of publishing final 
OLC opinions, disclosing its classified, privileged, and sensitive 
material to Congress when an agency relies upon OLC advice to justify a 
major policy decision or executive action, and releasing a public index 
of its memos. https://www.acslaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/OLC-
ROL-Doc-103020.pdf
    \5\ Id.

          Such disclosure helps to ensure executive branch adherence to 
        the rule of law and guard against excessive claims of executive 
        authority. Transparency also promotes confidence in the 
        lawfulness of governmental action. Making executive branch law 
        available to the public also adds an important voice to the 
        development of constitutional meaning-in the courts as well as 
        among academics, other commentators, and the public more 
        generally-and a particularly valuable perspective on legal 
        issues regarding which the executive branch possesses relevant 
        expertise.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\ Id. (emphasis added)

    A similar statement on the Office of Legal Counsel and the rule of 
law was released in October 2020, with significant contributions from a 
comparable array of legal experts.\7\ It endorsed publication of and 
transparency for OLC opinions. Specifically, the statement endorsed: a 
strong presumption in favor of publishing final OLC opinions; 
disclosing OLC advice deemed classified, privileged, or sensitive to 
congressional committees when an agency relies upon that advice to 
justify a major policy decision or executive action; and releasing a 
public index of its memoranda. ``OLC exercises a form of public trust, 
and because its views of the law's meaning shape executive action and 
policy, Congress and the public both have compelling interests in 
understanding the legal basis of executive action.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \7\ ``The Office of Legal Counsel and the Rule of Law,'' American 
Constitution Society
(October 2020), available at: https://www.acslaw.org/wp-content/
uploads/2020/10/OLC-ROL-Doc-103020.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recommendations
    The good news is Congress can remedy this secret law problem. Our 
request is twofold. First, direct the Office of Legal Counsel to make 
its opinions publicly available upon promulgation, except in narrow 
circumstances. Second, direct the Office of Legal Counsel to release an 
index of all current OLC opinions and keep it up-to-date.
    We note that OLC legal opinions are rendered both as ``formal 
opinions'' and ``informal advice.'' Both constitute legal advice that 
is binding within the Executive branch, follow a formal approval 
process, have precedential value within OLC, and are tracked in an OLC 
database. The major distinction is only the format in which the advice 
is rendered: a ``formal opinion'' is turned into a carefully formatted, 
written document and some are published online, whereas ``informal 
advice'' may be rendered as an email or in verbal form, which is then 
reduced to a memo for the record. Accordingly, we would apply the 
principle of transparency first articulated in the Principles document 
to disclosure of OLC legal opinions regardless of format.
    The default rule must be that OLC legal opinions will be made 
publicly available contemporaneously with their issuance. While there 
will be exceptions to public disclosure, those exceptions should be 
narrow, constrained, and used only when absolutely necessary. Congress 
should still be informed.
    Congress should also direct OLC to publicly release an index of all 
its opinions and to keep that list up to date. It should contain the 
full name of the opinion; the date it was finalized or revised; each 
author's name (i.e., the person who signed it); each recipient's name; 
identify whether the opinion has been withdrawn; and other salient 
information.
    There is precedent for an index. The FOIA Improvement Act, enacted 
in 2016, established a 25-year limit for the Executive branch to assert 
deliberative process privilege as an exemption to a FOIA request.\8\ A 
resulting lawsuit brought by the Knight First Amendment Center, Francis 
v. DOJ, resulted in an agreement whereby the DOJ is producing indexes 
of OLC opinions more than 25 years old.\9\ Similarly, the 2020 
statement by legal experts endorsed indices.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \8\ Public Law 114-185 (114th Congress). https://www.congress.gov/
bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/337
    \9\ The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University is 
publishing the index on its website. https://knightcolumbia.org/
reading-room/olc-opinions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    We are aware of some limited disclosure provisions within the 2010 
Office of Legal Counsel Memorandum for Attorneys of the Office: Best 
Practices for OLC Legal Advice and Written Opinions.\10\ It fails, 
however, to include a presumption of disclosure and creates multiple 
veto points. The last dozen years have demonstrated that this 
memorandum does not go far enough to protect the integrity of OLC legal 
opinions or confidence in the work of OLC attorneys. Indeed, the 2020 
statement by legal experts declares ``OLC itself has been in crisis for 
some time.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \10\ See ``Best Practices for OLC Legal Advice and Written 
Opinions,'' Office of Legal Counsel (July 2010), available at https://
www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/olc/legacy/2010/08/26/olc-legal-
advice-opinions.pdf
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Legislative Text
    The committee report accompanying the House CJS Appropriations 
Committee included language in fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2020 
that, if written into bill text, would favorably resolve the issue.\11\ 
We recommend that the Senate adopt that language:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \11\ See Report, Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Bill, 2021, H. Rpt. 116-455, p. 59, https://
www.congress.gov/116/crpt/hrpt455/CRPT-116hrpt455.pdf, superseded by 
Joint Explanatory Statement, p. 61, https://docs.house.gov/
billsthisweek/20201221/BILLS-116RCP68-JES-DIVISION-B.pdf; see Report, 
Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 
2020, H. Rpt. 116-101, pp. 45-46, https://www.congress.gov/116/crpt/
hrpt101/CRPT-116hrpt101.pdf, superseded by Joint Explanatory Statement, 
p. 30, https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/
democrats.appropriations.house.gov/files/HR%201158%20-
%20Division%20B%20-%20CJS%20SOM%20FY20.pdf.

          To serve the public interest, and in keeping with 
        transparency and the precedent of public reporting of judicial 
        decisions, the Committee asks the Attorney General to direct 
        OLC to publish on a publicly accessible website all legal 
        opinions and related materials, except in those instances where 
        the Attorney General determines that release would cause a 
        specific identifiable harm to the National defense or foreign 
        policy interests; information contained in the opinion relates 
        to the appointment of a specific individual not confirmed to 
        Federal office; or information contained in the opinion is 
        specifically exempted from disclosure by statute (other than 
        sections 552 and 552b of title 5, United States Code). For 
        final OLC opinions for which the text is withheld in full or in 
        substantial part, the Attorney General should provide Congress 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        a written explanation detailing why the text was withheld.

          In addition, the Attorney General should also direct OLC to 
        publish on a publicly accessible website a complete index of 
        all final OLC opinions in both human-readable and machine-
        readable formats, arranged chronologically, within 90 days of 
        the enactment of this act, which shall be updated immediately 
        every time an OLC opinion or a revision to an opinion becomes 
        final. The index shall include, for each opinion: the full name 
        of the opinion; the date it was finalized or revised; each 
        author's name; each recipient's name; a unique identifier 
        assigned to each final or revised opinion; and whether an 
        opinion has been withdrawn.

    The language was superseded in the joint explanatory statement for 
fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2020 that make the request more 
diffuse and, in light of recent experience, was unduly deferential to 
the Justice Department. As the underlying issue persists, we 
respectfully suggest it is time to take a more robust approach.
    To ensure an informed public, to protect against secret law, and to 
allow Congress to exercise its oversight responsibilities, OLC legal 
opinions must be available to the public and Congress. Thank you again 
for the opportunity to submit this testimony.

    [This statement was submitted by Ginger McCall, Legal Director.]
                                 ______
                                 
Prepared Statement of Eli Parson, Graduate of the San Francisco Family 
               Treatment Court, San Francisco, California
   On Behalf of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals
    Chairwoman Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran, and distinguished Members 
of the subcommittee, I am honored to have the opportunity to submit my 
testimony on behalf of the 1.5 million graduates of treatment court 
programs and the 150,000 people the programs will connect to lifesaving 
addiction and mental health treatment this year alone. Given the 
overlapping crises of substance use and the COVID-19 pandemic, I am 
requesting that Congress provide funding of $100 million for the Drug 
Court Discretionary Grant Program and $30 million for the Veterans 
Treatment Court Grant Program at the Department of Justice for fiscal 
year 2022.
    I am writing to you today as a treatment court graduate, father, 
and advocate for parents and children affected by substance use 
disorder. I am a 2008 graduate of the San Francisco Family Treatment 
Court--a program of the family civil court system that allowed me to 
remain a father while connecting me with the support, treatment 
services, and parental coaching I needed to overcome a lifelong 
substance use disorder. Without the support of the court, my now 13-
year-old daughter would be growing up in the child welfare system 
without her father. Instead, she is a healthy, thriving teenager 
preparing for her first year of high school with me by her side. The 
treatment court drastically changed the trajectory of both our lives.
    Since 2011, I have worked for the Homeless Prenatal Program, an 
organization that serves, among other child welfare programs, the San 
Francisco Family Treatment Court. In that role, I witness firsthand the 
transformation and triumph families experience as parents overcome 
substance use disorders and are reunited with their children. But I'm 
also seeing the grips of twin crises on families coming to me for help: 
the substance use epidemic and the ongoing effects of COVID-19, 
including isolation and economic devastation. Treatment courts, such as 
adult drug courts, veterans treatment courts, family treatment courts, 
and others offer a public health and public safety response to these 
crises as they seek to enhance and expand to serve more individuals in 
their communities.
    With overwhelming empirical evidence showing their effectiveness, 
it is easy to see that treatment court programs across the country 
merit continued funding. The Government Accountability Office finds the 
drug court model reduces crime by up to 58 percent. Further, the Multi-
Site Adult Drug Court Evaluation conducted by the Department of Justice 
confirmed drug treatment courts significantly reduce both drug use and 
crime, as well as finding cost savings averaging $6,000 for every 
individual served. Additional benefits include improved employment, 
housing, financial stability, and reduced foster care placements. 
Veterans treatment courts, which expand on the drug court model to 
include veteran justice outreach specialists from the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, volunteer veteran mentors from the community, and a 
myriad of veteran-specific local, State, and Federal resources have 
proven equally effective. As our heroes in uniform continue to 
transition home, it is critical that we have interventions like 
veterans treatment court in place to ensure they have the treatment, 
structure, and support to transform the lives of those who will 
inevitably struggle.
    Beyond the numbers, treatment court programs are making a 
difference in real families across the country, including mine. When my 
daughter was born in 2007, child welfare services prevented me from 
bringing her home from the hospital. At that time, I was in the midst 
of a decades-long battle with substance use. Childhood trauma led me to 
trying alcohol at age 12, using harder drugs by age 14, homelessness at 
age 16, and a lifelong struggle with depression and anxiety. Leaving 
the hospital empty-handed was the most painful moment of my life. It 
was then I knew I had to do what I could to earn the right to bring my 
daughter to the home she deserved. I knew I wanted to change--I just 
needed help.
    I found that help in the San Francisco Family Treatment Court. 
Until I entered the program, my experience with the court system left 
me feeling silenced in my own battle to be healthy and regain custody 
of my daughter. In treatment court, I found hope for the first time, 
something I'd longed to feel for years. Suddenly, I became an active 
participant in a journey to finding my own health and safety so that I 
could guarantee the same for my daughter when we were reunited. The 
multidisciplinary team of the judge, child welfare officers, substance 
use treatment providers, and others were committed to ensuring I 
received the intensive outpatient treatment and other social services I 
needed to ensure my daughter could be reunited with a father free of 
substance use.
    The services I received through this treatment court program 
allowed me to realize my life's greatest achievement: fatherhood. My 
daughter has never known the man sent away from the hospital that day 
in 2007, and it's because of the San Francisco Family Treatment Court.
    I'm not alone in my success. Treatment courts have reunited 
thousands of families by connecting those with mental health and 
substance use disorders with treatment options best suited to them, 
including medication-assisted treatment when deemed appropriate by a 
medical provider. Together, the court team offers the tools to overcome 
addiction and past trauma to create meaningful, healthy relationships.
    Continued support from the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program 
at the Department of Justice ensures the nearly 4,000 treatment courts 
in the United States today provide critical services to reunite loving 
families. But we know there are many more who still need this 
opportunity. I strongly urge this committee to recommend funding of 
$100 million to the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program and $30 
million to the Veterans Treatment Court Grant Program in fiscal year 
2022, so families like mine continue to receive lifesaving services.
                                 ______
                                 
       Prepared Statement of the Entomological Society of America
  fiscal year 2022 appropriations for the national science foundation
    The Entomological Society of America (ESA) respectfully submits 
this statement for the official record in support of funding for the 
National Science Foundation (NSF). ESA joins the research community by 
requesting a robust fiscal year 2022 appropriation of $10 billion for 
NSF, including strong support for the Directorate for Biological 
Sciences (BIO). Through activities within BIO, NSF advances the 
frontiers of knowledge about complex biological systems at multiple 
scales, from molecules and cells to organisms and ecosystems. In 
addition, the directorate contributes to the support of essential 
research resources, including biological collections and field 
stations. NSF BIO is also the Nation's primary funder of fundamental 
research on biodiversity, ecology, and environmental biology.
    NSF is the only Federal agency that supports basic research across 
all scientific and engineering disciplines outside of the biomedical 
sciences. Each year, the foundation supports an estimated 300,000 
researchers, scientific trainees, teachers, and students, primarily 
through competitive grants to approximately 2,000 colleges, 
universities, and other institutions in all 50 States. NSF also plays a 
critical role in training the next generation of scientists and 
engineers through programs like the NSF Research Traineeship, ensuring 
that the United States will remain globally competitive in the future.
    NSF-sponsored research in entomology and other basic biological 
sciences, which is primarily supported through NSF BIO, provides the 
fundamental discoveries that advance knowledge and facilitate the 
development of new technologies and strategies for addressing societal 
challenges related to economic growth, national security, and human 
health. Because insects constitute two out of every three animal 
species, fundamental research on their biology has provided 
foundational insights across all areas of biology, including cell and 
molecular biology, genomics, physiology, ecology, behavior, and 
evolution. In turn, these insights have been applied toward meeting 
challenges in a wide range of fields, including conservation biology, 
habitat management, livestock production, and pest management.
    Insects have long played an essential role as model organisms for 
understanding basic biological processes across all organisms, 
including people. Insects are often ideal for biological models in 
laboratory experiments because they are generally small and inexpensive 
to obtain, they complete development rapidly, and they can be 
maintained without the special facilities required for vertebrate 
animals.
    The common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, for example, has 
been the subject of NSF-funded research that has profoundly transformed 
the understanding of human health and development in countless ways. 
Equally important, the ability to dramatically reduce the cost of 
sequencing genomes has played a critical role in advancing science in 
the last two decades. In 2018, entomologists were able to complete one 
of the first genome sequences by a single lab for under $1,000 using 
the fruit fly.\1\ This breakthrough not only expanded the accessibility 
of genome sequencing but also changed the way scientists understand the 
fruit fly itself as a model organism. Previously it was thought each 
fruit fly was essentially genetically identical. This study revealed 
there are significant differences in the sequences of many important 
genes, indicating that genome variation is much greater than previously 
believed. This will likely have tremendous medical value to patients, 
health care workers, and scientists.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Solares, Edwin A et al. ``Rapid Low-Cost Assembly of the 
Drosophila melanogaster Reference Genome Using Low-Coverage, Long-Read 
Sequencing.'' G3 (Bethesda, Md.) vol. 8,\10\ 3143-3154. 19 Jul. 2018, 
doi:10.1534/g3.118.200162
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    One NSF BIO-supported project that illustrates the broad reach of 
basic entomological research is focused on insect genetics. With food 
demands rising across the world, there is a need for sustainable, 
alternative protein sources such as mass-reared insects. While there 
are various problems associated with commercial insect production, many 
of them can be addressed by studying and altering genomes to select 
desirable life history traits.\2\ In August 2020, scientists from 
Indiana University--Purdue University Indianapolis and Beta Hatch Inc. 
published a draft genome assembly for the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio 
molitor), a promising alternative source of protein for animal feed, 
and perhaps even human consumption. The NSF-funded work used a new 
sequencing technology that combines aspects of two sequencing methods 
to create longer DNA sequences with lower error rates.\3\ This high-
quality draft genome is now available for researchers and industry as a 
valuable tool for optimizing mass rearing of mealworms.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ https://www.wageningenacademic.com/doi/epdf/10.3920/
jiff2019.0057
    \3\ https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/
disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301188&org=BIO&from=news
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In another example of focused on genetics, NSF-funded researchers 
at Tufts University discovered that two genes are allowing the European 
corn borer moth to adapt to climate change by enabling synchronization 
between their life cycle and seasonal environmental changes. The 
invasive European corn borer moth is unique in its apparent ability to 
perfectly time its life cycle with the seasons so that populations do 
not die off from unexpectedly long or short winters. Genetic analysis 
of moths from across a range of climates (longer summers and shorter 
winters in the south, shorter summers and longer winters in the north) 
in the United States revealed genetic variations in two genes (known as 
clock genes) which were associated with development and generation 
time. The results of this study suggest potential mechanisms with which 
species will be able to adapt to changes in climate that expose them to 
variable season lengths.
    NSF BIO also supports the development of technologies that directly 
impact economic sectors that are highly dependent on entomology. NSF 
recently awarded funding for a Small Business Innovation Research 
(SBIR) Phase I project aimed at ensuring healthier honey bee 
populations through data analysis and modeling.\4\ The project seeks to 
build newer and more robust algorithms capable of autonomously 
analyzing data generated by networked sensors placed in beehives. The 
information derived from the resultant data sets could then be used to 
develop models capable of predicting the infiltration of pests and 
disease in hives before it actually occurs. Ultimately, the successful 
commercialization of this technology could revolutionize an entire 
agricultural sector that has suffered significantly because of honey 
bee colony collapse.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\ Symes, Ellie. SBIR Phase I: Data Analytics on Honeybee Hives 
Using IoT Sensor Data. Award Number: 1746862
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), selects and 
supports science and engineering graduate students demonstrating the 
exceptional potential to succeed in science, technology, engineering, 
and mathematics (STEM) careers. For example, multiple recent Fellows 
have advanced the frontiers of knowledge about the biology of social 
insects under changing environmental conditions. GRFP-sponsored 
research investigating extreme phenotypic plasticity, wherein 
environmental rather than genetic inputs lead to differences among 
individuals, illuminated how developmental pathways may have been 
altered during the evolution of sociality to create social insect 
castes, such as queens and workers.\5\ Phenotypic plasticity is a key 
mechanism of biological adaptation, and this scientific understanding 
is vital to predicting whether insects and other life may adjust to 
environmental change. The insights and tools derived from such 
activities will better enable land managers and environmental 
regulators to protect ecosystems vulnerable to climactic shifts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\ https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/221/23/jeb153163/
20481/Genetic-accommodation-and-the-role-of-ancestral
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In addition to funding research, NSF BIO plays a critical role in 
the curation, maintenance, and enhancement of physical-biological 
collections. These collections and their associated data sets serve a 
variety of purposes, and while they are particularly important to the 
field of entomology, their value to the broader scientific enterprise 
cannot be overstated. Physical collections enable the rapid 
identification and mitigation of costly invasive pests that affect 
agriculture, forestry, and human and animal health. This is only 
achievable because such collections are continuously being updated to 
reflect environmental changes, evolutionary developments, and shifting 
migratory patterns of invasive species around the world. For example, 
the GRFP supported a project which used natural history collections to 
examine how the diversity of beneficial social insects have changed 
with urbanization intensity over the past century.\6\ Researchers then 
developed novel machine learning models to forecast how land use change 
will affect biodiversity patterns in the future. Ongoing investment in 
the training of the next generation of scientific leaders is essential 
to promoting the American workforce in STEM and advancing basic 
scientific discovery in NSF priority areas. NSF also supports workshops 
designed to provide hands-on training in collections curation and 
management, with a particular emphasis on students and early-career 
researchers.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\ https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/
showAward?AWD_ID=1906242&HistoricalAwards=false
    \7\ Song, Hojun and Shockley, Floyd. Towards a Sustainable 
Management of Insect Collections in the U.S. through the Entomological 
Collections Management Workshop. Award Number: 1640919
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    While collections-focused awards like those mentioned above are 
encouraging, ESA is concerned by the inconsistent Federal support for 
biological collections. Recent advancements in imaging, digitization, 
and data collection and storage technologies have caused some to 
question the necessity of continued support for existing biological 
collections. ESA recognizes that technological development is spurring 
substantive discussion about the future of biological collections. 
However, while these new developments and advancements will hopefully 
yield new benefits for biological research, they are not a replacement 
for physical biological collections. Given their continuing relevance 
and broad application to domestic homeland security, public health, 
agriculture, food security, and environmental sustainability, ESA 
firmly supports continued Federal investment in programs supporting 
collections such as NSF's Infrastructure Capacity for Biological 
Research.

    Given NSF's critical role in supporting fundamental research and 
education across science and engineering disciplines, ESA supports an 
overall fiscal year 2022 NSF budget of $10 billion. ESA requests robust 
support for the NSF BIO Directorate, which funds important research 
studies and biological collections, enabling discoveries in the 
entomological sciences to contribute to understanding environmental and 
evolutionary biology, physiological and developmental systems, and 
molecular and cellular mechanisms.

    ESA, headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, is the largest 
organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs 
of entomologists and individuals in related disciplines. As the largest 
and one of the oldest insect science organizations in the world, ESA 
has approximately 7,000 members affiliated with educational 
institutions, health agencies, private industry, and government. 
Members are researchers, teachers, extension service personnel, 
administrators, marketing representatives, research technicians, 
consultants, students, pest management professionals, and hobbyists.

    Thank you for the opportunity to offer the Entomological Society of 
America's support for NSF research programs. For more information about 
the Entomological Society of America, please see http://
www.entsoc.org/.

    [This statement was submitted by Michelle S. Smith, BCE, 
President.]
                                 ______
                                 
         Prepared Statement of the Federal Managers Association
                     United States Marshals Service
                              Chapter 373
June 3, 2021

 
 
 
The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy              The Honorable Richard C.
Chairmen                                     Shelby
Committee on Appropriations                 Ranking Member
437 Russell Senate Office Building          Committee on Appropriations
Washington, D.C. 20510                      304 Russell Senate Office
                                             Building
                                            Washington, D.C. 20510
 
The Honorable Jeanne Shaheen                The Honorable Jerry Moran
Chairwoman                                  Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice,          Subcommittee on Commerce,
  Science, and Related Agencies              Justice,
Committee on Appropriations                   Science, and Related
506 Hart Senate Office Building              Agencies
Washington, D.C. 20510                      Committee on Appropriations
                                            521 Dirksen Senate Office
                                             Building
                                            Washington, D.C. 20510
 

     fiscal year 2022 appropriations, u.s. marshals service (usms)
Dear Chairs Leahy and Shaheen and Ranking Members Shelby and Moran:

    The Federal Managers Association (FMA) \1\ is the oldest and 
largest organization representing the interests of the 200,000 
managers, supervisors, and executives serving in today's Federal 
Government. It aims to promote excellence in public service. Despite 
setbacks in consultation with USMS leadership in recent years,\2\ FMA 
has maintained an active and influential chapter at the Agency for 
nearly two decades.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ www.fedmanagers.org
    \2\ http://fedmanagers.org/fma/files/ccLibraryFiles/Filename/
000000001510/FMA 
%20to%20Director%20Washington%20re%20%20Consultation%20Agreement.pdf, 
September 21, 2020
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    USMS FMA has long sounded the alarm about staffing levels at 
USMS.\3\ The concerns in no way suggest that Congress has not 
appropriated an adequate number of full-time equivalencies (FTEs) to 
fulfill USMS duties.\4\ Rather, they speak to how Agency leadership has 
disproportionately allocated its workforce into what has grown into 
top-heavy headquarter divisions and staff offices, versus its 94 
district offices throughout the country where the majority of work 
assignments are carried out each day. An exhibit \5\ in a recent news 
report \6\ confirms that district offices continue to be neglected. As 
a result, we believe it is only a matter of time before the Agency is 
no longer able to safely and consistently carry out its primary mission 
of court security without risk of injury or worse to participants in 
the judicial process.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ https://www.govexec.com/management/2019/02/us-marshals-
complain-system-unfairly-denies-them-promotion/154811/, February 12, 
2019 (note sub-heading ``HQ Versus the Field'').
    \4\ https://www.usmarshals.gov/duties/factsheets/index.html, viewed 
June 3, 2021.
    \5\ https://drive.google.com/file/d/
1qFXJktXtE2eH2lba5dqhlFUnTb_1gJQH/view, May 10, 2021.
    \6\ https://dakotafreepress.com/2021/05/31/u-s-marshals-face-
contempt-for-disrupting-court-after-refusing-judges-order-to-disclose-
coronavirus-vaccination-status/, May 31, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Agency executives routinely suggest an interest in one Marshals 
Service. Yet, we often hear from our constituents--and we agree--USMS 
has seemingly grown into two separate components operating under the 
same badge. Over the past decade the Agency has seen a significant 
increase in the splitting of its workforce between 94 district offices 
and 12 headquarter divisions and a variety of staff offices, the latter 
that report through Arlington, VA.
    Rather compelling is--for what may be the first time--a written 
admission by the Agency's Chief of Staff in the aforementioned exhibit, 
presumably representing the Director and Deputy Director,\7\ that 
staffing shortages in district offices are adversely impacting the 
ability to provide basic judicial security functions:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \7\ Questions have been raised where the Agency's leadership is 
(i.e., why the Director and Deputy Director have delegated a response 
to an Article III Judge from the Chief of Staff with no decisional 
authority).

        ``The USMS takes seriously its court security responsibilities 
        and place the highest priority on maintaining the safety and 
        security of those involved in the judicial process. It should 
        be noted, however, the Marshals Service is currently at a 
        critical staffing level of 69 percent across the agency. The 
        District of South Dakota's DUSM staffing level is even lower at 
        only 65 percent. This severe staffing shortage contributes to 
        the limited number of trials and hearings which can be 
        supported simultaneously, as well as the staffing for any pre- 
        or post-trial appearances requiring the provision of court 
        security by DUSM personnel. Any widespread court orders or 
        other restrictions which would impose additional limitations on 
        the number of DUSMs available to provide court security and 
        other vital responsibilities further degrades our Nationwide 
        ability to support the judiciary and may negatively impact the 
        ability of courts to conduct their business when such security 
        is required.'' \8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \8\ Id.

    Last year, the Courts called upon Congress for ``increased 
appropriations for USMS to hire an additional 1,000 Deputy U.S. 
Marshals (DUSMs) in accordance with the District Staffing Model'' to 
provide for their security.\9\ Many Agency managers, however, make the 
case that these 1,000 ``district'' operational employees have been 
reassigned over time to build larger headquarter divisions and staff 
offices at the expense of district offices, routinely creating staffing 
shortages across the country to uphold the Agency's primary mission. 
For example:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \9\ https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/
letter_to_congress_re_judicial_security_
funding_request.pdf, September 4, 2020, and https://www.uscourts.gov/
news/2020/09/09/
congress-urged-adopt-judicial-security-measures, September 9, 2020.

  --Today, the Agency's Investigative Operations Division employs over 
        600 FTEs and contractors throughout the country, all reporting 
        through Arlington, VA, as opposed to the district chain of 
        command (i.e., United States Marshal and Chief Deputy U.S. 
        Marshal) in cities where the two groups are mere miles apart 
        from one another.
  --During the previous Administration, the Agency dedicated nearly two 
        dozen DUSMs to its Judicial Security Division (JSD) in support 
        of protective operations for the Secretary of Education.\10\ 
        Its cost was widely criticized for years and many questions 
        were raised on how and why it became a new USMS mission.\11\ 
        The detail ended on January 8, 2021. Yet, it does not appear 
        the assigned DUSMs, most of whom were originally pulled from 
        districts years earlier, were returned to the most critically 
        understaffed offices. Instead, we are informed almost all were 
        reassigned to other headquarter programs, to include within JSD 
        to increase the size of the protection detail for the Deputy 
        Attorney General.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \10\ Archived organizational chart, Judicial Security Division, 
Protective Operations, Secretary of Education. [Exhibit A]
    \11\ Letter to Acting Attorney General Matthew G. Whitaker from 
Charles E. Grassley, Chairman, Senate Committee on the Judiciary, 
December 7, 2018, [Exhibit B] and https://www.politico.com/news/2020/
11/03/devos-security-detail-millions-years-433977, November 3, 2020.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  --Three dozen DUSMs and administrative employees (and one contractor) 
        are reportedly assigned to the Tactical Operations Division, 
        Strategic National Stockpile Security Operations. While 
        guarding the country's national stockpile is an important 
        responsibility, it is not one that necessarily falls within a 
        primary USMS mission.

    The Agency uses a District Staffing Model to allocate positions to 
its 94 district offices. Despite repeated requests over many years to 
develop a similar model, one does not exist for USMS headquarters, 
thereby allowing its offices to grow exponentially. Consequently, we do 
not believe transparency exists with respect to how the Agency 
strategically applies a staffing model exclusive to districts, thereby 
positioning itself when levels drop, to argue for additional funding to 
protect judges. Rather, it gives the impression Congress can only solve 
a crisis in the making with more resources.
    Before funding an additional 1,000 DUSMs, we urge the sub-committee 
to consider examining the true need of so many additional positions at 
taxpayer expense. After all, the Agency reports year after year it has 
been unable to fill a number of DUSM openings, consistently incapable 
of keeping up with attrition. A review of existing vacancies--even well 
before the pandemic--will likely validate this point.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \12\ We also suggest asking for the number of DUSM candidates 
recruited, cleared, and currently ready to attend basic training if 
1,000 positions were funded.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Across the country in other DOJ investigative components (i.e., 
ATF, DEA, FBI, and OIG) operational staff assigned in cities outside 
their Washington, D.C. headquarters report through a local Special 
Agent-in-Charge. Not so at USMS where hundreds of DUSMs report through 
Arlington, VA, creating unnecessary and redundant layers of mid-level 
managers in the same cities to separately supervise those assigned to 
headquarter divisions and staff offices and those assigned to 
districts.
    A co-author of this letter managed USMS, Northern District of 
Illinois, for more than 2 years from 2018-2020. His experience was 
those headquarter employees assigned in Chicago were not routinely 
available or required to support district operations, even on what were 
``beyond-capacity days'' when staffing was so critically short the 
district had difficulty safely carrying out the Agency's judicial 
security and detention operation missions (i.e., when called to assist, 
headquarter employees under separate chains of command often did not 
show up at the U.S. Courthouse--without consequence--to support 
judicial security operations). When confronted with the associated 
risk, the Agency's Director said he believes USMS is ``different'' than 
ATF, DEA, FBI, and OIG. We think not. Accordingly, we call upon 
Congress to consider urging the Government Accountability Office to 
conduct a study to examine any difference in organizational structures, 
the associated risk, and unnecessary cost with redundant mid-level 
managers between other investigative DOJ components and USMS where at 
the latter employees could instead be hired at lower grades to staff 
courtrooms and detention space in district offices.
    The Agency's Chief Financial Officer acknowledges Congress 
appropriates funds and positions to USMS as a whole unit (i.e., it does 
not mandate where to internally allocate said funds or positions).\13\ 
ATF, DEA, FBI, and OIG seemingly and effectively manage their 
organizational structures through local Special Agents-in-Charge. We 
believe USMS could equally do so through its United States Marshals and 
Chief Deputy U.S. Marshals that lead its district offices. 
Alternatively, divisions unnecessarily and exponentially grow silos, 
commonly termed throughout the Agency as ``empire-building,'' 
disproportionately leaving too many districts critically short staffed. 
The current national average of 69 percent as reported by the Chief of 
Staff is astonishing, not ignoring an acknowledgement many districts 
operate at even lower staffing percentages.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \13\ Email from Holley O'Brien, Chief Financial Officer, to Jason 
Wojdylo, November 13, 2018. [Exhibit C]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    We hope the new USMS Director will avoid being bamboozled by 
bureaucrats at USMS headquarters into believing congressional mandates 
require continued growth of headquarter divisions and staff offices. 
Instead, we renew our recommendation by urging him to shake-up the 
organizational structure by issuing an immediate moratorium on hiring 
all but critical vacancies exclusively in district offices and 
immediately reassign staff in cities around the country to local 
district chains of command, using the tested and successful model found 
at other DOJ components.
    The Director-nominee awaits Senate confirmation. With his swift 
confirmation there is opportunity to get back to the basics by holding 
USMS accountable to its judicial security mission. Doing so could avoid 
the confrontation recently created in South Dakota between district 
managers--under of the auspice of ``headquarters said so"--and the very 
judiciary the Agency is sworn to protect.\14\ It raises questions 
whether additional research by USMS \15\ may have advanced better 
communication with the Judiciary.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \14\ Id.
    \15\ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/hipaa-
vaccine-covid-privacy-violation/2021/05/22/f5f145ec-b9ad-11eb-a6b1-
81296da0339b_story.html, May 22, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    We urge Congress to expeditiously endorse five of the six judicial 
security measures approved by the Judicial Conference of the United 
States.\16\ We ask that the staffing proposal, however, be carefully 
reviewed where immediate steps can instead be taken to reassign 
existing USMS operational employees from bloated headquarter divisions 
and staff offices back to critically understaffed districts.\17\ 
Otherwise, beyond the more important issue of safety at our U.S. 
Courthouses and of the judicial process we question whether the 
greatest opportunity for excellence in public service can truly be 
achieved at USMS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \16\ https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/
letters_to_congressional_leadership_re_
judicial_security_0.pdf, August 19, 2020.
    \17\ For the past 15 months hundreds of USMS employees and 
contractors assigned to headquarter divisions and staff offices have 
predominantly teleworked amid the pandemic. Conversely, their peers 
assigned to districts mostly reported to district offices to carry out 
the Agency's critical missions.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Sincerely,


 
 
 
      Dave Barnes                      Jason R. Wojdylo
      President                        Vice-President for Law
                                        Enforcement Operations
 

      
                                 ______
                                 
    Prepared Statement of the Federation of American Societies for 
                          Experimental Biology
                      nsf fiscal year 2022 funding
                                summary
    Federal investments in fundamental research have led to remarkable 
progress in the biological and biomedical sciences. Basic research was 
the groundwork for the speed--months instead of years--in the 
development of COVID-19 vaccines, and pre-clinical research, such as 
animal studies, has been essential to every step of achieving medical 
progress.
    Despite Congress' bipartisan support for investing in science, 
Federal funding for research has not kept pace, posing a threat to our 
Nation's competitiveness. We face a real threat of losing our edge in 
industries such as biotechnology if we do not prioritize increasing 
investments in science and building a diverse workforce.\1\ The U.S. 
spends less on research and development (R&D) than many countries. If 
the U.S. is to be prepared to respond to future threats, our scientific 
leadership must progress. According to Science Is Us, there is the 
added benefit of jobs. STEM supports 69 percent of U.S. gross domestic 
product, touches two out of three workers, and generates $2.3 trillion 
in tax revenue.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ NSF Science Indicators 2018
    \2\ STEM and the American Workforce. You've heard it before: STEM 
jobs--... | by Science is US | Medium
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Federal Government should commit to robust, predictable, and 
sustained funding increases for science agencies.
                      national science foundation
    With a mandate to support fundamental research across all fields of 
science, engineering, and mathematics, the NSF is the cornerstone of 
our Nation's scientific and innovation enterprise.

    Among Federal science agencies, NSF has the unique capacity to:

    Support multi-disciplinary research: By leveraging its portfolio 
across the sciences, NSF funds cutting-edge research at the interface 
of the physical, biological, and social sciences to tackle challenges 
in creative ways, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and 
geohealth.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ NSF's 10 Big Ideas, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Organize and lead research partnerships at speed and scale: The NSF 
coordinates and leads interagency research endeavors, including 
partnerships with NIH and DOE SC. These collaborations advance public 
health and clean energy, the development of artificial intelligence, 
and other national priorities.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\ NSF Collaborations with Federal Agencies and Others, National 
Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Train the next generation of scientists: NSF plays a key role in 
supporting accessibility of scientific education, training scientists 
who will work across different scientific disciplines, and broadening 
participation in science and engineering among underrepresented and 
diverse groups.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\ Education and Human Resources Directorate, National Science 
Foundation, Alexandria, VA
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Despite its critical role in accelerating science and innovation, 
NSF's budget has not grown in real terms in nearly 20 years. Recent 
data demonstrates that NSF was able to fund only 22 percent of the 
high-quality research proposals that were submitted, rather than the 
National Science Board recommendation of 30 percent. In fiscal year 
2019, approximately $2.8 billion was requested for about 4,262 declined 
proposals that were rated Very Good or higher in the merit review 
process.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\ Report on the National Science Foundation's Merit Review 
Process, Fiscal Year 2019, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Our recommendation ($10 billion) is $1.5 billion above fiscal year 
2021 to support a five percent increase across the agency's core 
research and education programs, establish a new grant program for 
early-career fellowships as envisioned in congressional legislation, 
fund more high-quality research proposals, and increase NSF's average 
award size.\7 \\8\ NSF could also accelerate key priorities, including 
Ten Big Ideas, Convergence Accelerators, Partnerships for Innovation, 
I-Corp, and Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure.\9 \\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \7\ American Innovation Act
    \8\ Supporting Early Career Researchers Act
    \9\ National Science Foundation Convergence Accelerators and NSF 10 
Big Ideas Funding, Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request to Congress, 
National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA
    \10\ Partnership for Innovation

    FASEB Fiscal Year 2022 Recommendation: At least $10 billion for 
NSF.


    [This statement was submitted by Ellen Kuo, Associate Director, 
Legislative Affairs.]
                                 ______
                                 
Prepared Statement of the Federation of Associations in Behavioral and 
                             Brain Sciences
  fiscal year 2022 appropriations for the national science foundation
Chairwoman Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran, and Members of the 
subcommittee:

    The Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences 
(FABBS) is grateful for the opportunity to submit testimony for the 
record in support of the National Science Foundation (NSF) budget for 
fiscal year 2022. FABBS represents 27 scientific societies and over 
sixty university departments whose members and faculty share a 
commitment to advancing knowledge of the mind, brain, and behavior. As 
a leading member of the Coalition for National Science Funding, FABBS 
joins the broader scientific community in urging Congress to fund NSF 
with at least $10 billion in fiscal year 2022.
    FABBS is grateful for the strong bipartisan and bicameral support 
to re-invigorate Federal research and development at a time when our 
global competitors are looking to surpass American investments. The 
bipartisan United States Innovation and Competition Act recently passed 
by the Senate would authorize more than $80 billion for the Foundation 
over 5 years. This same commitment to growing NSF is reflected by 
Members of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee in the 
bipartisan NSF for the Future Act recently passed out of committee, 
which would authorize $78 billion over 5 years. Furthermore, the 
President's budget request calls for over $10 billion in fiscal year 
2022, a 20 percent increase over fiscal year 2021 appropriations.
    This demonstration of support recognizes that NSF-funded research 
pays long-term dividends in health, national security, and the 
innovation and technologies driving our economy. In addition, NSF 
research and programs provide the tools to develop a workforce equipped 
for the challenges and technologies of the future and foster the next 
generation of scientists--with a commitment to broad participation--
whose work will keep this country at the forefront of discovery. 
Furthermore, Federal support for the NSF is vital to our research 
infrastructure. NSF supports one out of every four basic research 
projects at higher learning institutions across the United States.
    Despite the critical importance of NSF, and the fact that the U.S. 
has lost standing in international competitiveness, the agency remains 
woefully underfunded. Due to budget constraints, NSF must decline 
thousands of qualified proposals, of which nearly $3 Billion dollars' 
worth are rated very good or higher. NSF Director Panchanathan has 
indicated that proposals that do receive funding could produce better 
research outcomes and provide better value by increasing the size and 
duration of grants. In fact, he has said that NSF could double their 
budget on the current research and researchers that go unfunded, and 
``a quadrupling of the funding is just barely enough to be able to take 
us to all the ideas being unleashed so that we might be far ahead of 
the competition.''
    FABBS members are grateful that NSF received $75 million in the 
CARES Act and $600 million in the American Rescue Plan. These 
appropriations have already led to important insights related to the 
COVID-19 pandemic, while helping to alleviate the research 
interruptions caused by the public health crisis and fund timely 
research critical to helping our country slow the spread of COVID-19. 
NSF has made more than 1,000 awards to address questions related to the 
pandemic and its long-term consequences.
    Behavioral, cognitive, and social scientists are producing tools 
for policymakers, educators, and the general public to cope with and 
recover from the unprecedented circumstances of the past year. They are 
developing strategies to get students back on track, delineating best 
practices for public health communication, and advancing knowledge to 
foster resilience in the face of collective trauma and sustained 
periods of stress. Robust investment in basic science in fiscal year 
2022 is vital to accelerating the pandemic recovery and maintaining 
American leadership in research and development.
    FABBS scientists have a particular interest in the Social, 
Behavioral and Economics (SBE) Sciences directorate, which provides an 
estimated 62 percent of the Federal funding for fundamental research in 
SBE sciences at academic institutions across the country.\1\ Thus, our 
fields are heavily dependent on the NSF to inform discoveries from 
expanding our understanding of the mechanisms of memory underlying 
brain activity, to contributing to the design and assessing the social 
and ethical consequences of new technologies, to better understanding 
decision making and risk assessment with broad implications for health 
and public policy. SBE is home to the National Center for Science and 
Engineering Statistics (NCSES), a Federal statistical agency that 
provides statistical information about the United States' science and 
engineering (S&E) enterprise. NCSES collects, analyzes, and 
disseminates data on research and development (R&D), the S&E workforce, 
the condition and progress of science, STEM education, and U.S. 
competitiveness in science, engineering, and technology R&D.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ https://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/fy2021/pdf/28_fy2021.pdf
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In addition to receiving support from SBE, FABBS members appreciate 
critical funding from the Computer and Information Science and 
Engineering Directorate (CISE), which funds research on topics such as 
human-technology interaction and cyber-assisted learning; the 
Biological Sciences (BIO) Directorate, which funds research on topics 
such as sleep and circadian rhythms and sex differences in responses to 
stress; and the Education and Human Resources (EHR) Directorate, which 
funds research on increasing America's human capital through effective 
education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
    We recognize that Congress must balance competing budget priorities 
while working to deliver a robust recovery from the pandemic. To that 
end, increasing Federal investment in fundamental scientific research 
across all sciences is critical to successfully managing the pandemic 
recovery and ensuring the future prosperity, security, and health of 
our Nation and its people. We urge you to provide NSF with at least $10 
billion for fiscal year 2022. Along with the broader scientific 
community, we believe that increased funding for fundamental scientific 
research would set the NSF on a path to yield transformative benefits 
to the country. We thank you in advance for your commitment to robust 
funding in fiscal year 2022 and efforts to complete the budget in a 
timely manner.
    Thank you for considering this request.
                         FABBS MEMBER SOCIETIES
Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research
American Educational Research Association
American Psychological Association
American Psychosomatic Society
Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
Association for Behavior Analysis International
Behavior Genetics Association
Cognitive Neuroscience Society
Cognitive Science Society
International Congress of Infant Studies
International Society for Developmental Psychobiology
Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society
National Academy of Neuropsychology
The Psychonomic Society
Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology
Society for Computation in Psychology
Society for Judgement and Decision Making
Society for Mathematical Psychology
Society for Psychophysiological Research
Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues
Society for Research in Child Development
Society for Research in Psychopathology
Society for the Scientific Study of Reading
Society for Text & Discourse
Society of Experimental Social Psychology
Society of Multivariate Experimental Psychology
Vision Sciences Society
                            FABBS AFFILIATES
APA Division 1: The Society for General Psychology
APA Division 3: Experimental Psychology
APA Division 7: Developmental Psychology
APA Division 28: Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse
Arizona State University
Binghamton University
Boston University
California State University, Fullerton
Carnegie Mellon University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Duke University
East Tennessee State University
Florida International University
Florida State University
George Mason University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Harvard University
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University--Purdue University Indianapolis
Johns Hopkins University
Kent State University
Lehigh University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Michigan State University
New York University
North Carolina State University
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
The Ohio State University, Center for Cognitive and Brain Sciences
Pennsylvania State University
Princeton University
Purdue University
Rice University
Southern Methodist University
Stanford University
Syracuse University
Temple University
Texas A&M University
Tulane University
University of Arizona
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis
University of California, Irvine
University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Riverside
University of California, San Diego
University of Chicago
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Delaware
University of Houston
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Iowa
University of Maryland, College Park
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota, Institute of Child Development
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Dallas
University of Washington
Vanderbilt University
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest University
Washington University in St. Louis
Yale University

    [This statement was submitted by Juliane Baron, Executive 
Director.]
                                 ______
                                 
     Prepared Statement of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical 
                               University
fiscal year 2022 programmatic allocations for education programs under 
the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (noaa) and national 
                        science foundation (nsf)
    Chair Leahy, Chair Shaheen, Vice Chairman Shelby, Ranking Member 
Moran, and Members of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related 
Agencies subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to submit public 
testimony on the Fiscal Year 2022 Commerce, Justice, Science, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Specifically, FAMU supports the 
President's fiscal year 2022 budget request for the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Education Partnership Program 
with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI) and the National Sea Grant 
College Program, as well as the National Science Foundation's Education 
and Human Resources education programs. These congressionally 
authorized Federal programs have a direct impact on FAMU, our students, 
our region and our Nation.
    Florida A&M University, based in the State capitol of Tallahassee, 
Florida, was founded in 1887 with only 15 students and two instructors. 
Today, FAMU has grown to nearly 10,000 students and we are the highest 
ranked among public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) 
according to the U.S. News and World Report National Public 
Universities. Our University offers 56 bachelor's degrees, 29 master's 
degrees, 12 doctoral degrees and three professional degrees. We are a 
leading land-grant research institution with an increased focus on 
science, technology, research, engineering, agriculture, and 
mathematics.
    The Federal Government is a key partner and resource for FAMU. The 
Federal science agencies, in particular, support a wide range of the 
University's education, research and training programs. In turn, we 
produce highly-skilled graduates in critical disciplines and conduct 
cutting edge research benefitting the Federal Government as well as the 
Nation. FAMU strongly supports funding for two important education 
programs under the Department of Commerce National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as well as education programs under 
the National Science Foundation Directorate for Education & Human 
Resources (EHR).
 noaa education partnership program with minority serving institutions 
                               (epp/msi)
    FAMU is one of the four lead universities for the NOAA Education 
Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI) 
Cooperative Science Centers (CSCs), and as such we support the proposed 
increase for the program in the President's fiscal year 2022 budget. 
The goal of the EPP/MSI is to increase the number of students, 
particularly from underrepresented communities, who attend Minority 
Serving Institutions and graduate with degrees in science, technology, 
engineering and mathematics (STEM) relevant to NOAA's mission.
    In August 2016 under the EPP/MSI program, NOAA awarded Cooperative 
Science Centers (CSCs) to four universities under 5-year cooperative 
agreements. This was the latest round of CSC awards since the program 
was first established in 2001. FAMU is the lead university for the 
Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems, one of the four CSCs. Our 
partners include Bethune Cookman University, California State 
University Monterey Bay, Jackson State University, Texas A&M University 
(Corpus Christi), and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The 
annual appropriation supports FAMU, along with other lead Minority 
Serving Institutions, which partner with 24 additional U.S. colleges 
and universities as part of the CSC program. The faculty and students 
conduct research that further supports NOAA's mission.
    In April 2021, FAMU hosted the first phase of the Tenth Biennial 
NOAA EPP/MSI Education and Science Forum. The focus of the Forum is 
expanding academic training in NOAA-mission STEM disciplines, through 
partnership activities as well as promoting career opportunities for 
STEM graduates in the public, private, and academic sectors.
    Since 2001, NOAA EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers institutions 
have awarded post-secondary degrees to over 2,300 students in fields 
that support NOAA's mission. Over the same time period, these 
institutions awarded over half of the doctoral degrees that were earned 
by African Americans in both atmospheric science and marine science in 
the United States. The President's fiscal year 2022 budget for NOAA's 
Office of Education proposes a $3 million increase in funding for this 
critical program, which supports NOAA-related research, increases 
diversity of the STEM workforce and fosters American competitiveness in 
STEM fields. We urge the subcommittee to support the President's budget 
proposal and provide increased funding for the NOAA EPP/MSI program.
                noaa national sea grant college program
    FAMU also strongly supports the subcommittee allocating the 
President's fiscal year 2022 budget request of $115.7 million for 
NOAA's National Sea Grant College Program, which works to create and 
maintain a healthy coastal environment and economy. The Sea Grant 
network consists of a Federal/university partnership between NOAA and 
34 university-based programs in every coastal and Great Lakes State, 
Puerto Rico, and Guam. The network draws on the expertise of more than 
3,000 scientists, engineers, public outreach experts, educators and 
students to help citizens better understand, conserve and utilize 
America's coastal resources.
    The Florida Sea Grant program is a Statewide program headquartered 
at the University of Florida. The program supports research, education 
and extension to conserve coastal resources and enhance economic 
opportunities for the citizens of Florida. Since 1997, faculty and 
students at 13 participating institutions, including FAMU, have 
received Federal funding from the Florida Sea Grant. In 2019, the 
economic impact of the Florida Sea Grant program was $17.1 million and 
resulted in 372 jobs created or sustained. The program also supported a 
variety of research and training relevant to Florida's coastal 
communities and related industries, including developing a model to 
project future flood risks to support Florida's coastal resiliency 
plans. The program augments the State's artificial reef efforts and 
helps to protect, enhance and restore coastal habitat. Nationally, the 
Sea Grant program had an economic impact of $412.4 million in 2020, far 
exceeding the Federal investment in the program. The national program 
helped to create or sustain 10,404 jobs and 998 businesses. It also 
supported nearly 2,000 graduate and undergraduate students and fellows.
    The President's fiscal year 2022 budget proposes to substantially 
increase funding for the National Sea Grant College Program under 
NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR). Continued 
funding for this program, which has been in existence for more than 50 
years, is critical to supporting Great Lakes and coastal communities, 
including those in Florida, through research, extension and education. 
FAMU, as a member of the Florida Sea Grant program, urges the 
subcommittee to support the President's budget proposal and fund the 
Sea Grant program at the requested level of $115.7 million.
          national science foundation (nsf) education programs
    The NSF Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) 
supports a wide variety of programs across all levels of education in 
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). In particular, 
FAMU supports funding for the broadening participation programs aimed 
at increasing the participation of underrepresented populations in STEM 
education and, ultimately, the STEM workforce. These programs include 
the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program 
(HBCU-UP). FAMU urges the subcommittee to support the President's 
budget request of $46.5 million for HBCU-UP.
    FAMU has received significant research funding through NSF, 
including more than $4 million from NSF in fiscal year 2020. These 
grants have funded a variety of scientific research projects as well as 
programs to promote underrepresented minorities in STEM careers. FAMU 
continues to pursue NSF funding for innovative projects and encourages 
the subcommittee to provide robust funding for NSF's education 
programs.
    The President's fiscal year 2022 budget requests $1.28 billion for 
NSF's EHR programs. The budget also proposes an increase in the HBCU-UP 
program. Funding at the President's budget request for EHR and the 
HBCU-UP would allow NSF to expand its important work of supporting STEM 
education programs, particularly its broadening participation programs 
directed at underrepresented populations.
    We urge the subcommittee to support the President's proposed budget 
increases for these critical NOAA and NSF education programs. We thank 
you for your continued support of Federal postsecondary initiatives 
that not only directly benefit our University but the region and the 
Nation as well. Thank you for your consideration.

    [This statement was submitted by President Larry Robinson, Ph.D.]
                                 ______
                                 
             Prepared Statement of Futures Without Violence

June 22, 2022

 
 
 
The Honorable Jeanne Shaheen,            The Honorable Jerry Moran,
  Chairwoman                               Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice,       Subcommittee on Commerce,
  Science, and Related Agencies           Justice,
Committee on Appropriations                Science, and Related Agencies
United States Senate                     Committee on Appropriations
Washington, D.C. 20510                   United States Senate
                                         Washington, D.C. 20510
 


Dear Chairwoman Shaheen and Ranking Member Moran:

    For more than 35 years, Futures Without Violence (FUTURES) has been 
providing groundbreaking programs, policies, and campaigns that empower 
individuals and organizations working to end violence against women and 
children around the world. Striving to reach new audiences and 
transform social norms, we train professionals such as doctors, nurses, 
judges, and athletic coaches on improving responses to violence and 
abuse. We also work with advocates, policymakers, and others to build 
sustainable community leadership and educate people everywhere about 
the importance of respect and healthy relationships.

        -- To create a future without violence, we support $2 million 
        for VAWA's the National Resource Center on Workplace Responses 
        (Workplaces Respond) in fiscal year 2022. This authorized 
        program is currently funded at $1 million.

    Futures Without Violence is a member of the National Campaign for 
Funding to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, an alliance of over 30 
national organizations that support full funding for gender-based 
violence programs. Workplaces Respond is also supported by this 
coalition. On behalf of FUTURES, please allow us to provide some 
background on the Workplace Resource Center and the need for an 
increase to $2 million for this national program that supports economic 
security and safety for gender-based violence survivors.
    Authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and funded 
through the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against 
Women (OVW), the National Resource Center on Workplace Responses is the 
only national program focused on fostering survivors' economic security 
by promoting their safety and well-being on the job, and helping 
employers address how gender-based violence affects the workplace 
overall.
    Economic security is a critical protective factor for survivors, so 
they have the resources necessary to seek safety, independence, and 
long-term stability for themselves and their children. The pandemic's 
disproportionate impact on women--especially women of color -has 
further eroded survivors' ability to achieve economic self-sufficiency. 
Women in the U.S. lost 5.5 million jobs in the first 10 months of the 
pandemic, nearly 1 million more job losses than men;

  --60 percent of survivors reported job loss due to impacts of abuse; 
        and
  --Survivors are 5-6 times more likely to drop out of job training 
        programs due to the impacts of abuse and lingering effects of 
        trauma.

    While we are entering the recovery stage of COVID, the fundamental 
need to support survivors, particularly women of color, remains, and 
the Workplace Resource Center has the effective results to meet this 
need. Since it was created, the Resource Center has conducted 
approximately 200 trainings and assisted nearly 20,000 people and 
countless workplaces. Workplaces Respond has helped ensure victim and 
workplace safety and productivity through:

  --online-based resources;
  --specialized education, training, and technical assistance for 
        private and public workplaces, and other workplace 
        stakeholders;
  --awareness raising and outreach; and
  --policies and practices to prevent and respond to violence impacting 
        workers and the workplace.

    In the past few years, since the start of the #MeToo movement and 
being inundated with requests, the Workplace Resource Center invested 
in creating a new online resource hub that provides guidance for 
employers, sample training curricula, and tools and strategies for 
impacted employees. This was completed as funding remained level at $1 
million.
    For fiscal year 2022, we are requesting an increase in funding this 
year to $2 million through this VAWA program to carry out expanded and 
timely areas of work:

  --Trauma-Responsiveness: In response to the devastating impact the 
        COVID-19 pandemic has had on women's employment, the Workplace 
        Resource Center seeks to engage employers through collaboration 
        and capacity building to help reconnect survivors to 
        employment. Building on strategies and tools our staff 
        developed for trafficking victim service providers and local 
        workforce development programs through a grant from DOJ's 
        Office for Victims of Crime, we propose a new, but 
        complementary initiative to ensure that survivors of domestic 
        violence, dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking are 
        better able to access job and skill-building programs, secure 
        employment, and work within safe and trauma-responsive 
        workplaces. This collaborative model was developed through 11 
        local victim service and employer collaborations across 10 
        cities and States.
  --Industry-specific Pilots: In the past, the Workplace Resource 
        Center has worked with local and regional-level hospitals, farm 
        workers, and restaurants to support industry-specific best 
        practices. We have started similar work with the fast food 
        industry this past year, and an increase in funding could 
        support a more robust demand for technical assistance and 
        training to develop replicable practices.
  --Scale and Spread Strategy: In order to replicate the model of 
        employer engagement and foster local collaborations between 
        victim services providers and employers, the Workplace Resource 
        Center is in the process of instituting a Workplaces Respond 
        Institute, which will bring representatives from 14 different 
        localities to be trained on how to create a localized 
        prevention and education model for employers, engage workplaces 
        in better responding to violence impacting workers and the 
        workplace, and support survivors in achieving economic 
        stability.
  --Federal employees: The public sector, which represents over 15 
        percent of the U.S. workforce, has always been under the 
        Workplace Resource Center's umbrella. Recently, there is 
        increasing interest from Federal agencies and OPM to re-engage 
        in this work using the existing Presidential Memorandum--
        Establishing Policies for Addressing Domestic Violence in the 
        Federal Workforce; increased appropriations would support this 
        work.

    For additional information, please contact Linda Seabrook, General 
Counsel and Director of Workplace Safety & Equity, 
[email protected],, Kiersten Stewart, Director of 
Public Policy and Advocacy, at [email protected], or 
Sally Schaeffer, consultant, at [email protected].

    [This statement was submitted by Esta Soler, President.]
                                 ______
                                 
        Prepared Statement of the Geological Society of America
    national science foundation and national aeronautics and space 
                             administration
    The Geological Society of America (GSA) supports strong and growing 
investments in geoscience research and education at the National 
Science Foundation (NSF) and National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA). We encourage Congress to appropriate $10 billion 
for NSF in fiscal year 2022 and increases to NASA's Science Mission 
Directorate and its Earth Science and Planetary Science Divisions. 
Investment in NSF and NASA is necessary to secure America's future 
economic leadership, both through the discoveries made and the talent 
developed through their programs. For the United States to remain a 
global leader, the Nation must provide greater investment in its 
people, particularly women and individuals from other groups 
traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields. Earth and space science 
at these two agencies play a vital role in American prosperity and 
security by playing an integral role in understanding and documenting 
mineral and energy resources that underpin economic growth; researching 
and monitoring potential natural hazards that threaten U.S. and 
international security; and determining and assessing water quality and 
availability.

    The Geological Society of America (GSA) is a scientific society 
with members from academia, government, and industry in more than 100 
countries. Through its meetings, publications, and programs, GSA 
enhances the professional growth of its members and promotes the 
geosciences in the service of humankind. GSA encourages cooperative 
research among earth, life, planetary, and social scientists, fosters 
public dialogue on geoscience issues, and supports all levels of earth 
science education.
                      national science foundation
    The Geological Society of America (GSA) appreciates the increase to 
the National Science Foundation (NSF) budget in fiscal year 2021 and 
thanks the Committee for recognizing the important role that the agency 
plays in our country's global competitiveness. We urge Congress to 
provide NSF at least $10 billion in fiscal year 2022.
    Sustained increases beyond inflation are necessary to regain 
America's science and technology leadership and to enable the 
discoveries that lead to future innovations and industries. Data from 
the Merit Review Process Fiscal Year 2019 Digest show that NSF receives 
many more high-quality proposals than it can fund. In fiscal year 2019, 
NSF was only able to fund 27 percent of the proposals received. The 
report noted, ``Approximately $2.8 billion was requested for declined 
proposals that were rated Very Good or higher in the merit review 
process--proposals that, if funded, may have produced substantial 
research and education benefits.'' The report States that National 
Science Board members ``believe that the long-term health of the 
research community and promised benefits to the Nation demand a funding 
rate closer to the historical average of 30 percent or more.'' 
Increases in funding will allow NSF to continue to support its core 
basic research in addition to growing investments in its Ten Big Ideas 
and other transformational research. These big ideas are designed to 
position the U.S. on the cutting edge of global science and engineering 
leadership and will build upon and complement the basic research 
occurring in the directorates.
    Geoscience research is a critical component of the overall science 
and technology enterprise and a key contributor to groundbreaking 
research across disciplines at NSF. NSF's Directorate for Geosciences 
is the largest Federal supporter of basic geoscience research at 
universities. Increased investments in NSF's geoscience portfolio are 
necessary to address such issues as natural hazards, energy and 
minerals, water resources, education, and needed research funding due 
to the coronavirus pandemic.

  --There is a vital need to understand the abundance and distribution 
        of critical mineral resources, as well as the geologic 
        processes that form them, as articulated in the Energy Policy 
        Act of 2020. NSF's Division of Earth Sciences supports research 
        on the structure, composition, and evolution of the Earth and 
        the processes that govern the formation and behavior of the 
        Earth's materials. This research contributes to a better 
        understanding of the natural distribution of mineral and energy 
        resources.
  --The quality and quantity of surface water and groundwater have a 
        direct impact on the wellbeing of societies and ecosystems, as 
        evidenced by flooding and drought impacts experienced across 
        the U.S. during the past year. NSF's research addresses major 
        gaps in our understanding of water availability, quality, and 
        dynamics, including the impact of both a changing climate and 
        human activity on the water system.
  --The Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences provides critical 
        infrastructure and research funding for understanding our 
        planet, including weather and precipitation variability and 
        atmospheric and space weather hazards. NSF is a key partner in 
        obtaining data necessary to predict severe space weather 
        events, which affect the electric power grid, satellite 
        communications, and navigation systems. The Promoting Research 
        and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of 
        Tomorrow Act (PROSWIFT Act), which was signed into law in 
        October of 2020, highlights how NSF contributes to 
        understanding these research questions.
  --Understanding the oceans is key to a sustainable future. The 
        National Research Council report Sea Change: 2015-2025 Decadal 
        Survey of Ocean Sciences highlights areas of research that are 
        need to make informed decisions, including: How can risk be 
        better characterized and the ability to forecast geohazards 
        like megaearthquakes, tsunamis, undersea landslides, and 
        volcanic eruptions be improved? What are the rates, mechanisms, 
        impacts, and geographic variability of sea level change? How 
        different will marine food webs be at mid-century? In the next 
        100 years? Additional support for NSF would allow researchers 
        to find answers to these essential questions.
  --Natural hazards are a major cause of fatalities and economic 
        losses. NOAA found in 2020 alone, there were 13 severe storms, 
        seven tropical cyclones, one drought, and one wildfire that 
        resulted in a cost of $95 billion and 262 deaths. An improved 
        scientific understanding of hazards will reduce future losses 
        by informing effective planning and mitigation. We urge 
        Congress to support NSF investments in fundamental Earth 
        science research and facilities that underpin innovations in 
        natural hazards monitoring and warning systems. For example, 
        the Coastlines and People (CoPe) initiative aims to understand 
        the impacts of coastal environmental variability and natural 
        hazards on populated coastal regions.
             national aeronautics and space administration
    GSA requests increases to NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) 
and its Earth Science and Planetary Science Divisions. Increased 
funding will be critical to implement the recommendations of the recent 
National Academy of Sciences' Earth Science and Applications from Space 
(ESAS) Decadal Survey report. The report notes,
    ``Earth science and applications are a key part of the Nation's 
information infrastructure, warranting a U.S. program of Earth 
observations from space that is robust, resilient, and appropriately 
balanced.''
    The data and observations from Earth observing missions and 
research are a tremendously important resource for natural resource 
exploration and land use planning, as well as assessing water 
resources, natural disaster impacts, and global agriculture production. 
GSA supports interagency efforts to ensure the future viability of 
Landsat satellites as well as funding to increase the capabilities and 
uses of multi-spacecraft constellations of small scientific satellites.
    We appreciate congressional support in fiscal year 2021 for Earth 
Science Missions, and request that Congress continue their funding in 
fiscal year 2022. These missions will advance science frontiers and 
provide critical data for society. For example, NASA's Plankton, 
Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission will help monitor the 
duration and impact of harmful algae blooms and The Climate Absolute 
Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) Pathfinder will enable 
industry and military decision-makers to more accurately assess natural 
hazards, such as flooding.
    By looking at our planet as an integrated system, NASA's Earth and 
climate science efforts are among the Nation's most effective tools to 
understand and tackle climate change. Planetary research is directly 
linked to Earth science research and cuts in either program will hinder 
the other. To support missions to better understand the workings of the 
entire solar system, planetary scientists engage in both terrestrial 
field studies and Earth observation to examine geologic features and 
processes that are common on other planets, such as impact structures, 
volcanic constructs, tectonic structures, and glacial and fluvial 
deposits and landforms. In addition, geochemical planetary research 
studies include investigations of extraterrestrial materials now on 
Earth, including lunar samples, meteorites, cosmic dust particles, and, 
most recently, particles returned from comets and asteroids. We 
appreciate past congressional support for this area and urge you to 
continue to increase this important area to support priority areas 
identified in the Planetary Science Decadal Survey.
              support needed to educate future innovators
    Earth scientists will be essential to meeting the environmental and 
resource challenges of the twenty-first century, but a shortage is 
expected in the future workforce. The Status of the Geoscience 
Workforce Report 2018 found an expected deficit of approximately 
118,000 geoscientists by 2026. It also highlighted the diversity of 
careers supported by geoscience research. For example, the report found 
that the majority of master's degree graduates found jobs in the oil 
and gas industry and government, while environmental services, such as 
environmental consulting and remediation of water and soil, hired the 
highest percentage of geoscience bachelor's degree graduates. Other 
industries hiring geoscientists include manufacturing, trade, 
construction, information technology services, mining, and agriculture. 
Increased NSF and NASA investments in Earth science education are 
necessary to meet these workforce needs and develop an informed, 
science-literate population.
    For the United States to remain a global leader, the Nation must 
provide greater investment in its people, including women and 
individuals from other groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM 
fields. NSF's Education and Human Resources Directorate researches and 
improves the way we teach science and provides research and fellowship 
opportunities for students to encourage them to continue in the 
sciences. Similarly, NASA's educational programs, led by NASA's Office 
of STEM Engagement and directorates, have inspired and led many into 
science careers. GSA fully supports these efforts, as well as 
additional programs to make the geoscience workforce more diverse, such 
as NSF INCLUDES--Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners 
of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science.
    Please contact GSA Director for Geoscience Policy Kasey White to 
learn more about the Geological Society of America--including GSA 
Position Statements on water resources, planetary research, energy and 
mineral resources, natural hazards, climate change, and public 
investment in Earth science research.

    [This statement was submitted by Kasey White, Director for 
Geoscience Policy.]
                                 ______
                                 
     Prepared Statement of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
      fiscal year 2022 funding for the national science foundation
    On behalf of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES), we 
are pleased to provide this written testimony to House Appropriations 
subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies 
for the official record. HFES urges the subcommittee to provide at 
least $10 billion for the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the 
fiscal year 2022 appropriations process. In addition, HFES supports 
efforts by NSF to broaden participation in science for underrepresented 
groups to ensure a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce and 
research enterprise, such as the INCLUDES and ADVANCE initiatives. 
These efforts are critical to not only fixing inequities in the U.S. 
research enterprise but also to ensuring that the U.S. has the robust, 
21st Century workforce needed to maintain its competitive edge in 
technological innovation.
    HFES is a multidisciplinary professional association with over 
3,000 individual members worldwide, comprised of scientists and 
practitioners, all with a common interest in enhancing the performance, 
effectiveness, and safety of systems with which humans interact through 
the design of those systems' user interfaces to optimally fit humans' 
physical and cognitive capabilities. The Society and its members 
strongly believe that investment in scientific research serves as an 
important driver for innovation and the economy, national security, and 
maintaining American global competitiveness. Funding for fundamental 
research at NSF to address national and societal needs will be critical 
as Congress looks at legislation to ensure the U.S. remains the global 
leader in advancing science and technology. We thank the subcommittee 
for its longtime recognition of the value of scientific and engineering 
research and its contribution to innovation in the U.S.
    human factors and ergonomics at the national science foundation
    HFES and its members strongly believe that Federal investment in 
NSF will have a direct and positive impact on the U.S. economy, 
national security, and the health and well-being of Americans. It is 
for these reasons that HFES supports robust funding for the Foundation 
to encourage further advancements in the fields of technology, 
education, defense, and healthcare, among others. In the past, NSF 
funding for HF/E basic research has strengthened interdisciplinary 
partnerships allowing for a multilateral approach to technology 
research and development, including the human and user perspectives. 
The benefits of this research are not confined to one field but rather 
span across a range of disciplines to increase understanding of the way 
humans interact with technology, as well as with each other.

    In particular, NSF funds HF/E research to:

  --Better understand and improve the effectiveness of how individuals, 
        groups, organizations, and society make decisions.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Decision, Risk & Management Sciences (DRMS) Program (http://
www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_
summ.jsp?pims_id=5423)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  --Improve understanding of the relationship between science and 
        engineering, technology, and society, in order to advance the 
        adoption and use of technology.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ Science and Technology Studies (STS) Program (https://
www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_
summ.jsp?pims_id=505697)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  --Gain a better understanding of how humans and computers interact to 
        ensure the development of new devices or environments that 
        empower the user.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ Human Centered Computing (HCC) Program (https://www.nsf.gov/
funding/pgm_
summ.jsp?pims_id=504958)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  --Inform decision making in engineering design, control, and 
        optimization to improve individual engineering components and 
        entire systems.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\ Operation and Design Cluster (http://www.nsf.gov/funding/
pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13473)

    HF/E research will be especially critical as Congress and the 
Federal Government work to develop, adopt, and broadly integrate 
emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). HFES 
recognizes that most systems that rely on AI will not operate 
independently but will be initially programmed and trained by humans to 
augment, collaborate, or perform specific tasks.
    The HF/E profession has conducted detailed research on impacts of 
AI on human performance, and HFES believes AI must be designed to 
successfully support human capabilities and overcome known human 
cognitive limitations, so that humans can understand the actions and 
intentions of AI. More research is needed to understand how systems can 
be designed to overcome AI biases, provide transparency and 
explainability for human use, and provide clear interfaces for human-AI 
interactions. Interdisciplinary research programs at NSF to address 
these challenges, such as its Fairness in Artificial Intelligence 
program \5\ and the AI Research Institutes,\6\ will be critical to 
ensuring the U.S. achieves the promised benefits AI can bring to 
society.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\ NSF Program on Fairness in Artificial Intelligence in 
Collaboration with Amazon (FAI) (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/
pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505651)
    \6\ Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes (https://
www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?
pims_id=505686)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
           the value of human factors and ergonomics science
    For over 50 years, the U.S. Federal Government has funded 
scientists and engineers to explore and better understand the 
relationship between humans, technology, and the environment. 
Originally stemming from urgent needs to improve the performance of 
humans using complex systems such as aircraft during World War II, the 
field of human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) works to develop safe, 
effective, and practical human use of technology. HF/E does this by 
developing scientific approaches for understanding this complex 
interface, also known as ``human-systems integration.'' Today, HF/E is 
applied to fields as diverse as transportation, architecture, 
environmental design, consumer products, electronics and computers, 
energy systems, medical devices, manufacturing, office automation, 
organizational design and management, aging, farming, health, sports 
and recreation, oil field operations, mining, forensics, and education.
    With increasing reliance by Federal agencies and the private sector 
on technology-aided decision-making, HF/E is vital to effectively 
achieving our National objectives. While a large proportion of HF/E 
research exists at the intersection of science and practice--that is, 
HF/E is often viewed more at the ``applied'' end of the science 
continuum--the field also contributes to advancing ``fundamental'' 
scientific understanding of the interface between human decision-
making, engineering, design, technology, and the world around us 
through research funded by NSF. The reach of HF/E is profound, touching 
nearly all aspects of human life from the health care sector to the 
ways we travel, to the hand-held devices we use every day.
                               conclusion
    Given NSF's critical role in supporting fundamental research and 
education across science and engineering disciplines, HFES supports an 
overall fiscal year 2022 NSF budget of at least $10 billion. This 
investment funds important research studies, enabling an evidence-base, 
methodology, and measurements for improving organizational function, 
performance, and design across sectors and disciplines.
    On behalf of HFES, we would like to thank you for the opportunity 
to provide this testimony. Please do not hesitate to contact us should 
you have any questions about HFES or HF/E research. HFES truly 
appreciates the subcommittee's long history of support for scientific 
research and innovation.

    [This statement was submitted by Peter Hancock, DSc, PhD, 
President, and Steven C. Kemp, CAE, Executive Director.]
                                 ______
                                 
          Prepared Statement of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe
                  departments of justice and commerce
    On behalf of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, I am pleased to submit 
this written testimony on our funding priorities and requests for the 
Fiscal Year 2022 for the Department of Commerce and the Department of 
Justice budgets. Our budget request endorses the requests and 
recommendations of our international, regional, and national partners, 
the Pacific Salmon Commission, the Northwest Indian Fisheries 
Commission, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, and the National 
Congress of American Indians.
    The moral compass of our Nation is expressed annually when Congress 
exercises its authority to appropriate funding to support certain 
programs and services. The Constitution, Treaties, Executive Orders, 
and numerous court decisions established the legal and moral foundation 
for prioritizing funding for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/
AN). Yet, as documented by two Reports that were issued by the U.S. 
Civil Rights Commission, a quiet crisis of unfulfilled Federal 
obligations has persisted for decades across Indian Country and has 
left our Tribal citizens and communities vulnerable to the current 
public health crisis and economic devastation. The COVID-19 pandemic's 
disproportionate impact on AI/AN resulted in the highest rates of 
infection, hospitalizations, and deaths compared to any other racial 
and ethnic group in the U.S. And these harrowing statistics are likely 
much worse given the lack of accurate, reliable, quality data on AI/AN.
    The Biden Administration has committed to respect Tribal 
sovereignty, as well as, uphold the trust responsibility, strengthen 
the Nation-to-Nation relationship, and empower Tribal communities 
through Self-Governance and Self-Determination to make their own 
decisions and govern their own communities. We urge Congress to follow 
suit and pass a Federal budget for AI/AN that is reflective of the 
solemn promises made by the U.S. We have proven time and again that 
when you invest in Jamestown and empower our Tribe to exercise our 
inherent right of Self-Governance we become strong economic development 
drivers for our community and the surrounding region by growing our 
resource base and creating jobs. Tribes are a critical governmental 
partner in our Nation's quest to ``Build Back Better''.
UPHOLD TRUST AND TREATY OBLIGATIONS
    1.  Provide Recurring Base Funding for Tribal Programs
    2.  Require All Agencies to Provide an Annual Estimate of the Costs 
to Fully Fund Tribal Programs & Improve Data Collection to Support 
Tribal Funding Requests
    3.  Provide Mandatory Funding for Tribal Programs and Services
TRIBAL REQUESTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (Support 
        the fiscal year 2022 request of the Pacific Salmon Commission)
    1.  Provide $110 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery 
Fund (NOAA/NMFS)
    2.  Provide $18.3 million for the Pacific Salmon Treaty, including 
the additional $5.5 million for the 2008 Chinook Salmon Agreement 
(NOAA/NMFS)
    3.  Provide $25.9 million for the Mitchell Act Hatchery Program 
(NOAA/NMFS)
NATIONAL REQUESTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
    1.  Fully Fund the Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA)
    2.  Fully Fund Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
    3.  Office of Justice Programs (OJP)--Create a Ten Percent (10 
percent) Tribal Set-Aside for Tribes
    4.  Victims of Crime Act Funding--Provide a five percent (5 
percent) set aside
    5.  Fund COPS Program--$52 million
UPHOLD TRUST & TREATY OBLIGATIONS
            1. Provide Recurring Base Funding for Tribal Programs
    Stable base funding at sufficient levels is essential for viable 
and effective Tribal programs and services. Grant funding is highly 
competitive, short-term, the application process is complex, the 
administrative burden on Tribes is excessive and there are numerous 
restrictions imposed on how Tribes may use the funds. Simply put, 
competitive grants create barriers to effectively and efficiently 
provide programs and services in Tribal communities. Reducing 
Administrative inefficiencies would improve program effectiveness and 
increase the ability of Tribes to leverage the Federal dollar. Base 
funding coupled with more flexibility allows for more effective and 
efficient use of the Federal dollar and stronger Tribal governmental 
systems resulting in resilient and self-reliant Tribal citizens and 
communities.
            2. Require All Agencies to Provide an Annual Estimate of 
                    the Costs to Fully Fund Tribal Programs & Improve 
                    Data Collection to Support Tribal Funding Requests
    It is incumbent upon the agencies, as trustees, to work 
collectively with the Tribes to quantify the true unmet need/
unfulfilled Federal obligation with credible metrics that will 
demonstrate an accurate community profile for each Tribe. We need 
economic statistics and data that establish and drive policy goals, 
ensure effective implementation of programs and services, measure 
funding impacts, prove effective and efficient use of funding, and to 
demonstrate program success. These data metrics, however, are not a 
``justification'' of whether Tribes deserve funding. The Federal 
obligation does not dissipate if a Tribe performs poorly in any area. 
Rather, a heightened response by the government is required to identify 
the challenges that impede a Tribe's success and to build greater 
capacity at the local level, if necessary. At this point in time, there 
is not a system in place that captures the data needed. There is an 
absence of good data agency-wide with some agencies under the prior 
Administration having imposed a moratorium on the collection of needs-
based data for Tribes. The Federal Government needs to be held 
accountable and directed to work in partnership with Tribes to collect 
data that quantifies the true unmet needs/unfulfilled Federal 
obligations in Indian country.
            3. Provide Mandatory Funding for Tribal Programs and 
                    Services
    Trust and Treaty obligations are not discretionary; these are 
mandatory responsibilities and obligations. On an annual basis Tribes 
are required to ``justify'' their budgetary needs and prove to the 
Federal Government that the Federal investment in Tribal communities is 
a good investment. We have shown time and again that the Federal 
investment in Jamestown is a good investment but the narrative about 
funding needs to be re-written because it is mischaracterizing the 
Federal trust obligation. Tribes relinquished their lands and resources 
in exchange for funding and services from the Federal Government in 
perpetuity and that obligation has not changed with time. It is 
solidified in our Constitution, Treaties, Executive Orders, and 
countless legal opinions.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TRIBAL REQUESTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
            1. $110 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery 
                    Fund (NOAA/NMFS)
    The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery fund was established to reverse 
the decline of salmon and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest. Jamestown 
uses the funds to restore wild salmon populations and to protect and 
restore important habitat in the Puget Sound coastal plains. These 
funds also support our policy development and help to build the 
technical capacity of our Natural Resources staff charged with 
planning, implementation, and monitoring recovery activities.
            2. $43.5 million for the Pacific Salmon Treaty--The U.S. 
                    Section estimates that this funding is needed to 
                    implement national commitments created by the 
                    Treaty (NOAA/NMFS)
    Since 1985, the Pacific Salmon Treaty, between Canada and the 
United States, has provided the framework for international 
collaboration and cooperation to conserve and manage Pacific Salmon. 
The Pacific Salmon Commission (PSC), Parties to the Treaty, works to 
establish fishery regimes, develop management recommendations, assess 
each country's performance and compliance with the Treaty, and is the 
forum for all entities to work towards reaching an agreement on mutual 
fisheries issues. In 2019, the Parties implemented a new 10-year 
agreement for these fisheries through 2028 and it is essential for the 
U.S. to uphold its commitment each year.
            3. $25.9 million for the Mitchell Act Hatchery Program 
                    (NOAA/NMFS)
    Jamestown hatchery operations have elevated our success and 
generated a substantial return on our investment in our aquaculture 
business. The Tribe operates three hatcheries, two in Washington State 
and one in Hawaii that produce shellfish and sablefish seeds. The 
seedlings help to replenish fish and shellfish stocks that have been 
depleted due to loss of ecosystems and natural habitats. Tribes depend 
on hatcheries to support Treaty fishing rights, protect our culture and 
traditional ways of life, and to bolster our commercial fishery 
operations at home and trade abroad.
NATIONAL REQUESTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
            1. Fully Fund the Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA)
    The Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA) was an important step in 
empowering Tribes to better address the unique public safety challenges 
and reduce the prevalence of violent crime in Indian country. However, 
effective implementation of TLOA is contingent upon adequate Federal 
funding for law enforcement, courts, detention facilities and the 
provision of rehabilitative and preventative services. Full funding is 
needed to effectively and efficiently implement the comprehensive and 
improved measures that were enacted to address the public safety crisis 
in Tribal communities.
            2. Fully Fund Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Including 
                    $5 million for VAWA Special Domestic Violence 
                    Criminal Jurisdiction
    The Office on Violence Against Women provides funding for Tribes to 
address violence against women in their communities. The incidence of 
domestic violence in Tribal communities is staggering and it is 
estimated that over 85 percent of AI/AN will be victims of intimate 
partner violence, stalking and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. 
Over 90 percent of these crimes are committed by non-Natives who were 
outside of the jurisdictional authority of the Tribes. In 2013, 
Congress afforded AI/AN judicial recourse by reaffirming the inherent 
sovereign authority of Tribes to exercise Special Domestic Violence 
Criminal Jurisdiction over Indians and Non-Indians who commit certain 
crimes in Indian country. Although Congress authorized $5 million for 
Tribes to exercise this new jurisdictional authority, in fiscal year 
2021 only $4.3 million was appropriated. Tribal justice systems need 
additional resources to fully implement this authority and we therefore 
urge Congress to appropriate $5 million.
            3. Office of Justice Programs (OJP)--Create a 10 percent 
                    Tribal Set-Aside for all (OJP) Programs and Allow 
                    for Greater Flexibility
    Jamestown is advocating for a 10 percent Tribal set-aside from all 
OJP discretionary programs to provide Tribes base funding and maximum 
flexibility including the ability to combine DOJ funding with other 
sources of funding and allow Tribes to develop comprehensive holistic 
strategies to address public safety and justice in their communities. 
Stable funding for Tribal public safety and justice is a prerequisite 
to ensure a safe, healthy, and thriving Tribal community.
            4. Provide a Five Percent (5 percent) Tribal Set-Aside for 
                    Victims of Crime Act Funding
    The Victims of Crime Act funding is financed by fines and penalties 
imposed on convicted Federal offenders and is the largest source of 
Federal funding for crime victims. As of 2020, the fund balance was 
over $6 billion. Although the fund was established in 1984 and despite 
the staggering rates of violent crimes in Indian country, Tribes were 
not authorized as direct recipients of funding until recently. For the 
past 5 years, Congress has authorized and appropriated a portion of the 
fund directly to Tribal Nations. We urge Congress to continue to 
provide a 5 percent Tribal Set Aside on a recurring annual basis.
            5. Fund the COPS Program--$52 million
    The COPS Office provides funding to Tribes for law enforcement 
officers. Since the creation of the COPS program Tribes have hired more 
than 1700 law enforcement officers. COPS funding is also used for 
police training, equipment, vehicles, and technology. Although there is 
a great need for additional law enforcement officers throughout Indian 
Country, limited resources have hindered Tribe's ability to hire, 
retain, and train law enforcement officers. It is imperative for the 
safety of Tribal citizens, Indian communities, and surrounding 
neighboring communities that a significant increase in funding is 
allocated for Tribal law enforcement officers and programs.
    We thank you for the opportunity to provide this written testimony.

    [This statement was submitted by W. Ron Allen, Tribal Chairman/
CEO.]
                                 ______
                                 
Prepared Statement of the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative to the U.S. 
Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
                     Science, and Related Agencies
                noaa, nsf, and nasa for fiscal year 2022
    Chairman Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran, and other distinguished 
Members of the subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related 
Agencies, we thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony 
regarding the Fiscal Year 2022 CJS appropriations bill.
    The agencies under your charge must respond to the domestic and 
global crisis in our oceans. We urge you to ensure that all have 
sufficient resources to take necessary action. You have an opportunity 
to reassert global leadership that will steer the planet, including the 
stewardship of our oceans, back to a just, sustainable, and more secure 
future. We greatly appreciate your continued investment in our oceans 
commensurate with the immense value they provide our maritime Nation.
    We are highly supportive of the Administration proposal for nearly 
$7 billion for NOAA, as well as significantly increased support for the 
National Science Foundation and NASA's Earth Science Division. These 
represent significant steps to restoring U.S. technical capabilities 
and science as preeminent in the world. In certain critical accounts we 
ask you to consider modest additions above the president's request to 
address potentially catastrophic ocean conditions such as acidification 
and ensure that ocean observations are adequate to respond to 
accelerating climate impacts.
    The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative (Joint Initiative) is a 
collaborative, bipartisan effort to catalyze action on meaningful ocean 
policy reform. We believe that protecting base funding and core 
programs at NOAA, NSF, and NASA is an investment that will save lives, 
protect national security, grow our economy, increase justice and 
equity, mitigate climate change, and preserve the health of our oceans, 
coasts, and communities. Ocean and coastal resources provide 
fundamental goods and services, including food, minerals, 
transportation, medicines, tourism, and recreational opportunities. 
They also provide livelihoods for millions of Americans, including 
historically underserved populations and those who are being most 
impacted by climate change. These coastal communities and economies 
have already been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and need 
significant support to increase their resilience against future 
disasters.
    Ocean and coastal environments are often the first line of defense 
in promoting resilience and protecting American communities from severe 
weather events. The oceans are disproportionately impacted by 
increasing emissions from human activities, but also have immense 
potential to mitigate the climate crisis, for example, by taking action 
to advance offshore renewable energy and reduce maritime emissions. 
With a clear nexus of climate and oceans, a failure to take decisive 
action would severely impact the health and livelihoods of millions of 
Americans, with the largest impact on historically underserved 
communities. The U.S. needs to lead when it comes to supporting climate 
research, education, and adaptation, as well as in centering justice 
and equity principles. Robust support for key accounts at NOAA, NSF, 
and NASA is essential to reestablish U.S. leadership.
    The U.S. blue economy is paramount to ensuring an environmentally 
and economically sustainable future for our country. Contributing $373 
billion annually to the Nation's GDP and supporting 2.3 million jobs, 
the blue economy creates significant economic impact. As sea levels 
rise and marine species leave their historic grounds, we risk losing 
these integral drivers of our coastal economy. The oceans are vital to 
green economic recovery from COVID-19 as well as protection of 
marginalized coastal communities who are disproportionately affected by 
climate change.
    The Biden Administration's proposed topline budget makes 
significant strides toward re-establishing NOAA, NSF, and NASA Earth 
Sciences as premier science agencies that provide the underpinning to 
address the global climate crisis, while restoring and protecting the 
Nation's oceans. Based on the need for significant, sustained 
investment to invigorate public-private partnerships, address the 
significant ocean-climate nexus, and energize national, regional, 
State, and local initiatives, we strongly support increasing NOAA's 
overall budget to at least $6.9 billion as requested in the President's 
budget. We also urge the Committee to consider strategic investments 
above this level in critical accounts such as ocean acidification, 
managing fish stocks, and empowering oceans and coasts to mitigate 
climate impacts. Likewise, we support increasing NSF's overall budget 
to a minimum of $10.2 billion, and NASA Earth Science's budget to a 
minimum of $2.3 billion. We believe the recommendations in this 
testimony represent a modest investment relative to the threats and 
opportunities facing oceans and coastal communities, as the benefits 
they confer significantly outweigh the costs.
                 research, exploration, and observation
    A critical component of America's economic, military, and 
diplomatic power lies in its ocean research, education, exploration, 
and observation enterprises. Especially given the pace of observed 
changes in climate and ocean chemistry, we strongly urge the 
subcommittee to protect vital ocean science and research capabilities. 
To make the best, proactive management decisions possible, it is 
necessary that we first explore, map, observe, and understand our 
ocean.
    Observation and monitoring programs are integral to NOAA's ability 
to accurately forecast weather, for NOAA's protection and management of 
America's ocean resources, and for the U.S. military's navigation and 
extreme weather preparedness. We ask that your committee continue to 
support enhanced capabilities for observation and monitoring by 
allocating $762 million to NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research (OAR) and $66.7 million to NOAA's Sustained Ocean Observations 
and Monitoring Program. We also suggest the committee allocate $60 
million for the Ocean Exploration program to maintain the pace, scope, 
and efficiency of exploration.
    It is also critical to fund climate research at OAR at no less than 
$293.7 million to promote high-priority climate science that advances 
our understanding of Earth's climate system. The oceans are vital to 
mitigating against and adapting to climate change; through this 
research we can understand and implement ocean-based risk management 
and adaptation opportunities.
    In addition, we recommend allocating $10.2 billion for the NSF. 
NSF's investment in the geosciences--which includes ocean sciences--has 
spurred innovations, addressed salient national and global challenges, 
galvanized new economic sectors, generated countless jobs, and led to 
the development and implementation of advanced technologies. Finally, 
we recommend funding NASA's Earth Science Division at $2.3 billion, 
consistent with the President's request, to improve national 
capabilities to predict climate, weather, and natural hazards, and 
better manage resources.
                        education and extension
    The National Sea Grant College Program works to better research, 
understand, conserve, and utilize America's coastal resources, making 
it critical to coastal States, communities, and economies. For example, 
Sea Grant programs support fisheries and aquaculture business 
development and help Americans plan for and respond to extreme weather 
events. Sea Grant programs engage the ocean workforce of the future and 
further equity through increasing access to ocean programs for 
underserved communities. Given Sea Grant's critical importance, we urge 
this committee to allocate $115.6 million to Sea Grant in fiscal year 
2022, including $15 million for Sea Grant Marine Aquaculture.
    NOAA's environmental education and ocean stewardship programs 
increase essential access to STEM education and cultivate environmental 
stewardship. We request that the committee provide $16.5 million for 
Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) programs and $8.8 million 
for Environmental Literacy Programs (ELP). These vital programs in 
increase equity through inspiring and educating future ocean leaders 
who represent all Americans.
                        resilience and security
    Sufficient funding must be dedicated to strengthening the 
resiliency of coastal communities and ocean ecosystems to combat 
dramatic, climate driven changes in our oceans. We ask this 
subcommittee to continue leading on ocean and coastal security by 
allocating $113 million for the National Ocean and Coastal Security 
Fund (NOCSF) in fiscal year 2022. We further recommend that at least 
$4.5 million be allocated for regional data portals used to support 
critical ocean partnerships that encourage collaboration and data 
sharing on the regional scale. In addition, we recommend a total 
allocation of $108.5 million to Coastal Management Grants and a minimum 
allocation of $42.5 million for the National Estuarine Research Reserve 
System in fiscal year 2022. These programs support vital Federal/State 
partnerships to help protect our coasts and preserve millions of acres 
of coastal habitat, buffering against rising seas and storm events.
    NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) is also critical for sustained 
resilience and security. We strongly recommend that NOS receive an 
allocation of $884 million. NOS funding supports programs that ensure 
safe and efficient transportation and commerce; preparedness and risk 
reduction; and stewardship, recreation, and tourism. These programs 
protect our communities and safeguard our economic livelihoods. For 
example, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management delivers technical 
assistance communities need to address storm preparedness, erosion, 
development, habitat loss, sea level rise, and threats to water 
quality. These programs further equity by protecting the historically 
undeserved communities who are the most affected by these coastal 
changes. Moreover, the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science 
provides coastal managers with scientific information to protect public 
health, preserve valued habitats, and foster sustainable community 
interaction with coastal ecosystems. The value of public health has 
never been clearer than in the last year; we must increase our 
protection of community health through these programs. NOS also 
supports the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), which collects 
and distributes data that is used at the National, regional, State, and 
local levels. We recommend IOOS be supported at a recommended $69.5 
million to meet the safety, economic and stewardship needs of the 
Nation.
    The NOS also administers the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries 
and key restoration projects that dramatically enhance the resilience 
of coastal communities and ocean environments. National Marine 
Sanctuaries require $84.5 million to protect and steward special marine 
spaces, especially in the face of climate change, and develop the next 
generation of ocean stewards. These investments pay serious economic 
dividends: Sanctuaries generate approximately $8 billion annually for 
local economies and NOAA's restoration projects create an average of 17 
jobs for every $1 million invested. Moreover, for each million invested 
in strengthening coastal communities against storm surge, these 
programs can mitigate six million dollars in losses while also 
protecting the livelihoods and wellbeing of coastal Americans. We ask 
the subcommittee to support the NOCSF and the NOS to bolster the 
Nation's economic and environmental resilience and security.
                          ocean acidification
    Ocean acidification is evident along every shoreline and is majorly 
impacting economies worldwide. By changing the chemistry of seawater, 
ocean acidification endangers shellfish, corals, and other marine life 
and disrupts marine food webs. Ocean acidification poses a fundamental 
risk to fisheries and aquaculture industries and to human health, as 
well as a potentially catastrophic risk to our economy. We strongly 
urge you to allocate a minimum of $57.2 million for NOAA's Integrated 
Ocean Acidification program to support critical research, monitoring, 
education, and outreach. It will help develop a better understanding of 
the causes, impacts, and scale of ocean acidification and identify 
interventions to help protect fisheries and aquaculture.
                  sustainable fisheries & aquaculture
    Fishing is a cornerstone of the ocean economy and an important 
aspect of American history and culture. Since 1976, we have seen 
tremendous progress toward creating and maintaining sustainable 
fisheries domestically and internationally, in part due to your 
subcommittee's commitment to scientifically-sound fishery management. 
Aquaculture is also a growing aspect of America's seafood Economy, 
which NOAA is increasingly investing in.
    However, America's seafood industry is currently being challenged 
by changing ocean conditions, shifts in historic stock distributions, 
increasingly complex data requirements, and market disruption from the 
COVID-19 pandemic. NOAA Fisheries requires elevated funding to address 
these challenges and ensure fisheries can recover from the pandemic's 
impacts and aquaculture can advance sustainably. Better science and 
real-time data inform management decisions and provide regional 
management councils with tools to assess the status of fish stocks. To 
protect America's fisheries and the jobs that rely on them, we support 
allocating $1.1 billion to the National Marine Fisheries Service to 
fully implement the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act. In addition, we urge you to provide $206 million for 
fisheries data collections, with $6.8 million for surveys and stock 
assessments. We also urge you to support full implementation of the 
U.S. Seafood Import Monitoring Program to address IUU fishing and other 
initiatives to spread sustainable fisheries management globally. 
Further, we recommend funding the research and expansion of aquaculture 
to increase sustainable American seafood. These initiatives will not 
only increase sustainability but also create quality jobs for coastal 
Americans.
                           concluding remarks
    The Joint Initiative greatly appreciates your commitment to 
addressing the challenges of our maritime nation, and to the ocean-
climate nexus, so critical to the future of our blue planet. We 
appreciate your consideration of our fiscal year 2022 request. We will 
continue to track progress on key ocean and coastal programs and 
accounts in fiscal year 2022 and beyond, and we stand ready to assist 
you in advancing positive and lasting changes in the way we manage our 
Nation's oceans and coasts.
       Joint Initiative Co-Chairs and Leadership Council Members
   The Honorable Christine Todd Whitman | The Honorable Norman Mineta
  Frances Beinecke | Don Boesch | The Honorable Norm Dicks | Quenton 
                                 Dokken
             Robert Gagosian | Sherri Goodman | Scott Gudes
  The Honorable Conrad Lautenbacher | Margaret Leinen | Julie Packard
  The Honorable Leon Panetta | John Pappalardo | The Honorable Pietro 
                               Parravano
    Randy Repass | Larry Robinson | Andrew Rosenberg | Paul Sandifer
                                 ______
                                 
 Prepared Statement of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California
    The Monterey Bay Aquarium is pleased to submit this statement in 
support of President Biden's $6.9 billion dollar budget for the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) within the 
Fiscal Year 2022 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Act. The 
following testimony outlines several specific requests within NOAA for 
priority research, education and grant programs that are needed in 
California, the West Coast and nationwide, particularly as the Nation 
looks to recover from the devastation of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
    In a typical year, the Monterey Bay Aquarium welcomes over two 
million visitors, provides more than 91,000 students and 5,000 teachers 
with award-winning education programs at no cost, and provides valuable 
data, tools and approaches for conservation and science at local to 
global scales.
    The COVID-19 global pandemic dramatically impacted our institution, 
which has suffered the loss of approximately $70 million in revenue and 
40 percent of our staff over the 14 months during which we were fully 
closed to the public. Despite earning zero gate revenue, we continued 
to spend over $1 million every month on animal care and life-supporting 
core operations--including for endangered, threatened, and protected 
species care and stranding response and rehabilitation. In addition, we 
provided enhanced and free digital and livestreamed educational content 
for schools and the wider public. The Aquarium has taken extraordinary 
measures to ensure the health and safety of our animals, staff and the 
public during this challenging time, and we are hopeful that emergency 
grant funds appropriated in the past two COVID-19 bills will provide 
some economic relief. We are grateful to Congress and to the Committee 
for its role in COVID-19 relief and recovery.
    Monterey County has only recently achieved the public health 
metrics that allow us to reopen. We reopened May 15 to the public at 25 
percent capacity and are gradually increasing our guest capacity so 
that we may more fully return to our mission-to inspire conservation of 
the ocean.
    NOAA, the Nation's lead science agency for oceanic and atmospheric 
matters, provides important tools and services that are critical to 
support economic recovery during these challenging times. NOAA's 
research, environmental observations and predictions, marine 
conservation and management, as well as its education programs and 
services shape the way we live today and guide decision-making about 
the health of the coupled ocean and climate systems.
    The Aquarium strongly supports the President's budget request of 
$6.9 billion dollars for fiscal year 2022 and encourages the Committee 
to continue its balanced and strategic funding strategy for NOAA. These 
investments are needed to support American businesses and citizens as 
we recover from the COVID-19 crisis and build capacity for future 
resilience in the face of climate change. We urge you to support the 
following requests for fisheries, research, and education in fiscal 
year 2022 that are particularly important for California and West Coast 
communities.
    Pacific Bluefin Tuna.--Pacific bluefin tuna are a highly migratory 
species that are critical to California's economy and a key top 
predator in the ocean. Among the world's largest fish, these tunas are 
highly prized on the international seafood market. In 2014, researchers 
discovered that the population was depleted to 3.3 percent of its 
historic size. No other commercially harvested tuna in the world is so 
depleted. Annual fluctuations in availability of Pacific bluefin tuna 
impacts the ecosystem and stakeholders, including California's $2.8 
billion marine sportfishing industry and research institutions that 
have invested millions of dollars in recent decades to develop 
conservation strategies for this critical species.
    In the last few decades, Pacific bluefin tuna have been heavily 
impacted from fishing by nations in the Western Pacific Ocean, limiting 
the availability of fish that can migrate to the coast of California 
and Mexico. Pacific bluefin tuna are managed by two Regional Fisheries 
Management Organizations (RFMOs) that have allowed the population to 
decline to historically low levels. In 2017, the United States secured 
a historic international agreement to recover the population to 
sustainable levels by 2034--a major achievement. However, this hard-won 
recovery plan is at risk as other countries continue to propose 
policies that would slow population recovery and disadvantage U.S. 
stakeholders. A more precautionary approach is needed in the 
international negotiations to recover the species, including more 
stringent harvest control rules that ensure measurable interim progress 
in rebuilding to hold other countries accountable.
    In recent years, the RFMOs adopted Management Strategy Evaluation 
(MSE) as a tool to optimize science-based decisions, provide 
transparency and ensure stakeholder engagement in international 
fisheries management. In the fiscal year 2019 and fiscal year 2020 CJS 
appropriations reports, Congress urged NOAA to support Management 
Strategy Evaluation (MSE) for Pacific bluefin tuna but there has been 
little progress.
    It is critical for Congress to provide clear direction to NOAA 
given the precarious status of Pacific bluefin tuna and risks related 
to the upcoming international negotiations. Current international 
science and management processes do not follow standards set for U.S. 
stocks within our exclusive economic zone, particularly on 
sustainability, transparency and independent science. That must change. 
Congress must urge NOAA leadership to ensure NOAA Fisheries takes a 
strong position on the need for scientific integrity, independent 
science and management accountability in international fisheries. NOAA 
Fisheries must provide MSE capacity or similar science-based decision 
processes that can ensure accountability by all countries as well as 
meaningful stakeholder engagement. Importantly, NOAA Fisheries must 
adopt a strong negotiating position that includes more precautionary 
harvest control rules that will ensure measurable interim progress to 
recover the population. These steps are needed to enable robust 
science, transparency and accountability at the RFMOs that are strongly 
influenced by the interests of stakeholders in Japan and other 
countries.

    Corresponding Report Language Request:

          Pacific Bluefin Tuna.--The Committee is very concerned with 
        the status of the iconic Pacific bluefin tuna, the world's most 
        depleted species of commercially-caught tuna. The Committee 
        directs NOAA leadership to work with the Office of Science and 
        Technology Policy and other experts in the Administration, to 
        ensure NOAA Fisheries takes a strong position on the need for 
        scientific integrity, independent science and management 
        accountability for internationally managed species. The 
        Committee directs NOAA Fisheries to adopt a precautionary 
        negotiating position with strict harvest control rules that 
        ensure measurable interim progress in rebuilding Pacific 
        bluefin tuna and holds all countries accountable to recover the 
        population to sustainable levels no later than 2034. The 
        Committee also requests that NOAA Fisheries provide capacity 
        for Management Strategy Evaluation or similar processes to 
        optimize science-based decisions, provide transparency and 
        ensure an equitable balance of responsibility and benefits as 
        the stock recovers. Further, the Committee directs NOAA 
        Fisheries to provide resources to support engagement of the 
        Pacific Fishery Management Council and U.S. stakeholders in the 
        formulation of strong U.S. positions throughout the 
        international negotiations.

    Pacific Ocean Pelagic & Highly Migratory Fisheries Research.--
Pelagic and highly migratory species (HMS) in the Pacific Ocean support 
thousands of jobs and generate hundreds of millions in revenue related 
to commercial and recreational fishing, as well as related seafood 
industries. These species include valuable tunas (albacore, skipjack, 
bigeye, bluefin), swordfish, marlin, and pelagic sharks that drive 
significant economic activity along the West Coast, Hawaii and the U.S. 
territories. However, Federal funding opportunities for non-Federal 
scientists in pelagic and HMS research programs in the Pacific have 
declined considerably since the Pacific Fisheries Research Program 
(PFRP) ended in 2013. This has resulted in significantly fewer public-
private research collaborations with NOAA and a lack of independent 
science to address priority management questions that directly impact 
U.S. stakeholders and the health of the Pacific Ocean ecosystem. 
Atlantic pelagic and HMS fisheries research has dedicated Federal 
programs for individual species, notably the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna 
Research Program, as well as a new HMS Research Program through Sea 
Grant. We urge the subcommittee to provide additional funding and 
report language to request that NOAA Fisheries establish a comparable 
multi-year research grant program for the Pacific regions. This new HMS 
research program will focus on priority projects to address key science 
gaps and management challenges through collaboration between NOAA, 
academia, independent scientists and other relevant institutions.

    Corresponding Report Language Request:

          Pacific Highly Migratory Species Research.--The Committee 
        notes the ecological and economic importance of Pacific highly 
        migratory species such as tunas, swordfish, marlin, and pelagic 
        sharks. The Committee is concerned by the lack of parity 
        between Atlantic and Pacific regions for independent research 
        on highly migratory species that limits science-based 
        management and impacts U.S. stakeholders. The Committee 
        provides an additional $2.6 million dollars per year and 
        directs NOAA Fisheries to establish a multi-year highly 
        migratory species research grant program for the Pacific 
        regions to address critical science gaps and management 
        challenges in collaboration with academia, independent 
        scientists and other relevant institutions.

    Ocean Science and Technology.--The Aquarium collaborates with the 
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) on science and 
conservation issues of mutual interest. The success of our efforts to 
harness cutting edge research to address challenging ocean-related 
issues is dependent on a vibrant ocean science and technology 
enterprise. To continue to generate science-based solutions to restore 
our ocean, and support a robust U.S. role in global efforts, we urge 
the subcommittee to bolster funding for essential new science and 
technology. Through NOAA and the other relevant agencies, including NSF 
and NASA, we recommend the subcommittee provide support for research 
and technology development and ocean science. Specifically, we request 
funding to ensure we meet the goals set forth by the 2020 NOAA Research 
Council's science and technology focus area strategies and the National 
Strategy for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the U.S. EEZ, 
particularly the need to use cutting edge technologies, such as 
robotics and environmental DNA, to map and characterize biodiversity, 
habitats like seamounts and deep corals, and sea floor hazards.
    Bycatch Reduction.--We recommend that the subcommittee include an 
increase of $2 million over fiscal year 2021 funding for bycatch 
reduction competitive grants to non-Federal researchers for the 
development and implementation of practical bycatch solutions that 
support sustainable U.S. fisheries. The program has not received an 
increase in funding over the past 3 years. We request that the 
subcommittee increase funding for NOAA's bycatch reporting and 
reduction programs to accelerate technology improvements and help U.S. 
fishermen achieve greater environmental sustainability while protecting 
living marine resources, particularly endangered, protected and 
threatened species.
    NOAA Education.--The Aquarium is committed to ensuring diversity 
among our staff and within the professional spheres of our field. 
NOAA's Jose E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program (EPP) with 
Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) provides STEM education and future 
workforce training, benefiting both the agency and other organizations 
by creating a pool of diverse candidates for the future workforce. Its 
over 20-year history has shown its effectiveness, but at this moment in 
time, the need is greater than ever. We are proud to work with the EPP 
centers and urge the subcommittee to provide additional funds for the 
EPP-MSI program to support expansion of the EPP network, particularly 
to build professional opportunities on the West Coast and build 
technical capacity within the next generation to address emerging 
challenges.
    John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program.--We 
urge the subcommittee to increase funding by providing $4 million over 
fiscal year 2021 levels for this important stranding and rescue 
program.

    Thank you for your consideration of these requests.

    [This statement was submitted by Ms. Margaret Spring, Chief 
Conservation & Science Officer.]
                                 ______
                                 
    Prepared Statement of the National American Indian Court Judges 
                              Association
                         department of justice
    On behalf of the National American Indian Court Judges Association 
(NAICJA), this testimony addresses important programs in the Department 
of Justice (DOJ). First, NAICJA joins the American Bar Association (see 
attached letter) in requesting substantially increased funding for 
Tribal courts in response to the $1.2 billion annual shortfall for 
Tribal courts as identified in the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) 2020 
report to Congress, Report to the Congress on Spending, Staffing, and 
Estimated Funding Costs for Public Safety and Justice Programs in 
Indian Country, 2018.
    Secondly, NAICJA joins the National Congress of American Indians 
(NCAI) in requesting:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Program                   NCAI Fiscal Year 2022 Request
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOJ: Tribal Grants: Eliminate            Use DOJ appropriations as base
 competitive grant funding process and    funding.
 utilize Justice Department
 appropriations as base funding so that
 Tribal nations determine their own
 priorities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOJ: Tribal Set-Aside from Office of     Create a 10 percent Tribal set-
 Justice Programs (OJP).                  aside for all discretionary
                                          OJP programs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOJ: Tribal Set-Aside from Crime         Create a 5 percent set-aside
 Victims Fund.                            for Tribal governments.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOJ: Tribal Youth Program under the      $25,000,000
 Juvenile Accountability Block Grants
 program.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOJ: Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal     $3,000,000
 Assistance (TCCLA) Grant.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOJ: Community Oriented Policing         $52,000,000
 Services (COPS) Tribal Law Enforcement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOJ: OVW Tribal programs under the       Fully fund all VAWA-authorized
 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).       programs including the Sexual
                                          Assault Clearinghouse and
                                          $5,000,000 for Tribal
                                          implementation of VAWA special
                                          domestic violence criminal
                                          jurisdiction.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NAICJA is a non-profit organization devoted to the support of 
American Indian and Alaska Native justice systems through education, 
information sharing, and advocacy. Its membership is primarily judges, 
justices, and peacemakers serving in Tribal justice systems. As a 
national representative organization, NAICJA's mission is to strengthen 
and enhance Tribal justice systems, including juvenile justice systems.
    The Federal Government's trust responsibility to Tribal nations is 
at the heart of NAICJA's recommendation to follow NCAI's fiscal year 
2022 Indian country budget request. Like all other governments, Tribal 
nations are responsible for the protection and care of their citizens, 
residents, and visitors on Tribal lands. Through treaties and other 
agreements, Tribal lands were ceded in exchange for the promise of 
protected self-governance and adequate resources from the United 
States. Those promises are the foundation of the government-to-
government relationship that exists today.
    Part of the Federal trust responsibility to Indian Tribes includes 
basic governmental services in Indian Country, funding for which is 
appropriated in the discretionary portion of the Federal budget. Tribal 
governments protect and preserve their unique cultures, identities, and 
natural environments for future generations. As governments, Tribes 
must deliver a wide range of critical services, such as education, 
workforce development, youth programs, and first-responder and public 
safety services, to their citizens. The Federal budget for Tribal 
governmental services reflects the extent to which the United States 
honors its promises to Indian people--and to date, those promises have 
not been truly honored.
    Tribal justice systems historically have been under-funded and 
continue to be under-funded in most Tribal communities. In 1991, the 
United States Civil Rights Commission found that ``the failure of the 
United States Government to provide proper funding for the operation of 
Tribal judicial systems . . . has continued for more than 20 years.'' 
\1\ In 2014, the Attorney General's Advisory Committee on American 
Indian and Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence noted that 
Department of Justice (DOJ) funding for Tribal justice systems has been 
consistently decreasing in recent years.\2\ The Indian Law and Order 
Commission (ILOC) noted that in addition to funding shortfalls, DOJ's 
short-term, competitive funding approach is deficient because it 
reflects Federal priorities rather than Tribal ones, favors hired 
grant-writers, requires Tribes to compete against each other, and 
offers only 3-year programs that often leave Tribes with staff turnover 
and short-term programs.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ United States Commission on Civil Rights, The Indian Civil 
Rights Act: A Report of the United States Commission on Civil Rights 71 
(June 1991).
    \2\ Attorney General's Advisory Committee on American Indian and 
Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence, U.S. Dep't of Justice, 
Report of the Advisory Committee on American Indian and Alaska Native 
Children Exposed to Violence: Ending Violence So Children Can Thrive 53 
(November 2014).
    \3\ Indian Law and Order Commission, A Roadmap for Making Native 
America Safer: Report to the President & Congress of the United States 
83 (2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Further, the Civil Rights Commission continued reporting on this 
topic with A Quiet Crisis: Federal Funding and Unmet Needs in Indian 
Country in 2003 and Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding 
Shortfall for Native Americans in 2018. Broken Promises found that 
``Federal funding for Native American programs across the government 
remains grossly inadequate to meet the most basic needs the Federal 
Government is obligated to provide . . . Since 2003, funding for Native 
American programs has mostly remained flat, and in the few cases where 
there have been increases, they have barely kept up with inflation or 
have actually resulted in decreased spending power.'' \4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\ United States Commission on Civil Rights, Broken Promises: 
Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans, 4 (December 
2018).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Finally, in 2020, the BIA submitted a report to Congress, Report to 
the Congress on Spending, Staffing, and Estimated Funding Costs for 
Public Safety and Justice Programs in Indian Country, 2018. The total 
annual estimated need for Tribal public safety and justice programs 
included $1.3 billion for Tribal law enforcement and $1.2 billion for 
Tribal courts. According to the same report, BIA funding only meets 
14.7 percent of estimated need. Leaving Tribes to fight for short-term 
funds via competitive grant processes, many administered by the DOJ.
    DOJ funding across programs affecting Indian country should be 
dramatically increased and the distribution mechanism modified. As 
nations, Tribes should not have to compete for short-term grants that 
reflect Federal priorities. Rather, funds should be allocated as 
flexible base funding.
    Create a 10 percent Tribal allocation across all Office of Justice 
Programs (OJP) programs.--A 10 percent OJP Tribal set-aside would 
simplify the Federal funding process by which Tribal nations receive 
resources to establish Tribal courts; assist in developing detention 
facilities; provide legal assistance; develop and maintain juvenile 
delinquency prevention programs; and provide substance abuse prevention 
programs. Further, the Tribal set-aside provides Tribes the flexibility 
to develop a comprehensive strategy on public safety and justice needs. 
It also would create new opportunities for coordinating BIA and DOJ 
funding to reduce inefficiencies and unnecessary administrative costs.
    Include Tribal governments in disbursements from the Crime Victims 
Fund.--The Crime Victims Fund (CVF) is the Federal Government's primary 
funding source for providing services to victims of crime. Unlike State 
and territorial governments, which receive an annual formula 
distribution from the CVF, Indian Tribes were only able to access CVF 
funds via pass-through grants at the discretion of the States or by 
competing for very limited resources administered by the DOJ. This 
system left a significant unmet need in most Tribal communities--
communities where crime victimization rates far exceed the National 
average.
    For the past 4 years, Congress has directed a portion of the 
overall disbursements from the CVF to Tribal nations. The 5 percent 
Tribal set-aside included in the fiscal year 2021 appropriations bill 
will direct $100.75 million to support and improve crime victim 
services on Tribal lands. This funding greatly impacts crime victims' 
services infrastructure on Tribal lands, and it is imperative that it 
be appropriated on an annual basis to sustain the programs and services 
that will be developed. NAICJA urges the committee to keep 
disbursements from the CVF at the increased level and to direct an 
amount equal to 5 percent of overall CVF disbursements to Tribal 
governments on a non-competitive basis.
    If Congress declines to adopt the flexible 10 percent set-aside 
across OJP programs, restore fiscal year 2010 levels of $25 million in 
funding for the Tribal Youth Program (TYP) under the Juvenile 
Accountability Block Grants Program.--Native youth living in Indian 
country face numerous overlapping barriers to safety, wellness, 
academic achievement, and positive youth development. Barriers occur at 
the individual, family, community, and regional levels, resulting in 
disproportionate involvement with juvenile justice, child welfare, and 
other youth-serving systems. Today's Native youth continue to face the 
effects of collective intergenerational and historical traumas.
    TYP is the first OJJDP program dedicated to prevention, 
intervention, and juvenile justice system improvement in Native 
communities. The need for the program can be demonstrated by the 
application rates within the last 5 years. For the majority of those 
years, the DOJ Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitations, Purpose 
Area 9 (TYP) received some of the highest number of grant applicants 
and categorically received the least amount of funding. Further 
exacerbating the issue, TYP is currently funded at some of its lowest 
levels since its establishment in the 1990s. This is despite an 
increase in funding in fiscal year 2021, the first increase in 3 years. 
Due to this decreased funding, hundreds of Tribes across the United 
States are left grappling with how to ensure that their most cherished 
resource is provided equal opportunity as other youth in this country 
to heal, thrive, and realize their life potential. Funding for the TYP 
should, at minimum, be restored to its fiscal year 2010 level of $25 
million.
    Fund the Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance, Training and 
Technical Assistance (TCCLA) grant program at a level of $3 million.--
The Indian Tribal Justice Technical and Legal Assistance Act of 2000 
(Public Law 106-559) authorized DOJ to award grants to non-profit 
entities, such as the 25 Indian Legal Services programs connected with 
the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), to provide civil and criminal 
legal assistance to both Tribal governments and their justice systems 
and to individual indigent Tribal citizens. Services impacted by this 
funding include domestic violence, pro se assistance, re-entry and 
expungements, child welfare, free legal clinics and toll-free hotlines, 
and much more.
    Increase funding of Tribal law enforcement programs under DOJ's 
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grants to $52 million.--
Since its inception, the COPS Office has awarded more than 2,000 grants 
totaling over $400 million to Tribes to hire more than 1,700 new or 
redeployed law enforcement officers. It has helped Tribes obtain 
necessary law enforcement training, equipment, vehicles, and 
technology. The COPS Office has also become one of the primary 
resources available to Tribal law enforcement agencies attempting to 
develop and maintain policing infrastructure and upgrade outdated 
equipment. Yet, there is still substantial unmet need within Tribal 
justice systems for more COPS funding.
    Fully fund the programs authorized in the Violence Against Women 
Act (VAWA), including the funds authorized for the Sexual Assault 
Clearinghouse and Tribal implementation of VAWA special domestic 
violence criminal jurisdiction.--It is estimated over 85 percent of 
American Indian and Alaska Native women will experience violent 
victimization in their lifetimes.\5\ OVW provides funding to Tribal 
governments to address violence against women in their communities. 
OVW's largest source of funding for Tribal governments is the Grants to 
Tribal Governments Program, which is funded via statutory allocations 
from other OVW programs. Fully-funding these OVW programs results in 
full funding for the Grants to Tribal Governments Program and for the 
implementation of Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\ U.S. Department of Justice, Violence Against American Indian 
and Alaska Native Women and Men: 2010 Findings from the National 
Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey 2 (2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               conclusion
    Thank you for your consideration of this testimony. For more 
information, please contact A. Nikki Borchardt Campbell at 
[email protected].

    [This statement was submitted by A. Nikki Borchardt Campbell, 
Executive Director.]
                                 ______
                                 
  Prepared Statement of the National Association of Assistant United 
                            States Attorneys
June 23, 2021

 
 
 
Chair Jeanne Shaheen                  Ranking Member Jerry Moran
Senate Subcommittee on CJS            Senate Subcommittee on CJS
Senate Appropriations Committee       Senate Appropriations Committee
Washington, DC 2051                   Washington, DC 2051
 


    RE: National Association of U.S. Attorneys Written Testimony on 
fiscal year 2022 Appropriations for the Department of Justice

    Dear Chair Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran, and subcommittee Members:

    On behalf of the National Association of Assistant United States 
Attorneys (NAAUSA), representing the interests of over 6,000 Assistant 
U.S. Attorneys working in the 94 U.S. Attorney Offices, I write you 
concerning the issue of pay equity and disparity at DOJ and offer 
comments for the record to the subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, 
Science and Related Agencies Appropriations relating to fiscal year 
2022 appropriations for the Department of Justice.
    For over 30 years, AUSAs have asked their employer--the Department 
of Justice--for one thing: be paid the same as other lawyers within DOJ 
who have the same experience, years out of law school, and years of 
service. AUSAs are paid significantly less than other DOJ attorneys 
with the same experience and responsibilities, often as much as $40,000 
per year. This pay gap is profoundly unfair, widely known, and deeply 
destructive to morale. AUSAs are some of the Nation's most selfless and 
dedicated public servants, many of whom forego much higher-paying jobs 
in the private sector in order to serve the public interest. That AUSAs 
around the country are systematically paid far less than their 
colleagues--many of whom work shoulder-to-shoulder on the same cases, 
and sometimes in the same cities and even same offices--is 
indefensible. NAAUSA calls upon Congress to investigate and help 
rectify this inequity.
    The pay disparity has existed since the 1980s, and occurs in part 
because AUSAs are paid on a different pay scale than other DOJ 
attorneys, and most other Federal Government employees. AUSAs are paid 
on the Administratively Determined (AD) pay scale, which has 
historically resulted in less pay under the pay scale for nearly all 
other DOJ attorneys and employees who are paid under the General 
Schedule (GS) or are members of the Senior Executive Service (SES). 
This split pay system has allowed significant pay disparities to 
develop between attorneys who have the same experience and in turn 
drives chronic, costly, and disruptive retention problems in U.S. 
Attorney Offices across the country. More than that, though, it is just 
unfair.
    In the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places to Work in the 
Federal Government, while U.S. Attorney's Office reported above median 
and upper quartile scores in nearly every category since 2007, pay 
satisfaction has seen lower quartile scores in 11 of the last 12 survey 
years. In 2019, U.S. Attorneys' Offices ranked 350 of 415 in agency 
subcomponents regarding attitudes toward pay.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/DJ09
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    While some AUSAs do join Main Justice or other parts of the civil 
service seeking improved compensation, often AUSAs are lured to the 
private defense bar and are immediately litigating against the 
government, after taxpayers have invested in their training.
    NAAUSA calls on the Congress to end this cycle by investing in our 
Nation's career Federal prosecutors and ensuring pay equity between 
AUSAs and DOJ attorneys. Fairly compensating Federal prosecutors so 
that they are paid the same as their trial attorney colleagues and all 
other DOJ component attorneys who work for the FBI, DEA, ATF, BOP and 
others, all of whom do the same or similar work on behalf of our 
citizens would strengthen the rule of law, support national security, 
and it is the right thing to do.
    Congress has consistently allocated additional funds toward U.S. 
Attorney Offices to cover the salary and expenses of Assistant U.S. 
Attorneys (AUSAs). However, this money has overwhelmingly been spent on 
hiring and onboarding additional AUSAs rather than toward appropriately 
compensating the current cadre of AUSAs. As a result, there is a 
significant and damaging pay inequity between AUSAs and other 
Department of Justice attorneys.

    NAAUSA encourages Congress to:

    1.  Engage the Department and EOUSA regarding pay disparity. The 
Department should be able to produce evidence and data supporting its 
positions and should answer why AUSA pay inequity is fair.
    2.  Request the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study pay 
equity at the Department of Justice, including between the AD and GS 
pay systems.
    3.  Authorize additional appropriations for EOUSA specifically to 
close the attorney pay gap.

    As our Nation faces more evolved forms of Federal criminal 
activity, such as domestic terrorism, cybercrime and drug smuggling 
networks, it is imperative we have a knowledgeable, experienced class 
of litigators able to prosecute these criminals working in U.S. 
Attorney Offices as AUSAs. The current system invests in hiring and 
training new AUSAs, but fails to incentivize these individuals to 
remain as Federal prosecutors. This leaves the government, after having 
invested time and training into new employees, without some of the most 
skilled litigators for the job. The Department of Justice should want 
to retain experienced, skilled litigators to defend our Nation against 
criminal activity, and that requires proper compensation for duties 
equivalent to many other DOJ attorneys.
    NAAUSA has engaged the Attorney General's Advisory Committee (AGAC) 
on this topic over the years. While we were heartened by some steps in 
recent years by the AGAC and the Department to address this issue, 
including in 2016 administratively elevating the minimum entry-level 
AUSA pay to compare to a GS-11, more is needed to assure pay equity for 
DOJ attorneys, including the Department sharing all of the data and 
evidence upon which it is comparing attorney compensation under the GS 
and AD systems. The Department has recently admitted to NAAUSA that the 
compensation disparity between AUSAs and Justice lawyers is real and 
could be closed with an investment of a mere $42 million per year.
    Workforce churn, staff attrition with loss of expertise, and 
decreased morale have real costs for taxpayers in terms of lost 
productivity, and potentially undermine the capacity of U.S. Attorney 
Offices to accomplish their missions. It is for these reasons we bring 
this issue to the attention of Congress. Even amidst the COVID-19 
pandemic, Assistant U.S. Attorneys are considered essential employees 
and are contributing to upholding and enforcing the rule of law in our 
country. We must ensure the Department of Justice properly manages and 
compensates these important members of the Federal law enforcement 
community.
    Thank you for considering the perspective of NAAUSA. Please do not 
hesitate to reach out to our Washington representative Jason Briefel 
([email protected]) regarding this matter.

            Respectfully,

            Lawrence. J. Leiser
              President
     the impact of pay inequities on the administration of justice
    The Administratively Determined (AD) pay plan, which Assistant U.S. 
Attorneys (AUSAs) are subject to, creates a significant pay disparity 
between AUSAs and all other DOJ attorneys. Aside from clear equity 
issues, the disparity negatively impacts recruitment and retention of 
the more than 6,000 criminal prosecutors and civil attorneys most 
directly tasked with administering justice across our Nation's 94 
Federal judicial districts. The current pay system over relies on the 
goodwill on AUSAs who are willing to take a pay cut to serve their 
country. This is unsustainable and places our U.S. Attorney Offices at 
a disadvantage in the recruitment and retention of qualified personnel. 
Without top talent our criminal justice system cannot adequately serve 
and protect the American people.
  --The DOJ attorney pay policy authorizes higher salaries for 
        attorneys in main Department of Justice (DOJ) components than 
        AUSAs. The discrepancy reaches over $40,000, as noted in the 
        chart below which compares GS attorney base pay and AD AUSA 
        base pay in 2021.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ Does not include locality pay.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Years of Experience        GS Grade            AD Grade        GS Min Pay   AD Min Pay     Percent Difference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0-2 years...........  GS 11-13...........  AD-21.............      $55,756      $55,756              N/A
3-4 years...........  GS 14-15...........  AD-23.............      $93,907      $59,906     $34,001 (44 percent)
5 years.............  GS 15..............  AD-25.............     $110,460      $64,367     $46,093 (52 percent)
6 years.............  GS 15..............  AD-26.............     $110,460      $69,159     $41,301 (46 percent)
7 years.............  GS 15..............  AD-27.............     $110,460      $74,309     $36,151 (39 percent)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  --AUSAs have for over 30 years identified pay parity issues as a 
        detriment to their workplace wellbeing. For example, in the 
        Partnership for Public Service's Best Places to Work in the 
        Federal Government Survey, while U.S. Attorney's Office 
        reported above median and upper quartile scores in nearly every 
        category since 2007, the pay satisfaction category has reported 
        lower quartile scores in 11 of the last 12 survey years. In 
        2019, U.S. Attorneys' Offices ranked 350 of 415 in agency 
        subcomponents regarding attitudes toward pay.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/DJ09

      -- Based on advocacy efforts by NAAUSA, the DOJ made minor 
            adjustments in the AD pay scale in 2016. While these 
            adjustments did not come close to bridging the gap between 
            pay scales, they did result is a slight increase in survey 
            scores. The immediate positive impacts on FEVS scores by 
            AUSAs demonstrates the importance of this issue and 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
            willingness to work toward pay parity.

  --In testimonials anonymously collected by NAAUSA, AUSAs consistently 
        report taking pay cuts to serve as AUSAs due to a genuine 
        desire to serve the public as our Nation's premier criminal 
        prosecutors or civil attorneys. However, as the pay disparity 
        worsens with advancement, many are forced to leave their 
        positions in favor of positions at Main Justice or within the 
        private sector. The pay disparity forces dedicated AUSAs out of 
        their position or, worse, turns our U.S. Attorneys' Offices 
        into taxpayer-funded training centers for private defense 
        attorneys.

    NAAUSA advocates for the Department to adjust the AUSA salary 
framework assure that AUSAs are paid the same as Department of Justice 
trial attorneys through movement of AUSAs onto the General Schedule.
                                 ______
                                 
     Prepared Statement of the National Fire Protection Association

May 14, 2021

 
 
 
The Honorable Patrick Leahy                 The Honorable Richard Shelby
Chairman                                    Vice Chairman
Committee on Appropriations                 Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate                        United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510                      Washington, D.C. 20510
 


Dear Chairman Leahy and Vice Chairman Shelby:

    The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a self-funded, 
global non-profit organization founded in 1896 dedicated to ending 
losses from fire, electrical, and related life safety hazards. With the 
unabating wildfire crisis in the U.S., NFPA recently launched Outthink 
Wildfire\TM\, an initiative to advocate for policy change in five key 
areas that will stop the destruction of communities by this hazard. We 
write to ask for your support for key Federal programs.
    The five tenets are: (1) all homes and business in areas of 
wildfire risk must be retrofitted to resist ignition; (2) current 
codes, standards, and sound land use planning practices must be used 
and enforced; (3) local fire departments must have adequate resources 
to protect their communities; (4) fuel management on Federal and non-
Federal lands must be a priority; and (5) the public must be well-
informed and motivated to embrace their role in reducing wildfire risk. 
While action on these fronts is urgently needed at all levels of 
government, Federal programs need to play a key role in ending the 
devastating wildfire losses communities are now experiencing as 
discussed in this letter.
Mitigating Wildfire Severity
    NFPA supports the Administration's fiscal year 2022 proposal to 
provide $1.7 billion in funding for high-priority hazardous fuels and 
forest-resilience projects to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), in 
addition to the proposed $340 million to the Department of the Interior 
(DOI) for hazardous fuel treatments on its lands. As identified in the 
National Cohesive Wildfire Management Strategy, denser, more continuous 
fuel on landscapes now outside of their natural ecological fire regimes 
is a major contributor to the severe wildfires that threaten 
communities and drain Federal fire suppression resources. The U.S. must 
increase the rate of fuel treatments, including prescribed burning, to 
address the millions of acres now at high or very high risk of 
wildfire.
    In addition to increased resources for hazardous fuel treatment 
projects, NFPA supports programs that enable collaboration between the 
USFS and its partners, assist State and private land managers in 
restoring forest health, and encourage landscape-scale restoration 
projects. For example, the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 
program has been successful in reducing fire risk and achieving other 
management objectives through a stakeholder-driven process aimed at 
minimizing conflict.\1\ Given the National Cohesive Strategy's call for 
increased landscape-scale fuel treatment and forest health projects, 
funding this program at its authorized level of $80 million can help 
continue and expand on its success. Similarly, the Landscape Scale 
Restoration Program should receive $20 million.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ See e.g., Schultz, Courtney, et al. (2017) Strategies for 
Success Under Forest Service Restoration Initiatives, Ecosystem 
Workforce Working Paper, Number 81 (https://tinyurl.com/38b3cpz4)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Finally, NFPA supports a robust budget for forestry research, 
including programs to better understand wildfire behavior and landscape 
treatment strategies, as well as programs to develop new wood products 
and markets to create more financial incentives for hazardous fuel 
treatment. As part of that funding, the Joint Fire Sciences Research 
program should receive $8 million each for the USFS and DOI. NFPA also 
believes research funding for the built environment aspect of wildfire 
resilience should be increased and thus supports the Administration's 
proposal to increase funding for the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology (NIST), particularly for efforts to improve resiliency 
through building codes.
Assisting State & Local Fire Departments
    State and local fire response resources play a major role in 
preparing for and responding to wildfires on both public and private 
lands, making the USFS funds provided by the State Fire Assistance 
(SFA) and Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) programs critical to public 
safety. According to the National Association of State Foresters, 
members of State and local fire departments are the first to respond to 
80 percent of wildfires. Findings from NFPA's 2016 Fourth Needs 
Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service \2\ that the majority of fire 
departments with wildfire response responsibilities lack sufficient 
training and personal protective equipment reveal a significant gap in 
safety, for both the responders and the lives and properties of the 
communities they protect.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ National Fire Protection Association (2016) Fourth National 
Needs Assessment, https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-research-
and-tools/Emergency-Responders/Needs-assessment, (Eighty-eight percent 
of U.S. fire departments--some 23,000 departments--provide wildland 
and/or WUI firefighting services, but 63 percent of those have not 
formally trained all of their personnel involved in wildland 
firefighting on these skills. Only 32 percent have all of their 
responders equipped with appropriate personal protection equipment 
(PPE), and 26 percent do not have any of the necessary PPE at all. Only 
27 percent of departments have a health and fitness program).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SFA and VFA are critical safety programs for supporting wildland 
urban interface (WUI) communities, funding hazardous fuels treatment in 
the WUI, supporting fire planning projects, and helping to train and 
equip State and local responders. SFA also supports public education 
and community capacity development programs like Firewise USA and the 
Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network. These programs teach WUI 
residents how to lower wildfire risk to their homes and support 
community mitigation activities. Therefore, NFPA supports funding the 
State Fire Assistance program at $88.5 million and the Volunteer Fire 
Assistance program at $20 million.
Mitigation for Communities
    The National Cohesive Strategy also identifies the need for fire 
adapted communities--communities where homes and businesses are 
retrofitted to resist ignition and wildfire safety codes, standards, 
and land use planning practices are applied. According to the U.S. Fire 
Administration, the Nation has over 70,000 thousand communities in 
areas at risk from wildfires, home to 46 million housing units. 
Preparing for wildfire through creating defensible space and home 
retrofits can greatly reduce the risk of loss. NFPA supports the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Building Resilient 
Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and the Administration's 
proposal to add $540 million in new resources to programs tasked with 
helping communities undertake pre-disaster planning and make 
investments in resiliency. The USFS' Wildfire Hazard Severity Mapping 
for Communities program also supports community risk assessment and 
hazard mitigation planning and should continue. In addition, NFPA is 
also highly supportive of proposed efforts to improve resiliency and 
safety in HUD-assisted housing with an additional $800 million in new 
investments.
    Thank you for the opportunity to share our views on Federal support 
for reducing wildfire risk to communities. NFPA strongly urges the 
Committee to support a robust budget for wildfire mitigation and we 
stand ready to provide any addition information that would be useful.

    [This statement was submitted by L. Seth Statler, Director of 
Government Affairs.]
                                 ______
                                 
  Prepared Statement of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association
    This testimony is submitted on behalf of the National Legal Aid & 
Defender Association (NLADA), America's oldest and largest national 
organization whose resources are exclusively dedicated to excellence in 
the delivery of legal services and to promoting access to justice for 
all. We are grateful for the opportunity to provide comments to the 
committee regarding the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and U.S. 
Department of Justice (DOJ) programs.
                       legal services corporation
    NLADA urges Congress to address the ongoing failure of our country 
to meet its foundational promise of equal justice. Even prior to the 
COVID-19 pandemic, LSC grantee organizations did not have sufficient 
resources to meet the legal needs of low-income Americans. This serious 
threat to our democracy has been greatly exacerbated by the events of 
the past year. NLADA therefore recommends an appropriation of $1.36 
billion for LSC for fiscal year 2022. Civil legal aid ensures that 
regardless of how much money a person has, they have the same level of 
access to a fair adjudication of their civil legal problems as anyone 
else. Legal aid organizations provide assistance that enables low-
income people to protect their livelihoods, health, housing, family, 
and other basic human needs. LSC is not only the single largest funder 
of civil legal aid, but also the foundational infrastructure of civil 
justice in the United States, making sure help is available to people 
in every ZIP code.
    However, many eligible clients receive only minimal service, or no 
help at all, due to insufficient resources. In 2017, LSC conducted a 
comprehensive study of its grantee organizations and found that roughly 
40 percent of eligible people seeking help from an LSC grantee were 
turned away and, of those who did receive services, only a little over 
half were able to have their problem fully addressed.\1\ At the time, 
LSC's budget was $385 million. While we are sincerely appreciative for 
this committee's decision to provide incremental funding increases in 
the following years, LSC's budget remains far smaller than it would be 
had it simply kept pace with Federal discretionary spending, which 
since 1995 has in percentage terms has increased more than 12 times as 
much as LSC's budget has grown, or with inflation: LSC's peak funding 
level in fiscal year 1980 would be around $1 billion today.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Legal Services Corporation. (2017). The Justice Gap: Measuring 
the Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-income Americans. https://
www.lsc.gov/sites/default/files/images/TheJusticeGap-FullReport.pdf
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    It is clear that the pandemic has greatly deepened the need for 
additional resources, by creating a larger population of eligible 
clients as a result of increases in poverty and unemployment. In order 
to qualify for services from an LSC grantee organization, a person's 
household income must generally be lower than 125 percent, but can be 
considered up to 200 percent percent of the Federal poverty level. At 
around 6 percent, the unemployment rate remains almost twice as high as 
it was in February 2020.\2\ For Black Americans it is nearly 10 
percent. In February, the Urban Institute estimated that this year the 
National poverty rate would be around 13.7 percent,\3\ compared to 10.5 
percent before the pandemic.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021). Civilian Unemployment 
Rate. Retrieved at: https://www.bls.gov/charts/employment-situation/
civilian-unemployment-rate.htm
    \3\ Urban Institute. (2021, February). 2021 Poverty Projections. 
https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/103656/2021-
poverty-projections.pdf
    \4\ United States Census Bureau. (2020, September). Income and 
Poverty in the United States: 2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    At the same time, the pandemic has also greatly increased the 
prevalence of civil legal problems. In July 2020, LSC reported that 
more than 85 percent of LSC grantees reported an increase in requests 
for assistance in each of the areas of housing, income, and domestic 
violence, and through December, LSC grantees have closed 72,115 cases 
linked to the pandemic.\5\ This data accounts for legal problems for 
which a person seeks help, but an estimated 86 percent of legal 
problems experienced by low-income people are not even brought to a 
legal aid provider.\6\ It is therefore certain that the actual increase 
in need is far higher still, and in some cases this is further 
exacerbated by the nature of the problem. For example, there is 
consensus among experts that the social isolation and economic 
instability caused by the pandemic have significantly increased the 
prevalence of domestic violence and child abuse,\7\ while also making 
such violence and abuse more difficult to report.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\ Legal Services Corporation. (2021) Data on CARES Act Funding & 
Services. Retrieved at: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/lsc-and-covid-19/
data-cares-act-funding-services.
    \6\ Legal Services Corporation. (2017). The Justice Gap: Measuring 
the Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-income Americans. https://
www.lsc.gov/sites/default/files/images/TheJusticeGap-FullReport.pdf
    \7\ Bright, C., Burton, C., and Kosky, M. (2020, October). 
Considerations of the impacts of COVID-19 on domestic violence in the 
United States. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7539928/
pdf/main.pdf
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Last year, NLADA used projected increases in long-term unemployment 
to approximate the need for civil legal aid in 2022. We estimated that 
when combined with resource needs that existed prior to the pandemic, 
$1.36 billion would be required for LSC. While it is not possible to 
know exactly how economic recovery for low-income Americans will 
develop, data continues to demonstrate widespread hardship that will 
persist beyond the resolution of the health crisis. For example, if 
eviction moratoria are allowed to expire, a swathe of low-income 
families will face homelessness. Emergency rental assistance programs 
will blunt this problem considerably but porously; not only are funds 
limited but reports of landlords refusing to accept funds that have 
been secured are growing.\8\ The data is clear that access to a lawyer 
will make a difference, as numerous studies have demonstrated that 
representation can reduce the likelihood of eviction by up to around 80 
percent.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \8\ Will Parker. (March 19, 2021). Why Some Landlords Don't Want 
Any of the $50 Billion in Rent Assistance. Wall Street Journal
    \9\ Heidi Schultheis and Caitlin Rooney. (October 2, 2019). A Right 
to Counsel Is a Right to a Fighting Chance: The Importance of Legal 
Representation in Eviction Proceedings. Center for American Progress.
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    The need for a substantial increase in resources is further 
compounded by cuts to non-LSC sources of public and private funding for 
legal aid, such as Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) 
programs.\10\ As our country begins to look towards recovery from the 
COVID-19 pandemic, Congress can help ensure that low-income Americans 
are not left behind by providing an appropriation for LSC that is 
commensurate with the level of need.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \10\ National Association of IOLTA Programs. (2020, May 29). $157.4 
Million Projected Loss in Critical Sources of State Funding for Civil 
Legal Aid [Press release]. https://www.iolta.org/images/NAIP-Press-
Release-5-29-20.pdf
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                  u.s. department of justice programs
Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance, Training and Technical 
        Assistance
    We also urge this subcommittee to continue funding in fiscal year 
2022 to support the work done on behalf of Native Americans by Indian 
Legal Services programs that are connected with the Legal Services 
Corporation. We request that funding be maintained within the 
Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, under the State and 
Local Law Enforcement Assistance appropriations account, at a level 
similar to that provided in recent years, which is approximately $1 to 
2 million, for the Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance, Training 
and Technical Assistance grant program (TCCLA). This could be either 
within a specified line item for ``assistance to Indian Tribes,'' such 
as the $50 million the Administration has requested for fiscal year 
2022 and the $46 million Congress appropriated in the fiscal year 2021 
Consolidated Appropriations Act (Public Law 116-260), or within a 
Tribal set-aside percentage of Office of Justice Programs accounts.
    The consortium of 24 Indian Legal Services programs operating in 23 
States provides legal representation to thousands of American Indian 
and Alaska Native individuals in Tribal and State courts, and assists 
more than 160 Tribal governments and/or Tribal judicial systems to 
enhance or develop their justice systems. In at least 46 Tribal courts, 
these programs provide the only public defender service available. Many 
of these Indian Legal Services programs have been awarded funding under 
the TCCLA grants program. They have recently responded to the program's 
solicitations for fiscal year 2021 funding for both Tribal civil and 
criminal legal assistance.
    Examples of the Indian Legal Services programs' civil legal 
assistance work done under TCCLA awards generally include initial 
drafting of Tribal laws as well as revisions to civil codes, policies 
and procedures; developing alternative resolution systems, based on 
Tribal customs and traditions; and developing and conducting Tribal 
court advocate training programs. Civil and criminal representation of 
individuals in Tribal and State courts ranges from counseling and 
advice to full representation in trials and appeals. Individual Indian 
Legal Services programs have created a comprehensive set of self-help 
forms for family law cases; assisted with birth certificate changes for 
Tribal enrollment purposes; assisted with enforcement of domestic 
violence protections under Tribal laws; represented families in Indian 
Child Welfare Act cases in State court; and provided a toll-free legal 
advice hotline.
    Examples of the Indian Legal Services programs' criminal legal 
assistance work under TCCLA include assisting Tribes with drafting, 
revising and updating their civil and criminal codes (including 
children's codes), policies and procedures; Tribal court development, 
restructuring and improvement; training of judicial, law enforcement 
and justice systems personnel, and Tribal court lay advocates and 
guardians ad litem; and negotiation or litigation to address 
jurisdictional issues with State court systems. The programs are 
engaged in helping 18 of the 160 Tribes they serve to implement the 
Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 (TLOA) and the Violence Against Women 
Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA). Specific Indian Legal Services 
programs are working to enforce existing and to develop new 
``diversion'' agreements with the State government to address criminal 
justice matters (and potentially-related civil matters, such as child 
protection) within civil Tribal proceedings--such as in Healing-to-
Wellness courts; to conduct outreach to and represent individual 
clients in an expungement program, with the goal of alleviating 
barriers to employment and safe housing and restoring treaty-based 
hunting rights for those individuals who lost the right to possess 
firearms because of non-violent felony convictions; and to update 
Tribal codes for truancy and domestic violence while ensuring that the 
codes reflect Tribal customs and traditions.
    In fiscal year 2022, whether the subcommittee recommends funding to 
DOJ for assistance to Indian Country Tribal justice programs at a 
specific amount, as enacted in fiscal year 2021, or as a Tribal set-
aside percentage of overall DOJ funding, as has been proposed in prior 
fiscal years, we request that both bill and report language direct that 
some DOJ funding be allocated for the purpose of the provision of both 
Tribal civil and criminal legal assistance to individual Tribal 
citizens and to Tribal judicial systems pursuant to the Indian Tribal 
Justice Technical and Legal Assistance Act (Public Law 106-559).
John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program
    A law degree is a requirement of all public defenders and 
prosecutors, but obtaining such a degree routinely leaves graduates 
with a six-figure student loan debt. This debt can make it financially 
impossible to enter low-paying jobs at public defender organizations, 
or to remain in those jobs for long enough to gain the experience 
needed to become a highly effective advocate for their clients. When 
this happens, it slows the functioning of the entire court system as 
less experienced defense attorneys and prosecutors require more time to 
process the same caseload.
    The John R. Justice program provides relief from student loan debt 
by contributing to an individual's monthly student loan payments, which 
helps alleviate some of the problems that lead to recruitment 
difficulties and higher rates of turnover in public defender and 
prosecutor offices. However, the fiscal year 2021 appropriation for 
John R. Justice was just $2 million. This level of funding severely 
limits the scope and effectiveness of the program. This committee 
should fully fund the John R. Justice program at the authorized amount 
of $25 million for fiscal year 2021.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Programs
    As described earlier in this testimony, the COVID-19 pandemic has 
fueled concerns of rise in the prevalence of domestic violence and 
abuse. Even prior to that, more than 1 in 3 women and more than 1 in 4 
men in the United States had experienced rape, physical violence, and/
or stalking by an intimate partner. We urge the committee to provide an 
appropriation that builds on the prior success of VAWA programs, but 
also reflects the urgency of the need to broaden their reach. In 
particular, we request the $77 million for grants for civil legal 
assistance for victims recommended by the President's budget for fiscal 
year 2022. Civil legal aid helps survivors secure their physical 
safety, break legal links with their abuser, and rebuild their lives 
over the long term.
    None of this appropriation should be drawn from the Crime Victims 
Fund administered by the Department of Justice Office for Victims of 
Crime, because this reduces the total amount available to serve victims 
of crime and jeopardizes the sustainability of Crime Victims Fund over 
the long-term. The sustainability of the Crime Victims Fund is a 
bipartisan concern, as demonstrated by passage of H.R. 1652, the VOCA 
Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act.

    [This statement was submitted by Don Saunders, Senior Vice 
President for Policy.]
                                 ______
                                 
     Prepared Statement of the Natural Science Collections Alliance
              funding for the national science foundation
    The Natural Science Collections Alliance appreciates the 
opportunity to provide testimony in support of fiscal year 2022 
appropriations for the National Science Foundation (NSF). We encourage 
Congress to provide the NSF with at least $10.2 billion in fiscal year 
2022.

    The Natural Science Collections Alliance is a non-profit 
association that supports natural science collections, their human 
resources, the institutions that house them, and their research 
activities for the benefit of science and society. Our membership 
consists of institutions that are part of an international network of 
museums, botanical gardens, herbaria, universities, and other 
institutions that contain natural science collections and use them in 
research, exhibitions, academic and informal science education, and 
outreach activities.

    Scientific collections, and the collections professionals and 
scientists who make, care for, and study these resources, are a vital 
component of our Nation's research infrastructure. These collections 
and their associated experts contribute to the expansion of our 
bioeconomy. Whether held at a museum, government managed laboratory or 
archive, or in a university science department, these scientific 
resources form a coordinated network of specimens, samples, and data 
(for example, genetic, tissue, organism, and environmental) that are a 
unique and irreplaceable foundation from which scientists are studying 
and explaining past and present life on earth.
    Natural science collections advance scientific research and 
education, and that informs actions to improve public health, 
agricultural productivity, natural resource management, biodiversity 
conservation, and American economic innovation. Current research 
involving natural science collections also contributes to the 
development of new cyberinfrastructure, data visualization tools, and 
improved data management practices. A few examples of how scientific 
collections have saved lives, enhanced food production, and advanced 
scientific discovery include:

  --Scientists used museum specimens in U.S. collections to gather data 
        on the distribution of the mosquito Culex quadrofaciatus, which 
        is known to carry West Nile Virus and other pathogens. They 
        then modeled the distribution under different scenarios of 
        changing climates to predict regions where the species may 
        expand in the future. Predicting the spread of disease vectors 
        such as these mosquitoes helps the health care community 
        prepare for disease outbreaks and where they will happen.
  --Researchers from Boston University documented Tau proteins in the 
        brains of fluid preserved museum specimens of Downy Woodpecker 
        (Dendrocopus pubescens). These proteins are also found in 
        traumatic brain injuries in humans. Because of the life history 
        traits of woodpeckers, the researchers argue these birds may 
        have evolved a level of resistance to traumatic head injuries 
        that could have implications for treatments for humans.
  --In 1993, a deadly new disease appeared in the southwestern United 
        States. Using NSF-supported biological collections at Texas 
        Tech University and University of New Mexico, the agent was 
        determined to be Hantavirus carried by a few species of 
        rodents. When rodent populations increased following an El Nino 
        weather event, the animals spread into human environments and 
        increased the transmission of Hantavirus. With the vector 
        known, it was possible to lessen the risk to humans by reducing 
        opportunities for disease transmission. Using other specimens, 
        scientists have now identified more than 40 other strains of 
        Hantavirus worldwide that are carried by bats, moles, and 
        shrews. Similar work is underway to identify the carrier of 
        Ebola in Africa.
  --Citrus bacterial canker disease wreaks havoc on fruit crops in 
        Florida. Using plant specimens collected a century ago, 
        scientists have analyzed the bacterium and traced its source. 
        Knowledge of how the bacteria spreads allows scientists to 
        develop effective control methods and to protect the U.S. 
        citrus industry.

    Scientific collections enable us to tell the story of life on 
Earth. There are more than 1,600 biological collections in the United 
States. These resources are the result of more than 200 years of 
scientific investigation, discovery, and inventory of living and fossil 
species. Scientists have collected and curated more than one billion 
specimens within those collections. This work is on-going as new 
questions continue to be asked and answered.
    The institutions that care for scientific collections are important 
research infrastructure that enable other scientists to study the basic 
data of life; conduct biological, geological, anthropological, and 
environmental research; and integrate research findings from across 
these diverse disciplines. Their professional staff members train 
future generations with the tools and expertise required to move 
science forward. In-house institutional staff expertise is vital to the 
development and deployment of this critical research infrastructure.
    Recent reports highlight the value of mobilizing biodiversity 
specimens and data in spurring new scientific discoveries that grow our 
economy, improve our public health and wellbeing, and increase our 
National security. In 2019, the Biodiversity Collections Network issued 
a community-informed call for the development of an Extended Specimen 
Network. The report, Extending U.S. Biodiversity Collections to Promote 
Research and Education, outlines a national agenda that leverages 
digital data in biodiversity collections for new uses and calls for 
building an Extended Specimen Network. This endeavor requires robust 
investments in our Nation's scientific collections, whether they are 
owned by a Federal or State agency or are part of an educational 
institution or free-standing natural history museum or another research 
center.
    A 2020 report by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and 
Medicine (NASEM), Biological Collections: Ensuring Critical Research 
and Education for the 21st Century, provides guidance to the NSF 
regarding the sustainability of living stock and natural history 
collections. The report argues that collections are a critical part of 
our Nation's science and innovation infrastructure and a fundamental 
resource for understanding the natural world.
    According to the U.S. Interagency Working Group on Scientific 
Collections (IWGSC), ``scientific collections are essential to 
supporting agency missions and are thus vital to supporting the global 
research enterprise.'' A 2020 report by the IWGSC presents a framework 
for estimating and documenting the long-term benefits, both monetary 
and non-monetary, generated by Federal institutional collections.
    The NASEM, BCoN, and IWGSC reports, articulate a common vision of 
the future of biological collections and define a need to broaden and 
deepen the collections and associated data to realize the potential for 
biodiversity collections to inform 21st century science. Because the 
NSF is the only agency that supports research in all fields of science, 
it is ideally suited lead a national effort to build the Extended 
Specimen Network, which will require the engagement of computer and 
information scientists, geoscientists, life and environmental 
scientists, and anthropologists.
    Collections are a critical resource for advancing the knowledge 
needed to address current global challenges such as climate change, 
biodiversity loss, and pandemics. The COVID-19 crisis has illustrated 
how inextricably linked humans are to the natural world. Biological 
collections, their extended data, and the experts that build and study 
them are globally important for understanding where viruses such as 
SARS-CoV-2 exist in nature or when they cross from their current hosts 
to humans.
    In 2019, the United Nation's (UN) Intergovernmental Science-Policy 
Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) issued a 
warning that about a million species of plants and animals worldwide 
face extinction within the next few decades. This would not only be an 
unprecedented loss of global biodiversity but also a loss of valuable 
genetic diversity that has implications for human health and well-
being. Robust investments must be made to support efforts to grow and 
digitize natural history collections and conduct critical collections-
based science that can help prevent these losses.
    The NSF plays a unique role in protecting and expanding access to 
our Nation's scientific collections. It supports research that uses 
existing collections as well as studies that gather new natural history 
specimens. NSF's Directorates for Biological Sciences (BIO), 
Geosciences (GEO), and Social and Behavioral and Economic sciences 
support research and student training opportunities in natural history 
collections. The NSF is also an important supporter of national 
biological research infrastructure that houses natural history 
collections, such as living stock collections and field stations.
    The NSF funds evolving work to digitize high priority specimen 
collections. The result of this effort is that irreplaceable biological 
specimens and their associated data are now accessible through the 
Internet to researchers, educators, and the public. More than 125 
million specimens are now online, with millions more awaiting 
digitization. This project involves biologists, computer scientists, 
and engineers in multi-disciplinary teams who develop innovative 
imaging, robotics, and data storage and retrieval methods. Resulting 
new tools and approaches expedite the digitization process and 
contribute to the development of new products and services of value to 
other industries. Museum specimens and associated data represent an 
extraordinary resource for teaching core concepts in science.
    In addition to supporting research, NSF's science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education programs enhance the 
ability of museums, botanic gardens, zoos, and other research 
institutions to provide science learning opportunities for students. 
NSF's Advancing Informal STEM Learning program furthers our 
understanding of informal science education outside of traditional 
classrooms. The program makes important contributions to efforts to 
make STEM more inclusive of historically underrepresented groups.
                               conclusion
    Investments in the NSF have always been in the National interest 
and their value continues to grow. Scientific collections contribute to 
improved public well-being and national economic security. It is not 
possible to replace this important documentation of our Nation's 
heritage. Specimens collected decades or centuries ago are increasingly 
used to develop and validate models that explain how species, including 
viruses, parasites, and pathogens have dispersed around the world, as 
well as how and when they might infect humans now and in the future. 
The NSF is the primary funding source that provides support to 
institutions that preserve at-risk scientific collections. These small 
grants help ensure these collections are not destroyed and their data 
lost.
    Investments in NSF programs that support natural science 
collections research and education are essential if we are to maintain 
our global leadership in innovation and biodiversity research. We also 
see these investments as critical for our efforts to grow diversity and 
inclusion in the scientific workforce. Please support funding of at 
least $10.2 billion for NSF in fiscal year 2022. We also request that 
Congress provide additional economic relief, such as the provisions 
outlined in the RISE Act (HR. 869, S. 289), to the U.S. research 
community, including natural history museums, botanical gardens, and 
other science centers, that have suffered significant budget 
disruptions resulting from reduced public attendance or closures 
associated with responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many natural 
history organizations are non-profits that operate on tight budgets 
with limited capacity to absorb abrupt and significant losses of 
revenue, such as that generated from public visitation and engagement 
programs.
    In addition to appropriations, Congress is currently considering 
reauthorization legislation to significantly expand NSF's mission and 
budget. The proposed investments in technological research will enable 
the biodiversity collections community to build the cyberinfrastructure 
and databases necessary to mobilize biodiversity data in ways that 
bolster 21st century science and drive innovation. We applaud these 
efforts to invest in our Nation's scientific and technological 
enterprise and urge that robust investments also be made in basic and 
foundational research.
    Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this request and for 
your prior support of the National Science Foundation.

    [This statement was submitted by John Bates, Ph.D., President.]
                                 ______
                                 
              Prepared Statement of The Nature Conservancy
programs under the national oceanic and atmospheric administration for 
                            fiscal year 2022
    Chair Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran and Members of the 
subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to comment on the fiscal 
year 2022 appropriations for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA). The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a nonprofit 
working across the States and territories and in 72 countries to 
conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.
    We thank the subcommittee for its efforts to help address not only 
the Nation's ongoing vital ocean, coastal and Great Lakes issues but 
also the economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Investment in 
ocean, coastal and Great Lakes restoration and management can be part 
of the country's economic recovery. According to NOAA data, each year 
the U.S. ocean and coastal economy contributes $304 billion to the 
Nation's GDP and 3.3 million jobs. NOAA's funding keeps this growing 
ocean, coastal and Great Lakes economic engine running. It not only 
helps NOAA catalyze local and regional action but also reduces risk and 
saves money based on the tangible economic and societal benefits that 
natural resources provide.
    We appreciate that in fiscal year 2021, the subcommittee was able 
to provide some moderate but necessary program increases in a 
constrained budget environment. Recognizing the significant benefit 
NOAA's programs provide to the Nation, the Biden administration has 
proposed a significant increase to the agency's fiscal year 2022 
budget. Many of these increases are targeted to improve research, 
resource management and public engagement to address the considerable 
climate and biodiversity needs of the Nation. The demand for NOAA's 
products and technical and financial assistance exceeds available 
funding. TNC supports the administration's thoughtful approach to 
increases across NOAA programs. The NOAA budget levels detailed below 
represent a prudent investment in the United States' future, and your 
support is requested.
                         national ocean service
    Title IX Fund--National Coastal Resilience Fund Grants: The 
Conservancy supports the requested level of $68 million requests at 
least $5 million be set aside for planning, technical assistance, and 
assessment activities. The National Coastal Resilience Fund provides 
the resources and tools to build coastal resilience to avoid costly 
Federal disaster assistance and sustain healthy fisheries, maintain 
robust tourism opportunities, provide for increased shipping demands 
and support other coastal industries. Coastal communities have clearly 
shown an ability to match and leverage this funding to take proactive 
measures to protect their ways of life. TNC appreciates Congress's 
support for funding for planning and assessment activities in fiscal 
Year 2021.
    Coastal Zone Management and Services: The Conservancy supports the 
requested level of $64.789 million. This level of funding will provide 
for increased capacity to provide coastal resilience technical 
assistance to communities across the country, including additional 
emphasis on under-resourced and underserved communities. Fully funding 
the Digital Coast Partnership following passage by Congress of the 
Digital Coast Act in 2020 will support new and improved products, 
services and technical assistance to communities through this public-
private partnership. Funding would also support communities through the 
development of the next generation of coastal managers via the Coastal 
Management and Digital Coast Fellows programs. Providing competitive 
salaries and expanded recruitment efforts will enhance the ability to 
reach underrepresented communities. This increase will support the 
designation process for three new National Estuarine Research Reserves 
in Louisiana, Connecticut and Wisconsin to provide better 
representation and connectivity of habitats across the system.
    Coastal Management Grants: The Conservancy supports the requested 
level of $108.5 million for coastal zone management grants. TNC 
collaborates with State and territorial coastal programs around the 
country to meet multiple goals for coastal communities, including 
economic development, enhancement of public access and recreation, 
coastal resilience, and conservation of coastal resources. After years 
of essentially flat funding, the additional funding would support State 
and territorial coastal zone management programs expanding coastal 
resilience efforts through vulnerability assessments, planning and 
design of resilience projects, monitoring and evaluation, technical 
assistance and training to local governments.
    Coral Reef Conservation Program: The Conservancy supports the 
requested level of $43.194 million. The increase will help NOAA, 
States, territories and community, research, and non-governmental 
partners address the continued decline of coral reefs. This decline has 
had significant social, economic and ecological impacts on people and 
communities in the United States and around the world. TNC works with 
NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program under a competitively awarded, 
multiyear cooperative agreement to address the top threats to coral 
reef ecosystems: changing ocean conditions, overfishing and land-based 
sources of pollution. Together, TNC and NOAA develop place-based 
strategies, measure the effectiveness of management efforts and build 
capacity among reef managers.
    National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS): The Conservancy 
supports the requested level of $42.5 million. NERRS partners with 
States and territories to ensure long-term education, stewardship and 
research on estuarine habitats. The reserves advance knowledge and 
estuary stewardship and serve as a scientific foundation for coastal 
management decisions. By using local management needs to help shape 
research, NERRS aims to fill critical gaps. This funding would expand 
the capacity of NERRS to conduct climate research and monitoring, 
incorporate this research into training and technical assistance to 
local communities and enhance public engagement.
    Sanctuaries and Marine Protected Areas: The Conservancy supports 
the requested level of $84.503 million. National marine sanctuaries 
support economic growth and hundreds of coastal businesses in sanctuary 
communities, preserve vibrant underwater and maritime treasures for 
Americans to enjoy and provide critical public access for more than 42 
million visitors each year. Through a transparent, inclusive approach, 
the marine sanctuaries provide for the conservation of U.S. marine 
resources while balancing multiple uses and diverse stakeholder needs. 
The increased funding would enable the program to expand engagement of 
partners, underrepresented communities, Tribes and Indigenous 
communities; increase capacity for protection, conservation and 
stewardship; and support the designation process for five community-
nominated candidate sites and Papahanaumokuakea Marine National 
Monument to become sanctuaries.
                national marine fisheries service (nmfs)
    Fisheries and Ecosystem Science Programs and Services: The 
Conservancy supports the requested level of $170.603 million. Science 
is the foundation of successful fisheries management. While many gains 
have been achieved, there remain unfunded opportunities in each NMFS 
region, especially related to electronic monitoring and reporting (EM/
ER). NMFS has also begun a fisheries information management 
modernization effort that would enhance capacity to take in, integrate 
and make accessible data from a variety of sources to improve 
management. Modernizing data management would support implementation of 
the proposed Climate-Ready Fisheries Initiative and enhance the 
government's ability to conduct offshore wind consultations. The 
enhanced research capacity would help fill gaps in stock productivity, 
fisheries adaptations, improve future projections and risk assessments 
and translate these efforts into management strategies to support 
decision-makers.
    Habitat Conservation and Restoration: The Conservancy supports the 
requested level of $99.704 million. NOAA funding for coastal habitat 
restoration supports, on average, 15 jobs per $1 million invested and 
up to 30 jobs per $1 million spent on labor-intensive restoration 
projects. Project funds are awarded on a competitive basis and 
typically leverage the resources and capacity of multiple partners. 
This funding also provides for NOAA's consultations on and 
implementation of Essential Fish Habitat. The Regional Fishery 
Management Councils address fishing impacts on these areas, and NOAA 
must have sufficient capacity to provide technical assistance to the 
councils and to work with Federal agencies to avoid, minimize and 
mitigate impacts on these important fishery habitats. The proposed 
increase would support large-scale habitat restoration to build climate 
resilience as well as competitive grants for multi-year awards to 
develop restoration planning, project design and permitting and project 
implementation. TNC supports not only this project but the thoughtful 
approach to assess the problem, identify goals and articulate a 
schedule and cost for the project.
    Fisheries Data Collections, Surveys and Assessments: The 
Conservancy supports the requested level of $197.645 million. Limited 
or poor-quality information on the status of fishery stocks undermines 
the effectiveness of fisheries management and can erode community 
support for conservation measures. Accurate and timely stock 
assessments are essential for the sound management of fisheries and the 
sustainability of fishing resources. The proposed increase would 
provide long-needed funding to expand surveys, sampling and analysis 
capabilities to better track shifting species. The funding would 
increase the use of technology to conduct surveys, a capacity that 
became increasingly important when the pandemic disrupted data 
collection. The increase would also begin implementation of a Federal 
survey mitigation program to cover the operational lifespan of offshore 
wind developments.
    Fisheries Management Programs and Services: The Conservancy 
supports the requested level of $136.782 million. With a $214 billion 
fisheries and seafood sector, U.S. fishing communities rely on 
management services and information from NOAA to make the most informed 
decisions on where, how and when to fish. NOAA Fisheries has made 
important strides in addressing these challenges and strengthening 
fisheries management. Support for these efforts is necessary to recover 
fish stocks so they can provide food and jobs now and in the future. 
Increased funding will enable NOAA to take the next steps to better 
incorporate ecosystem and changing climate considerations into 
management activities. It will also allow for workforce training and 
development in environmental justice and equity as well as improved 
engagement and outreach for diverse participation in regulatory and 
science processes. Funding would increase consultation capacity to 
assess effects of planned offshore energy activities and to establish a 
national Wind Center of Excellence to coordinate review of wind 
projects nationwide.
    Observers and Training: The Conservancy supports at least $55.468 
million, including $10.3 million for at-sea monitoring in the New 
England multispecies fishery, consistent with fiscal year 2021 funding. 
After several years of collaborative work with fishery participants, 
scientists and other stakeholders, the New England Fishery Management 
Council voted to increase monitoring on groundfish vessels to 100 
percent for a period of at least 4 years if, and only if, funding is 
available to support it. Because of ongoing support from Congress to 
develop electronic monitoring systems, fishermen can now meet the at-
sea monitoring requirement with these systems or observers. Continued 
funding along with leveraged private funding should provide sufficient 
resources to aid in the near-term transition to increased monitoring 
and expand the use of electronic monitoring.
    Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF): The Conservancy 
supports at least $70 million, an increase of $5 million above fiscal 
year 2021 funding. PCSRF has funded hundreds of successful on-the-
ground salmon conservation efforts, but habitat project needs exceed 
available funding. It invests in cooperative efforts and projects are 
matched at a 3:1 ratio (Federal: non-Federal). PCSRF has catalyzed 
thousands of partnerships among Federal, State, local and Tribal 
governments and conservation, business and community organizations.
    Protected Resources Science and Management: The Conservancy 
supports the requested level of $237.127 million. Increasing funding 
for the competitive Species Recovery Grants would allow the agency to 
strengthen and expand State and territorial partnerships to address the 
growing number of listed species and allow for larger-scale, ecosystem-
level recovery efforts. It will enhance capacity to integrate climate 
science into protected species management and assessments, including 
scenario planning, recovery planning, implementing recovery actions, 
threat projections and long-term monitoring and research. Additional 
listed species and emerging offshore wind activities have increased the 
number and complexity of NOAA's consultation and permitting 
requirements. Funding is needed to aid NOAA's ability to complete these 
requirements in a timely and predictable manner.
    Thank you for this opportunity to share TNC's priorities. Please 
contact me if you have questions or would like additional information.

    [This statement was submitted by Stephanie Bailenson, Senior Policy 
Advisor for Ocean and Coasts.]
                                 ______
                                 
  Prepared Statement of the New Hampshire Office of the Child Advocate
 submitted on behalf of a coalition led by youth first initiative and 
    columbia justice lab's youth correctional leaders for justice--
 regarding a new juvenile justice initiative at the office of juvenile 
    justice and delinquency prevention in the department of justice
    Chairwoman Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran, and Members of the 
subcommittee, my name is Moira O'Neill. I serve as the Child Advocate 
for the State of New Hampshire. The Office of the Child Advocate 
provides independent oversight of all State supervised services for 
children with a special focus on child protection and juvenile justice 
services. In addition to investigating complaints and examining State 
systems, our statutory mandate includes promoting children's best 
interests and strengthening State services by working with agencies and 
providing advice to policy makers. The foundation of all our efforts is 
the science of child development. This approach is essential to 
juvenile justice, a separate system that should accommodate children's 
developing brains and capacity for executive decision making, impulse 
control, and emotional regulation. I am pleased to submit testimony on 
behalf of a coalition of organizations, co-led by the Youth First 
Initiative and Columbia Justice Lab's Youth Correctional Leaders for 
Justice. These organizations assist States in building on the past 15 
years of successful youth crime reduction and decarceration to 
strengthen and expand access to more effective community-based 
alternatives for youth. To accomplish this goal, we seek $100 million 
for a new initiative at the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
Prevention (OJJDP) in the Department of Justice that would support 
State efforts to:

  --Engage in a planning and stakeholder consultation process to close 
        youth prisons, repurpose closed youth prisons, and reinvest 
        State resources from those facilities to support more effective 
        and cost-efficient community-based alternatives; and
  --Provide support for workforce development services for correctional 
        staff who will need new employment upon facility closures.

    I want to thank the subcommittee for its past funding of Federal 
juvenile justice programs and urge it to support this new initiative at 
OJJDP to support States in moving from costly and ineffective 
incarceration to more effective community-based alternatives that 
produce dramatically better outcomes for youth, their families, and 
their communities.
    The time for transforming juvenile justice is now and New Hampshire 
is ready. We are a small State with under 2,000 \1\ children--less than 
1 percent of an estimated 260,000 population under 18 \2\--who are 
adjudicated delinquent at any given time of the year. Despite the small 
size of the population, there are disparities and children at risk. 
Children of color are just 16 percent of the State population but 
account for 37 percent of detention admissions, 22 percent of new 
probation cases, and at least 22 percent of out of home placements.\3\ 
Children with disabilities also are disproportionately represented with 
an estimated 65-70 percent having a diagnosed disability and 75 percent 
having experienced some form of trauma, which impacts healthy 
development.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/documents/dcyf-data-book-2020.pdf
    \2\ https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/NH
    \3\ Division for Children, Youth and Families Probation 
Transformation Team, State of New Hampshire Department of Health and 
Human Services. 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    With these outcomes in mind and armed with the latest science for 
practice improvement, New Hampshire is experiencing extraordinary 
progress in transforming juvenile justice services under a broad, 
bipartisan group of champions. We are in the midst of implementing 
significant investments in a responsive and trauma-informed mental 
health system for children. We are transforming juvenile probation from 
a punitive and ineffective system to a child development-informed 
system that will emphasize positive youth development and incentivize 
pro-social behavior. Moreover, the Granite State has succeeded in 
minimizing the number of detained or committed children through 
legislative actions increasingly limiting criteria for incarceration. 
The General Assembly has just passed a 2022-23 biennium budget that 
provides for the closure of our 144-bed children's prison, currently 
housing 10-15 children, by March 2023. This is promising progress in 
children's best interest. New Hampshire has momentum. However, overall 
success will depend upon careful planning and assessment for community-
based alternatives to intervene, rehabilitate, and prevent children 
from engaging in anti-social behavior. A promise to support staff in 
prison transition, not currently in the budget, would go far to keeping 
children safe until closure. The requested $100 million for a new 
Federal initiative at OJJDP would galvanize and support New Hampshire's 
efforts to ensure a truly successful and just system.


    Nationwide, from 2000 to 2018, the number of incarcerated youth 
fell by 65 percent, and juvenile justice facilities decreased by 50 
percent. During this time youth crime also dropped. From 2006 to 2019, 
juvenile arrests for violent crimes fell by 50 percent, and from 2008 
to 2019, juvenile arrests for property crimes fell by 73 percent.
    Racial and ethnic disparities and incidents of abuse continue to 
plague these extremely expensive and ineffective prison environments. 
Racial inequities in incarceration are pervasive--Black youth are 5 
times more likely and Latinx youth 3 times more likely than their white 
peers to be incarcerated for similar offenses. Excluding Indian 
Country, American Indians make up 3 percent of girls and 1.5 percent of 
boys in juvenile facilities but less than 1 percent of youth 
nationally.
    Long term outcomes for incarcerated youth are poor and include 
lower educational attainment and employment; high rates of 
homelessness; behavioral and emotional problems; poor physical health; 
and problems in forming stable family relationships. Physical and 
sexual assault and extended solitary confinement also are common. 
Incarceration also increases recidivism by disconnecting youth from 
their families, religious and spiritual connections, schools, and other 
pro-social experiences. As a result, incarcerated youth are more likely 
to have entered adult prison by age 25. Given these limitations, many 
prosecutors, youth correctional administrators and youth advocates now 
recommend the closure of youth prisons in favor of more effective 
community-based alternatives. However, there are many youth prisons 
still operating and taking up precious State resources, especially 
during this time of strapped State budgets. Federal funds would assist 
States in closing youth prisons and directing State and local resources 
to support more effective community-based alternatives.
    Research shows that community-based alternatives perform far better 
than the youth prison model. The youth incarceration environment is 
incongruous with child development and trauma-informed care that relies 
upon stimulating, engaging, encouraging, and safe space for children's 
intellectual capacity and resilience to develop. I will never forget 
the boy at the Sununu Youth Services Center who told me, ``I feel my 
brain rotting in here.'' He was right.
    There are effective alternatives to youth incarceration. Community 
mentoring programs that link young people to trusted adults show strong 
results. In Pennsylvania, Youth Advocates Program found that 97 percent 
of program participants were not convicted or adjudicated of a new 
offense while in the program, 85 percent were living safely in the 
community at discharge, and 76 percent were regularly attending school, 
had graduated, or attained their GED at discharge. The NYC Mayor's 
Office and Urban Institute found that Credible Messengers' mentoring 
programs for youth on probation significantly reduced recidivism for 
young adults on probation by 69 percent after 12 months. At the 24-
month mark, it was still 57 percent lower. These results show that 
evidence-based alternatives delivered in the community can reduce 
recidivism.
    During the COVID-19 pandemic, incarceration has put youth at 
serious risk for illness, including long-term health impacts, and 
sometimes death. While not specific to youth prisons, as of December 
2020, the rate of people incarcerated in prisons who tested positive 
for COVID-19 was more than 4 times as high as the general population 
and in some States up to 8 times as high. It is likely that youth 
prisons have similarly high rates of COVID-19 infection, putting in 
jeopardy the health of young people and staff in those settings, as 
well as the health of their families and communities to which they 
return.
    Closing youth prisons both saves money and increases public safety. 
The cost of youth incarceration is astronomically high, especially 
considering these poor outcomes. According to one recent study, the 
average cost of the most expensive confinement option for a young 
person in 48 States was $588 per day, or $214,620 per year. In New 
Hampshire, the Sununu Youth Services Center costs taxpayers $12 million 
to $15 million per year to accommodate 10-15 children on any given day. 
A Washington State Study showed that youth detention produced fewer 
benefits in reduced crime and other outcomes than many less costly 
programs. For example, spending $1 for diversion and mentoring programs 
resulted in $3.36 in benefits of reduced crime, while multisystemic 
therapy, a more service intensive alternative, produced $13.36 in 
benefits.
    In 2016, Kansas decided to shift resources from youth prisons to 
community-based interventions, and this shift is expected to save $72 
million by 2022. The State has invested savings in community-based 
programs. Georgia also instituted a similar plan in 2012 and estimated 
its savings over 5 years at $85 million. It also avoided the 
significant cost of building two new juvenile facilities.
    Such community-based alternatives, including mentoring programs, 
evidence-based therapies, and small, rehabilitative and home-like 
facilities for the very few young people who commit serious crimes cost 
much less than prison and are safer for youth and staff. New York 
City's investment in small, homelike facilities resulted in a 53 
percent drop in youth arrests and a 68 percent reduction in youth 
placement. Using similar reforms, Texas decreased youth incarceration 
by 38 percent and further decreased youth arrests by 49 percent. After 
California's closure of youth prisons in 2016, youth arrests for 
violent crimes in the State fell to less than half what they were in 
1990. These States have demonstrated that closing youth prisons both 
saves money and increases public safety.
    Americans nationwide support Federal funding to incentivize States 
to close youth prisons to capture resources to reinvest in more 
effective and cost-efficient community-based alternatives. In a recent 
Youth First Initiative poll, 78 percent of adults endorsed the proposal 
to provide Federal funds for State planning and consultation with 
stakeholders to close youth prisons and invest savings to expand access 
to community-based alternatives and provide workforce development 
services to workers from closed facilities. At least 7 in 10 Democrats, 
Independents, and Republicans, and at least 7 in 10 Black, white, 
Hispanic, and Asian Americans endorsed these policies, demonstrating 
support across political affiliation as well as racial and ethnic 
groups.
    Youth First Initiative polled residents in Maine and found that 85 
percent of residents overwhelming favor a youth justice system focused 
on prevention and rehabilitation over punishment and incarceration. 
Additionally, 87 percent of Mainers support providing financial 
incentives for States to invest in alternatives to youth incarceration. 
Just recently, the Maine House and Senate passed legislation to close 
its only youth prison, Long Creek Youth Development Center. The 
legislation also requires that savings captured from the closure be 
used to create and support community-based programs in Maine.
    At a time when our Nation is debating how to reduce the negative 
impacts of the justice system while still maintaining public safety, I 
urge you to support this proposal since it provides a winning strategy 
that would accomplish all of the key goals: reducing incarceration and 
its negative impacts on youth; reducing racial disparities; achieving 
cost efficiencies that produce more effective outcomes; and improving 
public safety.
    Thank you so much for your time and consideration of these critical 
issues. Please do not hesitate to contact me or Jenny Collier at 
[email protected] if you have any questions or need 
additional information.

    [This statement was submitted by Testimony by Moira O'Neill, PhD, 
The Child Advocate.]
                                 ______
                                 
  Prepared Statement of Nonprofit Civil and Human Rights Advocacy and 
                        Religious Organizations
 funding to the department of justice for efforts to prevent, measure, 
               and mitigate the harm done by hate crimes
June 22, 2021

 
 
 
The Hon. Jeanne Shaheen, Chair              The Hon. Jerry Moran,
Commerce, Justice, Science                   Ranking Member
  Subcommittee                              Commerce, Justice, Science
Senate Appropriations Committee               Subcommittee
125 Hart Senate Office Building             Senate Appropriations
Washington, DC 20510                         Committee
                                            142 Dirksen Senate Office
                                             Building
                                            Washington, DC 20510
 


Dear Chair Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran, and Members of the 
Subcommittee:

    As organizations that represent communities targeted by hate 
incidents ranging from vandalism and verbal harassment to life-
threatening attacks, we write to urge you to increase funding in the 
fiscal year 2022 Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill for 
community-based non-profits that provide holistic education and support 
services to mitigate the harm hate causes; for grants that improve data 
about and understanding of hate; and for restorative justice research 
and Community Relations Service interventions that address the roots of 
hate-motivated violence.
    Our recommendations are grounded in our alarm at increases in 
reports of hate crime, and in our conviction that to further racial 
justice we must ensure that government agencies and nongovernmental 
organizations work together to support, validate, and vindicate each 
person and community at risk of being targeted because of race, 
national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, 
or disability. As you know, in spite of declining law enforcement 
agency participation, the FBI's Hate Crime Statistics Act reports have 
documented year-to-year growth in the number of recorded hate crimes in 
recent years, culminating in the most deadly year on record in 2019, in 
which at least 51 people lost their lives in bias-motivated attacks. 
Anecdotal data captured by community-based organizations and surveys 
that ask Americans about their subjective experiences indicate that 
hate crime is a far more widespread and devastating phenomenon than 
even the FBI's report demonstrates. Behind each victim is an entire 
community of people who share the characteristics for which the person 
was attacked, and who experience the fear and instability that these 
acts cause.
    Mitigating and preventing the enormous harm that bias-motivated 
violence does is necessary if we are to dismantle deep systemic 
inequities that have impeded our growth and achievement throughout 
American history. Moreover, at a time when our differences and 
conflicts threaten our ability to collaborate with one another to 
sustain democratic governance and protect public health, it is as 
important as ever that we stand up to hate and create an environment in 
which all of us are equally safe and empowered to thrive. We urge you 
to further these crucial efforts by adopting the following 
appropriations provisions and report language.
Increase Funding for Community-Based Anti-Hate Work
    When hate incidents occur, the people, institutions, and 
communities that are affected often turn first for assistance and 
support to familiar and trusted organizations that work outside the 
criminal justice system to provide legal advice and defense, 
culturally-appropriate medical and mental health care, and other 
complementary services such as anti-bias education and help with basic 
needs. Strong indicators of the important role that community-based 
nonprofits play in documenting, countering and mitigating hate include 
the significant volume of hate incidents reported directly to 
organizations and associations such as Stop AAPI Hate, the Southern 
Poverty Law Center, and the Anti-Defamation League, and the 
proliferation in recent years of programs and partnerships that aim to 
call out, and accelerate the fight against, hate, such as the Lawyers 
Committee for Civil Rights Under Law's James Byrd Jr. Center to Stop 
Hate. The Federal Government's investments in preventing and supporting 
healing from hate crimes must reflect the unique and indispensable role 
of non-government actors through a movement toward greater parity in 
distribution of funding to both community-based and government-run 
institutions. Therefore, we urge you to adopt the following report 
language:

    ``Department of Justice--Office of Justice Programs--`Community 
Support for Victims of Hate Crime.--The Committee recognizes that 
individuals and communities that perpetrators of hate crimes target are 
frequently the same individuals and communities that have been 
historically discriminated against and overrepresented among those 
investigated, arrested, convicted and incarcerated by law enforcement 
officials. Hate crime victims include noncitizens and people with 
immigrant family members who may fear immigration enforcement-related 
consequences of contact with law enforcement. For these and other 
reasons, communities affected by hate crime have called for increased 
investment in community-based social support and advocacy for victims 
as a necessary complement to law enforcement involvement in preventing 
and responding to hate crime. Accordingly, the Committee directs the 
agency to prioritize grants from programs for which institutions of 
higher education, museums, and nongovernmental nonprofit organizations 
are eligible to those applicants that are institutions of higher 
education, museums, and nonprofit organizations that propose to use 
funding to provide services that reduce the risk of hate crime or to 
provide legal, material, social, and other support to people and 
institutions affected by hate crimes. The agency should consider grant 
programs including but not limited to the Antiterrorism and Emergency 
Assistance Program, the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program, 
Research and Evaluation on Domestic Terrorism Prevention, and Research 
and Evaluation of Services for Victims of Crime.' ''
Fund Improvements in Hate Crime Statistics
    A more complete understanding of where, when, and against whom hate 
crimes occur is a necessary component of an effective and coordinated 
campaign to eradicate this scourge. In the nearly 30 years during which 
the FBI has compiled data pursuant to the Hate Crime Statistics Act, 
however, DOJ has yet to produce information that paints an accurate and 
comprehensive picture of hate crime. Multiple factors contribute to 
deficits in our knowledge about this phenomenon, including victimized 
communities' distrust and avoidance of law enforcement agencies; lack 
of training for officers in recognizing and investigating bias 
motivations; and frontline agencies' limited capacity to maintain and 
share records with DOJ combined with the lack of a reporting mandate. 
Congress can and must support stakeholders in overcoming these 
challenges by providing funding for data improvement programs 
authorized by the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act. To implement this priority 
legislation, we urge you to provide total funding of at least $15 
million in the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations bill for grant 
programs to State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to 
implement the National Incident-Based Reporting System, to create 
State-run hate crime reporting hotlines, and to conduct training and 
develop protocols for identifying, analyzing, investigating and 
reporting hate crimes. In addition, we urge you to adopt the following 
corresponding report language:

    ``DOJ--State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance: `Hate Crime 
Statistics Reporting Improvement.--The Committee is concerned that more 
than two thousand law enforcement agencies did not participate in the 
FBI's most recent compilation of statistics about hate crimes, 
including 10 agencies serving cities with populations greater than 
100,000. In addition, underreporting of hate crime by participating 
agencies leads to an exponential gap between the number of hate crimes 
victims report experiencing in the National Crime Victimization Survey, 
and the number of hate crimes recognized and reported by law 
enforcement. Missing reports impair the ability of public safety 
officers and civil society to prevent and respond to hate crime. The 
Committee looks forward to receiving the report required in Sec. 5(g) 
of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, Public Law 117-13, and to obtaining a 
better understanding of ways that DOJ can support law enforcement 
agencies in strengthening hate crime data collection and reporting, and 
more effectively meeting the needs of communities affected by hate 
crime.' ''
Increase Support for Eliminating Hate by Ramping Up Peacebuilding and 
        Advancing Restorative Justice
    To secure a nation free from the fear and division that hate 
incidents cause, DOJ and other stakeholders must further develop 
ability and capacity to challenge the prejudices that lead to attacks. 
Within the agency, this work should start with and be led by an 
empowered and better-resourced Community Relations Service. This body's 
efforts are symbolically important and practically effective. As Liz 
Hume and Theo Sitther of the Alliance for Peacebuilding wrote in The 
Hill on March 17, 2021, ``CRS has brokered agreements that have 
resolved underlying systems of injustice and division in communities 
experiencing high levels of conflict.'' Recognizing that CRS's 
interventions save lives and preserve community cohesion, we urge you 
to take its work to scale and increase CRS's annual funding to $40 
million to meet expanding demand resulting in part from COVID-19-
related hate crimes targeting AAPI individuals and institutions, and 
from accelerating hate incidents inspired by international affairs that 
have targeted Jews, Muslims, and members of other faith-based and 
immigrant communities. We recommend adoption of the following report 
language in support of CRS's work:

    ``DOJ--Salaries and Expenses, Community Relations Service: 
`Community Relations Service.--The Committee recommends $40,000,000 for 
the Community Relations Service (CRS). CRS has a unique and important 
role to play in complementing the Justice Department's law enforcement 
activities, particularly when those activities involve members of 
vulnerable and marginalized communities. CRS is charged with pursuing 
justice and reconciliation throughout all of the States and 
territories, by engaging crime victims, government agencies, civil 
rights groups, and community leaders in healing and conflict 
resolution. CRS concentrates on developing mutual understanding in 
communities most challenged by tension and helps them develop local 
capacity and tools to prevent hate crimes from reoccurring. The 
Committee expects these efforts to expand, and CRS's services to be 
offered in more communities, in Fiscal Year 2022.' ''

    Moreover, we implore you to acknowledge that members of communities 
targeted by perpetrators of hate crimes have themselves suffered from 
disproportionate surveillance and criminalization by the criminal 
justice infrastructure. As a result, many fear that punitive anti-hate 
crime policies are likely to be misused against marginalized 
communities, and question whether traditional punishment is the best 
possible means of redressing hate crime in a way that challenges 
offenders' beliefs and gives pause to others who may express or act on 
hate. Instead, alternatives to carceral sentencing, which might include 
educational and community service requirements or moderated 
conciliation and dispute resolution sessions, hold promise as a means 
of advancing stakeholders' interests and helping victims heal and 
regain confidence. Further study is needed to determine which 
interventions have a successful track record or have shown promise in 
experimentation, so we hope that you will reserve at least $5 million 
of the funding provided to the Office of Justice Programs for Research, 
Evaluation, and Statistics for evaluation and development of 
restorative justice programming, and adopt the following report 
language:

    ``Research, Evaluation and Statistics: `Restorative Justice 
Research.--The Committee recognizes that many members of communities 
targeted by hate crimes have also been disproportionately negatively 
affected by a criminal justice system suffused with institutional 
racism and prejudice against other minority communities. As a result, a 
number of victims of hate crimes advocate responses to bias-motivated 
attacks that do not involve only or primarily carceral or punitive 
measures. The Committee notes the dearth of studies that evaluate the 
effectiveness of restorative justice alternatives to criminal 
punishment for commission of a hate crime, and directs the Department 
to fund and conduct research that can inform the adoption of sentencing 
alternatives that best serve hate crime victims' needs. The Department 
is encouraged to partner with academic institutions to evaluate the 
effectiveness of existing programs that employ conciliation, education, 
and other interventions to disrupt the malign beliefs of people 
convicted of hate crimes' ''
    We appreciate your consideration of these requests and look forward 
to working with you to ensure that fiscal year 2022 appropriations 
advance the fight against hate in ways that best serve the needs of 
communities that are targeted because of members' race, ethnicity, 
national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, 
and disability. If you have questions about these recommendations or 
seek additional information, please contact Erin Hustings at 
[email protected] and 202-316-3086.

            Sincerely,

ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services)
Act To Change
American Jewish Congress
Anti-Defamation League
B'nai B'rith International
Interfaith Alliance
Japanese American Citizens League
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Matthew Shepard Foundation
National Council of Jewish Women
Not In Our Town
Rabbinical Assembly
Sikh Coalition
UnidosUS
Union for Reform Judaism
UNITED SIKHS
      
                                 ______
                                 
  Prepared Statement of Nonprofit Voter Assistance, Civil Rights, and 
                        Religious Organizations
June 18, 2021

 
 
 
The Hon. Jeanne Shaheen, Chair              The Hon. Jerry Moran,
Commerce, Justice, Science                   Ranking Member
  Subcommittee                              Commerce, Justice, Science
Senate Appropriations Committee               Subcommittee
125 Hart Senate Office Building             Senate Appropriations
Washington, DC 20510                         Committee
                                            142 Dirksen Senate Office
                                             Building
                                            Washington, DC 20510
 

                 department of justice's voting section
Dear Chair Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran, and Members of the 
Subcommittee:

    The undersigned organizations write to strongly urge you to 
designate increased funding for DOJ's Civil Rights Division for the 
addition of positions in the Voting Section to enforce the Voting 
Rights Act's protections against discrimination in elections. As 
advocates for full and equal participation in American democracy, we 
are alarmed by the accelerating adoption of State and local policies 
that make voting disproportionately more difficult for members of 
communities that have historically been the subject of blatant and 
targeted disenfranchisement efforts. There is no other entity that can 
as ably represent the interests of voters of color and voters from 
language minority communities with the authority, expertise, and deep 
resources available to DOJ, and so we call on Members of Congress to 
ensure that the agency has what it needs to rise to the present 
challenge and preserve the broad access to the ballot that our 
foundational civil rights laws promise.
    Before, during, and after the 2020 Presidential Election, 
disinformation about threats to election security and integrity spread 
widely, and in significant part due to some public figures' repeated 
critiques of procedures that are normal and familiar, such as mail 
voting, and of extraordinary measures undertaken to avoid COVID-19-
related perils, including proactive mailing of mail ballot applications 
and expansion of early voting hours and periods. Election 
administrators, Federal and international experts at agencies like the 
Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure 
Security Agency, and independent audits of paper records of votes cast 
have all affirmed that election results were valid and no significant 
or widespread fraud or irregularities occurred. Nonetheless, according 
to the Brennan Center for Justice, as of April 1, 2021, State lawmakers 
had introduced 361 bills that would restrict access to the ballot in 47 
States' 2021 legislative sessions.
    These measures take direct aim at aspects of the voting process 
that disproportionately affect voters of color and language minority 
voters, and preserving equal access to elections in 2021 and beyond 
will depend upon the strength and readiness of the most capable and 
expert voting rights prosecutor in the Nation, the Civil Rights 
Division's Voting Section. For example, Georgia recently signed into 
law a bill that expands voter identification requirements, which Black, 
Latino, Native American, and other voters of color are 
disproportionately likely to be unable to meet and to perceive as a 
barrier to voting; the bill also makes it a crime to approach voters 
waiting in line to give them food or water, and restricts the use of 
ballot drop boxes for mail voters. Iowa enacted a bill that shortens 
the State's early voting period and polling place hours, and restricts 
the use of satellite voting sites, all flexibilities that have proven 
particularly important to the State's growing population of young 
Latino voters, according to LULAC Iowa Political Director Joe Henry. 
Utah adopted a change that streamlines the process for cancelling voter 
registration records based on a voter's apparent death, opening the 
door to striking living people who share names with deceased 
individuals from voter rolls without notice. Such a policy is very 
likely to harm historically marginalized voters, who are statistically 
more likely to share the same surnames, and to be mistakenly removed 
from registration lists, than are white voters.
    DOJ's Voting Section requires expanded capacity to respond to the 
States and localities that already have and are poised to follow suit, 
as well as to monitor, evaluate, and enforce anti-discrimination 
standards in the post-2020 Census redistricting process that will soon 
begin in virtually every State and municipality in the Nation. As you 
know, the redistricting cycle that approaches will be the first to 
occur in the absence of the protective mechanisms of the Voting Rights 
Act's fully-functional preclearance process. As a result, the Voting 
Section will not receive explanation and analysis of new district maps 
from jurisdictions with long histories of acting deliberately to limit 
marginalized voters' opportunity to elect representatives of their 
choice, and will instead have to exponentially increase its own 
original review of as many as hundreds, or thousands, of new plans. It 
cannot afford to reduce its efforts to identify and challenge 
discriminatory redistricting, knowing that the process of redrawing 
districts has uniformly been infected with intentional bias and 
produced inequitable results when left to its own devices. In the last 
two cycles of redistricting during which the Voting Rights Act was in 
full effect alone, DOJ objected at least 42 times to implementation of 
redistricting plans that would have disproportionately diminished the 
influence of voters of color and language minority voters.
    As we consider the work before the Voting Section, we are also 
mindful of the need for more capacity to ensure the effective 
implementation of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act after new 
coverage determinations are published in calendar year 2021. In light 
of the continued growth of language minority communities, we anticipate 
the extension of obligations to conduct elections in multiple languages 
to additional jurisdictions, and along with it, an increase in demand 
for DOJ's technical assistance and oversight. In our experience, newly-
covered municipalities in particular often struggle to understand and 
comply with requirements such as recruitment and training of 
multilingual pollworkers, education of monolingual pollworkers about 
the rights of voters who are not fully fluent in English, and 
customized translation of not only ballots and instructions but also 
key assets such as websites and polling place signage. The volume of 
the Voting Section's historical language assistance enforcement actions 
also attests to the frequency with which election administrators and 
elected officials experience challenges and require added assistance or 
pressure, or both, to provide the materials and interpretation that the 
law requires.
    Taking into consideration these acute needs, we urge you to provide 
at least $5 million in additional funding for General Legal Activities 
at DOJ, and to designate the increase for the purpose of adding 
positions in the Voting Section dedicated to Voting Rights Act 
enforcement. We also ask that you adopt the following explanatory 
report language:

    DOJ--Salaries and Expenses, General Legal Activities: ``Voting 
Rights Act Enforcement.--The Committee is concerned that multiple 
factors including the effects of the Supreme Court's decision in Shelby 
County v. Holder; the increasing proposal and adoption of 
discriminatory restrictive State and local voting policies following 
the 2020 Presidential Election; and ongoing need for negotiation of 
agreements that ensure compliance with Section 203 of the Voting Rights 
Act (VRA) will require the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division 
to undertake an increased caseload of resource-intensive litigation to 
meet its responsibility under the Voting Rights Act to ensure equal 
access to elections regardless of race, ethnicity, and linguistic 
ability. The Committee recommends an increase of not less than 
$5,000,000 for additional expenses relating to the enforcement of 
Sections 2, 4(e), 5, 10, 11, 203, and 208 of the VRA (52 U.S.C. 
Sec. Sec. 10301-10311; 10503-10505; 10508).''

    We appreciate your consideration of these recommendations, and 
encourage you to contact Erin Hustings at [email protected] and 202-
316-3086 if we may provide any additional information.

            Sincerely,

American Association of People with Disabilities
Anti-Defamation League
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF)
Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
Center for Common Ground
Coalition on Human Needs
Common Cause
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. 
Provinces
Democracy North Carolina
Demos
End Citizens United/Let America Vote Action Fund
Fair Elections Center
Faith in Public Life
Faith in Public Life Action Fund
Franciscan Action Network
Government Accountability Project
Human Rights Campaign
Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG)
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
League of Women Voters of the United States
Missouri Voter Protection Coalition
National Action Network (NAN)
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
NALEO Educational Fund
National Coalition on Accessible Voting
The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council on Independent Living
National Urban League
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Ohio Voter Rights Coalition
People for the American Way
Rock the Vote
SPLC Action Fund
State Voices
Texas Progressive Action Network
UFCW International Union
UnidosUS
Union for Reform Judaism
Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice
      
                                 ______
                                 
    Prepared Statement of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
             national oceanic & atmospheric administration
    Chair Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran and Honorable Members of the 
subcommittee, my name is Lorraine Loomis and I am the Chair of the 
Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC). The NWIFC is composed of 
the 20 Tribes that are party to United States v. Washington, which 
upheld the Tribes' treaty-reserved right to harvest and manage various 
natural resources on and off-reservation, including salmon and 
shellfish. On behalf of the NWIFC, I'm providing testimony for the 
record on the natural resources and fishery management program funding 
requests for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Fiscal Year 2022 
appropriations. These programs support the management of salmon 
fisheries, which contribute to a robust natural resource-based economy 
and the continued exercise of Tribal treaty rights to fish. In light of 
the past year's extreme difficulties, it is now more important than 
ever that the Federal trustee support management, supplementation, and 
restoration of fisheries--paramount to the Tribes physical, cultural 
and economic wellbeing, as well as an important link in our Nation's 
food supply chain.

SUMMARY OF FISCAL YEAR 2022 APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS

  --$70.0 million plus for NOAA Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund
  --$7.0 million for NOAA Hatchery Genetic Management Plans
  --$43.5 million for NOAA Pacific Salmon Treaty
  --$26.5 million for NOAA Mitchell Act Hatchery Programs
  --Continued Support for NOAA Fisheries Disaster Assistance Program

    The member Tribes of the NWIFC ceded much of the land that is now 
western Washington in exchange for reserving the continued right to 
harvest and manage various natural resources including salmon and 
shellfish. Salmon are the foundation of Tribal cultures, traditions and 
economies in western Washington. To ensure that Tribal treaty rights 
and lifeways are protected, it is essential that the Federal Government 
provide support to all aspects of salmon management including harvest 
planning and implementation (e.g. Pacific Salmon Treaty), hatchery 
production, (e.g. Mitchell Act Hatchery Programs and Hatchery Genetic 
Management Plans) and habitat protection and restoration (e.g. Pacific 
Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund).

JUSTIFICATION OF REQUESTS

-- Provide, at a minimum, $70.0 million for NOAA Pacific Coastal Salmon 
        Recovery Fund (PCSRF) and preferably restore funding to fiscal 
        year 2002 levels ($110.0 million)

    We respectfully request, at a minimum, $70.0 million for PCSRF, an 
increase of $5.0 million over the fiscal year 2021 enacted level. It is 
worth noting that this request is a significant departure from the 
PCSRF peak level of $110.0 million in fiscal year 2002 or subsequent 
years in which budget authority was maintained upwards of $80.0 million 
through fiscal year 2011. We ultimately would like to see PCSRF funding 
fully restored to fiscal year 2002 levels. This level of funding would 
help carry out the original congressional intent of these funds to 
support the Federal Government's obligations to salmon recovery and the 
treaty fishing rights of the Tribes.
    The PCSRF is a multi-State, multi-Tribe program established by 
Congress in fiscal year 2000 with a primary goal to help recover 
dwindling salmon populations throughout the Pacific coast region. 
Through PCSRF, Tribes work collaboratively to help protect and restore 
salmon habitat in an effort to increase natural salmon productivity. To 
accomplish this, Tribes implement scientifically based salmon recovery 
plans developed for each watershed in concert with Federal, State, and 
local partners. Tribes also participate in sustainable harvest 
management activities such as monitoring of fish abundance, which is 
then used to forecast adult returns and subsequently develop annual 
harvest rates that achieve conservation objectives and provide for 
Tribal and non-Tribal harvest opportunities. Since its inception, PCSRF 
has been the primary salmon recovery response. This has resulted in the 
restoration and protection of over 1.1 million acres of spawning and 
rearing habitat and re-established salmon access to more than 11,980 
miles of previously inaccessible streams in our region.

-- Provide $7.0 million for NOAA Hatchery Genetic Management Plans 
        (within Pacific Salmon), including $2.0 million for 
        implementation

    We respectfully request $7.0 million to expedite NMFS's review and 
approval of the backlog of western Washington Hatchery Genetic 
Management Plans (HGMPs) and, at a minimum, $2.0 million of that 
funding directed toward implementation of those plans that are now 
approved. We recommend that the Pacific Salmon line be funded at no 
less than $69.0 million, which is $2.0 million above fiscal year 2021 
enacted level of $67.0 million to accommodate these requests, while 
ensuring maintenance of existing programs under this line. We also 
request an explanatory statement clarifying that program funding may be 
used to pass-through to, or contract with Tribes to implement those 
plans that are already approved. Review and approval of HGMPs is 
necessary to provide hatcheries with ESA coverage and implementation of 
the plans is necessary to accomplish their conservation goals.
    NMFS uses the information provided by HGMPs to evaluate the impacts 
of State and tribally operated hatcheries on salmon and steelhead 
listed under the ESA and recommends improvements to operations to meet 
conservation objectives. With the lack of improvement in salmon stocks, 
hatchery operations have become even more important to achieving 
recovery goals and maintenance of salmon fisheries. However, the lack 
of improvement in natural origin salmon has also resulted in 
scrutinizing hatcheries for their potential genetic impacts on natural 
spawning populations. This has resulted in increasingly specific 
performance standards and management expectations included in Tribes' 
HGMPs. Tribes need help addressing the escalating costs of hatchery 
management associated with the monitoring and adaptive management 
practices called for by HGMPs. For example, requirements to closely 
monitor natural and hatchery produced salmon interactions on the 
spawning ground are costly and time-intensive. Therefore, it is 
essential that HGMP funding is increased to address these rising costs 
and that flexibility is provided to ensure that funding can be used to 
implement the plans' recommendations, which both the Federal Government 
and Tribes have extensively invested in.

-- Provide $43.5 million to implement the National commitments in the 
        renegotiated Pacific Salmon Treaty agreements (within NOAA 
        Salmon Management Activities)

    We support the Pacific Salmon Commission (PSC) U.S. Section's 
fiscal year 2022 request of $43.5 million within Salmon Management 
Activities, an increase of $4.0 million over the fiscal year 2021 
enacted level of $39.5 million. This line item includes annual 
operational costs of $5,850,000 for Sound Science, $13,460,000 for 
hatchery conservation programs and habitat restoration for Puget Sound 
critical stocks and $5,540,000 to increase prey availability for 
southern resident killer whales.
    The fiscal year 2022 request would support implementation of the 
National commitments in the recently renegotiated Pacific Salmon Treaty 
(PST) Annex Chapters. The recommended funding also helps meet the 
requirements of the biological opinion for listed species and supports 
effective, science-based implementation of negotiated salmon fishing 
arrangements and abundance-based management approaches for Chinook, 
southern Coho, and Northern Boundary and Transboundary River salmon 
fisheries.
    Adult salmon returning to most western Washington streams migrate 
through U.S. and Canadian waters and are harvested by fishers from both 
countries. For years, there were no restrictions on the interception of 
returning salmon by fishers of neighboring countries. Eventually, the 
U.S. and Canada agreed to cooperate on the management of salmon by 
developing and ratifying the PST in 1985. The PSC was created to 
implement the PST and is responsible for developing management 
recommendations and assessing compliance with the treaty. Negotiations 
to revise the provisions of the Annex Chapters were successfully 
completed in 2018 and 2019. These chapters contain the specifics for 
implementing the treaty for each species in each geographic area. These 
revised chapters represent the combined efforts of the participants to 
ensure healthy salmon populations for the next 10 years, and as such 
include commitments from the U.S. to improve current management 
strategies.

-- Provide $26.5 million for NOAA Mitchell Act Hatchery Programs 
        (within Salmon Management Activities)

    We respectfully request $26.5 million for the Mitchell Act Hatchery 
Programs, an increase of $4.5 million over the fiscal year 2021 enacted 
level of $22.0 million. The request for this additional increase in 
Mitchell Act funds is to ensure that mitigation hatcheries operate at 
full production level to meet Federal obligations. This program is 
funded through the Salmon Management Activities subactivity.
    Mitchell Act hatchery production is intended to mitigate for fish 
and habitat loss caused by the Federal hydropower dam system on the 
Columbia River. Funding for these programs supports the operation and 
maintenance of hatcheries that release around 40 million juvenile 
salmon and steelhead in Oregon and Washington. Adequate funding for 
Mitchell Act hatcheries is of particular importance to us because it 
supports salmon production for Tribal treaty harvest along the 
Washington coast. Additionally, adequate funding to ensure full 
production from the Mitchell Act hatcheries dampens the impact of 
Canadian and Alaskan ocean fisheries on Washington and Tribal fisheries 
under the terms of the PST.

-- Continue to support the NOAA Fisheries Disaster Assistance Program 
        with Annual Funding

    We respectfully request Congress's continued support of the 
Fisheries Disaster Assistance Program. This program was not funded in 
fiscal year 2020 and fiscal year 2021 annual appropriations. However, 
the program received $15.0 million in fiscal year 2019 and $20.0 
million in fiscal year 2018. This funding is necessary to implement the 
Department of Commerce's declarations of Tribal fisheries disasters. 
Unfortunately, these disasters are becoming more frequent in light of a 
variety of natural and manmade circumstances beyond the control of 
Tribal fishery managers, which have led to severely depressed stocks 
and/or limited access to fisheries. Our member Tribes are currently 
waiting on requested determinations from the Secretary of Commerce as a 
result of numerous disasters in 2019 and earlier.
    Lack of access to fisheries in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic 
has only exacerbated the economic threats to Tribal fishing fleets. 
CARES Act and other COVID relief funding for fishery participant 
assistance has only covered a fraction of the Tribes' economic impacts 
and is not sufficient to maintain Tribal fishing fleets and food 
security during these difficult times. Forthcoming disasters could 
prove to be the tipping point if assistance is not readily on hand to 
support fisheries. Because of the seasonal nature of fishing, a single 
disaster can have significant impacts on annual revenues forcing 
fishers to drop out of the sector, and therefore sometimes lead to 
diminished fishing fleets. Under the current circumstances, Tribes are 
facing repeated disasters that are devastating to Tribal economies and 
cultures. Therefore, an ongoing, annually funded Fisheries Disaster 
Assistance Program is a much-needed stop gap measure to prevent the 
collapse of this important economic sector during difficult times. 
Providing timely fishery assistance shouldn't be solely based upon the 
passage of disaster relief legislation, but rather it should be 
programmatically funded and on hand to allow NOAA to rapidly respond.
                               conclusion
    The treaties between the Federal Government and Indian Tribes, as 
well as the treaty-reserved rights to harvest, manage and consume fish 
and shellfish, are the ``supreme law of the land'' under the U.S. 
Constitution (Article VI). It is therefore, critically important for 
Congress and the Federal Government to provide continued support in 
upholding the treaty obligations and carrying out its trust 
responsibilities. An important component of these obligations is to 
fully fund the aforementioned sustainable salmon fisheries management 
programs that provide for improved harvest planning, hatchery 
production and habitat management. We respectfully urge you to continue 
to support our efforts to protect and restore our treaty-reserved 
rights and natural resources that in turn will provide for thriving 
economies for both Indian and non-Indian communities alike. Thank you.

    [This statement was submitted by Lorraine Loomis, Chairperson.]
                                 ______
                                 
              Prepared Statement of the Ocean Conservancy
     fiscal year 2022 appropriations for the national oceanic and 
                       atmospheric administration
    Thank you for this opportunity to provide Ocean Conservancy's 
Fiscal Year 2022 (FY 2022) funding recommendations for the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Ocean Conservancy has 
worked for 50 years to address threats to the ocean through science-
based, practical policies that protect our ocean and improve our lives.
    We greatly appreciate the subcommittee's efforts to ensure a 
positive outcome for NOAA in the fiscal year 2021 omnibus, which made 
important investments in NOAA programs, including the National Marine 
Fisheries Service, the Marine Debris Program, and the Regional Ocean 
Data Portals.
    The Biden administration's proposed budget makes historic 
investments in NOAA, providing a $1.4 billion increase in agency 
funding, including an additional $800 million to expand climate-related 
services and a $500 million increase for satellites and forecasting 
technologies. We support President Biden's request for NOAA and urge 
Congress to appropriate at least this level of funding for the agency.
    NOAA's mission to understand, protect, restore, and manage our 
ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes is vitally important as we mitigate and 
adapt to the impacts of climate change and responsibly build our blue 
economy. Our ocean and coastal communities are at the frontlines of 
climate change. Many of these communities--particularly those whose 
residents are black, indigenous, and people of color--have 
disproportionately experienced these impacts over the course of 
history. Sea level rise, coastal flooding, ocean acidification, and 
increased ocean temperatures are all impacting our coastal residents 
and their ability to safely work and enjoy our ocean and coasts. These 
impacts are also affecting our marine species, from fish to whales and 
sea turtles, as well as the habitat they rely upon. Robust funding is 
needed to continue to understand the impacts of climate change and 
provide resources for local communities to better adapt and mitigate 
changes in our ocean and coast.
    The U.S. blue economy contributes $373 billion annually to the 
Nation's GDP and supports 2.3 million jobs, with nearly half of that 
impact coming from tourism, recreation and fisheries. A healthy and 
resilient ocean is vital to maintain and grow our coastal economies and 
communities. As climate change, however, causes sea levels to rise, 
altering our coasts and significantly damaging our infrastructure, and 
as marine species leave their historic grounds, we risk losing these 
substantial drivers of our coastal economy.
    Some of NOAA's most successful programs work to provide resources 
and decision-making authority to regions, States, and local communities 
to ensure a bottom up approach to solving the issues these communities 
face today. NOAA is providing leverage for hardworking people on the 
coast and on the water who are building resilience to climate change 
and fighting for a stronger blue economy through region-by-region 
fishery management, region-specific programs, extramural funding that 
supports State agencies and universities, place-based conservation in 
our estuaries and oceans, and more.
    As you craft the fiscal year 2022 spending bills, we ask that you 
consider the balance between NOAA's oceanic and atmospheric missions 
and the nexus between the two. Americans should not have to choose 
between weather forecasts and ocean and coastal resources like 
fisheries, coral reefs and marine mammals. Frequently, these aspects of 
NOAA's mission interact with each other, as well as other agencies, to 
enhance the outcome of their mission. For example, ocean observations 
and monitoring provide critical information for climate monitoring, 
severe storm tracking and weather forecasting. Ocean programs also 
facilitate homeland security and national defense functions, including 
U.S. Navy operations and U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue missions.
    We offer the following recommended funding levels and 
justifications for certain critical NOAA programs and activities.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Fiscal Year 2021    Fiscal Year 2022
  Account, Program or Activity          Enacted         Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      ..................
     Operations Research and
 
National Ocean Service:
 
    Coastal Science, Assessment,  $9 m..............  $18 m
     Response and Restoration:
     Marine Debris.
    Coastal Zone Management and   $2.5 m............  $10 m
     Services: Regional Ocean
     Data Portals.
    National Marine Sanctuaries.  $56.5 m...........  $84.5 m
    National Estuarine Research   $28.5 m...........  $42.5 m
     Reserves.
    IOOS Regional Observations..  $40.5 m...........  $69.5 m
 
National Marine Fisheries         $964.862 m........  $1,197 m
 Service.
 
    Fisheries Science and         $175.927 m........  $206 m
     Management: Fisheries Data
     Collections, Surveys and
     Assessments.
    Fisheries Science and         $146.927 m........  $170.6 m
     Management: Fisheries and
     Ecosystem Science Programs
     and Services.
    Regional Councils and         $41.500 m.........  $45.650 m
     Fisheries Commissions.
 
Office of Oceanic and
 Atmospheric Research
 
    Integrated Ocean              $15.5 m...........  $22 m
     Acidification.
    National Sea Grant College    $75 m for Sea       $130.6 m total,
     Program.                      Grant and $13 m     with $115.6 m for
                                   for aquaculture.    the National Sea
                                                       Grant College
                                                       Program and $15 m
                                                       for Sea Grant
                                                       Aquaculture.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marine Debris--$18 million
    Marine debris, particularly plastic waste pollution, is one of the 
biggest pollution problems threatening the world's oceans and 
waterways. An estimated 150 million metric tons of plastic waste are in 
the ocean today, and every year an estimated 8 million metric tons more 
are being added. Without immediate intervention, 250 million metric 
tons of plastic waste could be in the ocean in fewer than 10 years. 
Marine debris has serious effects on the marine environment and the 
economy. It impacts wildlife through entanglement, ingestion and ghost 
fishing and also impacts marine transportation, causing navigational 
hazards and vessel damage. In 2018, Congress reauthorized NOAA's Marine 
Debris Program via the Save Our Seas Act, which enjoyed broad 
bipartisan support in both chambers. In 2020, Congress again 
reauthorized NOAA's Marine Debris Program through the bipartisan Save 
Our Seas Act 2.0, which increased the responsibilities of the Marine 
Debris Program. We request $18 million for the program, consistent with 
the President's budget, to allow the agency to meet the current 
challenge of marine debris.
Regional Ocean Data Portals--$10 Million
    Regional Ocean Data Portals are publicly available online tools 
that disseminate maps, data, and information to inform decisions and 
enhance entrepreneurial opportunities. They are managed by Regional 
Ocean Partnerships, which provide interagency engagement with States, 
Tribes, localities, and Federal agencies to collaborate on cross-
jurisdictional ocean and coastal matters. These partnerships also 
coordinate and engage ocean and coastal stakeholders, including 
academia, non-governmental organizations, and industry. Regions are 
sufficiently underfunded to address the most pressing management and 
data integration challenges, and Federal funding is currently split 
among the four Regional Ocean Partnerships and their nine functional 
equivalents, which totals nine regions. Appropriating $10 million would 
provide a necessary boost that will allow regions to better address 
ocean and coastal management needs.
National Marine Fisheries Service--$1.197 Billion
    Fisheries are an important part of our Nation: fishing feeds us, 
supports coastal communities, connects us to the ocean and sustains 
vibrant cultures. Fish and the fisheries they support, however, are 
experiencing the impacts of climate change. Rapidly changing ocean 
conditions are disrupting where fish are found, what they can eat, 
where they can live, and how many fish there are. There is an urgent 
need to move towards climate-ready fisheries--fisheries that prioritize 
sustainability, resilience and equity in the context of rapid changes 
and increased uncertainty associated with climate change. There is a 
clear path forward: the agency must work to accelerate research on 
climate change impacts to fisheries, increase the adoption of proven 
tools and approaches for managing with change, and take steps to 
provide information and analysis that can help managers incorporate 
this understanding into decision-making. This requires investments to 
be made across programs at NMFS to ready our fisheries for climate 
change. Programs such as the Integrated Ecosystem Assessment and others 
work to better understand how changes are affecting marine resources 
and develop products to enhance the scientific advice provided to 
managers. Additional funding could enable more engagement by NMFS with 
the Fishery Management Councils and greater ability to enact climate-
ready management. To manage for the impacts of climate change on our 
fisheries, we request $1.197 billion for NMFS, consistent with the 
President's budget.
Integrated Ocean Acidification--$22 million
    The Integrated Ocean Acidification line item funds NOAA's ocean 
acidification program (OAP), which was established and mandated by the 
Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring (FOARAM) Act of 
2009. Ocean acidification (OA) is the rise in acidity of the earth's 
ocean caused by uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This 
rising acidity makes it harder for shell-forming species such as 
oysters and crabs to grow, and fundamentally alters many other 
processes (e.g., reproduction, risk avoidance) necessary for healthy 
ecosystems and the coastal industries that depend on them. Prior 
Federal investments in OAP have greatly expanded our knowledge of ocean 
acidification and its risks to coastal communities and industries, but 
current funding levels are not at the scale needed to understand this 
global problem and its impacts. We request $22 million for this 
program.
Marine Operations and Maintenance
    Marine operations and maintenance should be funded at $193.9 
million, consistent with the President's budget. Days at sea funded by 
this line are functionally tied to fishery stock assessments, and the 
two programs must be viewed together.
    Thank you again for the opportunity to provide this testimony in 
support of robust funding for NOAA.

    [This statement was submitted by Reggie Paros, Director, Government 
Relations.]
                                 ______
                                 
                   Prepared Statement of OpenSecrets
    Dear Chairman Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran, and distinguished 
Members of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Commerce, Justice 
and Science, and Related Agencies.
    Thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony before 
the Committee to discuss fiscal year 2022 budget priorities regarding 
the modernization of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a 
statute intended to inform the American public of foreign influence and 
lobbying operations attempting to impact U.S. policy or public opinion.
    This written testimony is respectfully offered on behalf of 
OpenSecrets to the Committee for use during its consideration of 
Department of Justice funding and for inclusion in the official 
committee record.
    OpenSecrets is a nonpartisan nonprofit research organization 
tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public 
policy. Our vision is for Americans across the ideological spectrum to 
be empowered by access to clear and unbiased information about money's 
role in the U.S. political system and to use that knowledge to 
strengthen our democracy.
    Activities of foreign agents and lobbyists divulged under FARA are 
a subject of sustained public interest. In this testimony, we 
respectfully request that the Committee include report language 
directing a review of the U.S. Department of Justice's implementation 
of FARA and a comprehensive audit of the use of the Lobbying Disclosure 
Act (LDA) exemption that will both be publicly accessible.
    A publicly-accessible report to Congress is necessary to evaluate 
the feasibility and steps needed to require all filings by foreign 
agents to be made in an electronic, machine-processable electronic 
format yielding structured data. This would allow users to search and 
sort or download FARA data, ensuring the same level of accountability 
from lobbyists representing foreign interests as domestic ones.
    Despite recommendations from the Department's Inspector General and 
outside experts, the Justice Department has been slow to implement 
changes to improve the public's access to information about foreign 
influence and lobbying intended to impact U.S. policy or public 
opinion.
    In September 2019, the Department of Justice launched new features 
enabling registrants to submit data through a web-form yielding some 
standardized data. While we believe this is a step in the right 
direction, only initial registrations are required to be submitted this 
way, so information reported in some of the most important records such 
as semi-annual supplemental statements may remain trapped in less 
accessible formats.
    Continuing implementation of a modernized FARA reporting system 
that collects detailed structured data would provide the tools 
necessary for better oversight and ensure information about foreign 
influence is provided in an accurate, complete, and timely manner.
    Using web-forms or submitting data in other structured formats 
across the board would allow the government to provide this information 
in an accessible form with little or no additional burden. FARA 
reporting is already conducted through an e-filing system that requires 
a web browser unless a registrant demonstrates limited access to the 
internet. Modernizing FARA's e-filing system can ultimately help ease 
the administrative burden associated with FARA registration.
    The current system requires FARA filers to electronically submit 
information in most forms, including semi-annual supplemental 
statements that contain activities and receipts, using images or PDFs 
even though many of the records are originally produced in electronic 
formats such as CSV files. Image and PDF formatted files destroy 
critical aspects of the data included in the original formats and 
cannot be marked for sensitive information or used for automated 
calculations. Essential information about foreign lobbying activities 
remains locked away in hard-to-digest image files that complicate the 
process of publishing FARA information in a machine-readable format. 
Even the basic disclosure of how much money foreign actors spend to 
influence U.S. policy and public opinion is obscured, leaving the 
American public in the dark about how our laws are shaped and 
influenced.
    FARA also has a number of exemptions that can be misunderstood or 
exploited.
    One commonly used exemption enables some foreign agents to claim an 
exemption from FARA registration and disclosure rules if they register 
as lobbyists under the LDA, a disclosure statute designed to regulate 
the activities of domestic lobbyists.
    Any individuals lobbying on behalf of a foreign commercial 
interest, rather than a foreign government or political party, may 
evade FARA disclosure requirements by merely registering under the LDA.
    Domestic lobbying records are already required to be filed to 
Congress electronically and are immediately converted to structured 
data that are available to the public over the Internet. More parity 
between disclosure requirements under the LDA and FARA is necessary to 
ensure at least the same level of transparency from lobbyists 
representing foreign interests as domestic ones.
    We respectfully urge the Committee to direct the Comptroller 
General of the United States, in consultation with the Inspector 
General of the Department of Justice, to conduct a comprehensive audit 
of the use of the LDA exemption examining (1) whether the LDA exemption 
has contributed to a decline in the number of registrations under FARA; 
(2) whether the LDA exemption has contributed to a lack of public 
awareness of lobbying activities on behalf of foreign entities; (3) the 
impact and feasibility of phasing out the LDA exemption; and (4) how to 
develop policy recommendations for increasing compliance with Federal 
lobbying registration and disclosure requirements.
    We are confident that the report will provide valuable insight to 
the American people and pave the way to increased transparency of the 
activities disclosed by those foreign agents. We urge you to 
appropriate the funding necessary to evaluate modernizing this 
invaluable resource.
    Our recommendations are based on our experiences using FARA, 
including efforts to republish FARA data online in ways that support 
greater access and meaningful analysis. OpenSecrets built the Foreign 
Lobby Watch database containing foreign lobbying documents and data. 
Our reviews of the DOJ's available foreign lobbying records found 
significant problems with how the data is currently structured.
    We've designed our databases to make up for some of the shortfalls 
in how foreign lobbying information is currently made available to the 
public. Structured data directly from the government could streamline 
this process, improving the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information collected by the FARA Unit.
    Thank you for your attention to our concerns on this critical 
issue. We would welcome the opportunity to work with you further on 
this issue and make any additional recommendations about this or other 
important issues before the Committee.

    [This statement was submitted by Anna Massoglia.]
                                 ______
                                 
            Prepared Statement of the Pew Charitable Trusts
Chair Jeanne Shaheen
Ranking Member Jerry Moran
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Senate Committee on Appropriations

    Chairwoman Shaheen and Ranking Member Moran, we appreciate the 
opportunity to provide public comments on fiscal year 2022 
appropriations. Over the past year, agencies and departments across the 
Federal Government implemented proactive policies and programs in 
response to the pandemic. As the committee begins the process of 
determining next fiscal year's funding levels, it is important that the 
agencies and departments levels include funding for the collection, 
evaluation, and analysis of data and programs.
    The Pew Charitable Trusts Civil Legal System Modernization project 
works to support efforts to deliver a more accessible and effective 
civil legal system. We'd like to take this opportunity to highlight the 
importance of collecting and reporting State civil legal system data to 
inform Federal policy.
    As the country continues to respond to and recover from the 
pandemic, our Nation's civil legal system will continue to face 
strains, both in adapting to changing environments and increasing 
caseloads. With the growing number of evictions and foreclosures 
exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the CDC's current moratorium 
on evictions, as well as rising debt in collections, State civil courts 
have developed a variety of approaches to manage what will likely 
become a tsunami of court cases that will have long-lasting financial 
consequences for millions of Americans.
    By passing the Foundations for Evidence-based Policymaking Act, 
Congress not only showed the importance of data collection, but also 
how it can play a critical role in developing Federal policies. For 
example, identifying the rate of eviction case filings could inform CDC 
decisions related to the cessation or extension of the Federal eviction 
moratorium. Likewise, a better understanding of the scope of debt 
collection lawsuits could facilitate rule-making at the Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau. More immediately, State court data could 
help the CFPB evaluate the efficacy of its new rule requiring debt 
collectors in eviction cases to inform tenants of their rights under 
the CDC moratorium.
    Prior to the pandemic, there was already a lack of data and 
transparency surrounding our civil court system. A Pew report found 
that 38 States do not report on the number of debt cases in their civil 
legal systems and only two provide data on the number of default 
judgments. Though there is no comprehensive analysis of State court 
data on housing cases, we anticipate a similar lack of data. While it 
has a mandate to collect and analyze civil justice data, the last 
national study conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics was done 
in 2005. This subcommittee can play an important role in better 
understanding the impact of the civil justice system on Americans as 
evictions and debt lawsuits loom.
    Thank you again for the opportunity to comment.

    [This statement was submitted by Erika Rickard, Project Director, 
Civil Legal System Modernization.]
                                 ______
                                 
Prepared Statement of the Population Association of America/Association 
                         of Population Centers
  fiscal year 2022 appropriations for the census bureau and national 
                           science foundation
The Honorable Jean Shaheen, Chair and The Honorable Jerry Moran, 
Ranking Member:

    Thank you, Chair Shaheen and Ranking Member Moran, and other 
distinguished members of the subcommittee, for this opportunity to 
express support for the Census Bureau and the National Science 
Foundation (NSF). These agencies are important to the Population 
Association of America (PAA) (www.populationassociation.
org) and Association of Population Centers (APC), because they provide 
direct and indirect support to population scientists and the field of 
population, or demographic, research overall. In fiscal year 2022, we 
urge the subcommittee to provide the Census Bureau with $2 billion, 
which is approximately $600 million above the Administration's request. 
In addition, PAA and APC support $10 billion for the National Science 
Foundation (NSF), consistent with the recommendation of the Coalition 
for National Science Funding, which largely reflects the 
Administration's fiscal year 2022 request.
    The PAA and APC are two affiliated organizations that together 
represent over 3,000 social and behavioral scientists and the nearly 40 
population research centers that receive Federal funding and conduct 
research on the implications of population change. Its members, which 
include demographers, economists, sociologists, and statisticians, 
conduct scientific and applied research, analyze changing demographic 
and socio-economic trends, develop policy and planning recommendations, 
and train undergraduate and graduate students. Their research expertise 
covers a wide range of issues, including adolescent health and 
development, aging, health disparities, immigration and migration, 
marriage and divorce, education, social networks, housing, retirement, 
and labor. Population scientists compete for funding from the NSF and 
rely on data produced by the Nation's statistical agencies, including 
the Census Bureau, to conduct research and research training 
activities.
                           the census bureau
    The Census Bureau is the premier source of data regarding U.S. 
demographic, socio-economic, and housing characteristics. While PAA/APC 
members have diverse research expertise, they share a common need for 
access to accurate, timely data about the Nation's changing socio-
economic and demographic characteristics that only the U.S. Census 
Bureau can provide through its conduct of the decennial census, 
American Community Survey (ACS), and a variety of other surveys and 
programs.
    PAA and APC understand that the Census Bureau's funding level 
declines dramatically in the initial years of the decennial planning 
cycle, and the Administration's request reflects, appropriately, this 
anticipated decrease in funding. Nonetheless, PAA and APC urge the 
subcommittee to support increased funding for the Census Bureau in 
fiscal year 2022 above the Administration's request. In fiscal year 
2022, Congress has a unique opportunity to initiate multi-year funding 
for the Bureau, providing the agency with resources that it needs to 
not only sustain and strengthen its mission, but also to recover from 
years of postponed enhancements and pursue numerous necessary 
operational improvements. The ambitious fiscal year 2022 funding 
recommendation ($2 billion) that census stakeholders are supporting 
would enable the Bureau to purse, among other things, the following 
initiatives:

    Modernizing the Bureau's data infrastructure.--The Census Bureau 
needs to harness currently available Big Data technology and 
methodology to reduce respondent burden and realign the Bureau's 
already-existing data from multiple sources into universal ``frames.'' 
A significant increase in funding for the Census Frames initiative, 
which was only funded at about $12.7 million in fiscal year 2021, will 
allow the Census Bureau to reduce duplication, increase ease and 
usability of Federal statistical data, enhance the quality of Bureau 
products, facilitate analysis of the U.S. population and economy, and 
ensure that the Federal Government can utilize administrative data, 
responsibly and appropriately, to maximum advantage before burdening 
survey respondents.
    Enhancing the American Community Survey (ACS).--ACS data are an 
invaluable resource that data users, including population scientists, 
rely on throughout the decade to make key investment and policy 
decisions as well as to conduct applied and scientific research and 
evaluate programs. The Bureau also needs to continue to use the ACS 
``as a testbed for innovative survey and data processing techniques,'' 
as Congress directed in fiscal year 2021. Funding for the ACS has 
remained relatively stagnant in recent years, including a little over 
$226 million in fiscal year 2021. The Bureau needs additional funding 
(no less than $45 million to increase the sample size by at least 1 
million households) to properly plan and execute an expansion of the 
ACS, beginning in fiscal year 2022.
    Stabilizing and increasing funding for Survey of Income and Program 
Participation (SIPP).--After multiple COVID-19 relief bills, 
policymakers and scientists need to understand how the individual 
provisions in these supplemental appropriations measures assisted (or 
failed to assist) families and communities. The Survey of Income and 
Program Participation (SIPP) is designed to achieve that goal, yet its 
funding has fluctuated routinely. Stabilizing and increasing support 
for SIPP, to no less than $48 million in fiscal year 2022, will help 
Congress make evidence-based policy decisions on the effectiveness of 
government assistance programs. Additional funding for SIPP could be 
reinvested to address long term erosion of the survey's funding and 
response rates, putting that money toward increased non-response follow 
up.
    Extending Pulse Surveys.--The Bureau's ``Pulse Surveys'' have 
provided timely data regarding the economic, social, and health effects 
of COVID-19 on U.S. communities and businesses. The surveys have 
attracted support from other Federal agencies that have requested to 
add questions and collaborated with the Census Bureau to produce the 
surveys. The Census Bureau needs no less than $6 million in fiscal year 
2022 to sustain and expand this innovation that provides much more 
timely data on current economic and social issues. Additional funding 
could be used to further expand the success of this novel program.
    Completing the 2020 Census.--Additional funding is necessary to 
complete delayed final assessments and evaluations of the 2020 Census 
and to release all remaining data products.
    Initiating the 2030 Census.--PAA and APC support the Census 
Bureau's proposal to accelerate planning for the 2030 Census by 
initiating a research and testing program to pursue innovations, early 
in the decennial planning cycle, including improvements to the address 
list, evaluations to assess the appropriateness of using administrative 
records in the enumeration process, and strategies for making field 
operations more efficient.
    In sum, PAA and APC join other census stakeholders in urging the 
subcommittee to provide the Census Bureau with $2 billion in fiscal 
year 2022 to complete all 2020 Census operations and data delivery 
objectives; enhance the ACS, including plans to increase the survey's 
sample size; initiate planning for the 2030 Census; improve the SIPP; 
extend and expand the Pulse Surveys and improve the quality and 
granularity of all census data sets. Further, PAA and APC urge the 
subcommittee to exercise its oversight authority and ask questions 
about the agency's proposed budget restructuring proposal, especially 
as it affects the status and integrity of the ACS.
                   national science foundation (nsf)
    For over 75 years the mission of NSF has been to promote the 
progress of science; to advance the National health, prosperity, and 
welfare; and to secure the National defense. Understanding the 
implications of complex population dynamics is vital to the agency's 
mission. The Directorate of Social, Behavioral and Economic (SBE) 
Sciences is the primary source of support for the population sciences 
within the NSF. The Directorate funds critical large-scale longitudinal 
surveys, such as the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, that inform 
pressing policy decisions and provide the empirical evidence to help 
policy makers to formulate effective decisions. It also has 
participated in cross-cutting, interdisciplinary initiatives of 
interest to population scientists, such as the Coastlines and People 
program, which supports research on the implications of climate change 
on populations, and Mid-scale Infrastructure--two areas of emphasis 
among the agency's research priorities.
    NSF is the funding source for over 20 percent of all federally 
supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and 
universities, including basic behavioral and social research. Moreover, 
the SBE Directorate funds approximately 67 percent of basic, 
university-based social and behavioral sciences research in the Nation.
    PAA and APC, as members of the Coalition for National Science 
Funding (CNSF), applaud the Administration's proposed NSF fiscal year 
2022 budget request, $10.2 billion, which represents a nearly 20 
percent increase in funding over the fiscal year 2021 enacted level. 
Moreover, the budget request envisions an allocation for SBE that would 
grow by approximately 13 percent, reflecting, we believe, a recognition 
that not only has SBE's funding stagnated vis-a-vis other directorates, 
but more importantly that SBE related research offers significant 
contributions to scientific progress. We continue to support the 
Committee's longstanding practice of not stipulating specific funding 
levels for individual NSF directorates; however, it is helpful to 
understand the Administration's views on research priorities, and in 
this instance we concur.
    We are also aware of the growing consensus within Congress and the 
Administration around the concept of establishing a new directorate 
within NSF that would support translational research, emerging 
technologies and public-private partnerships. We hope that the 
Committee will ensure that a new directorate will be funded through an 
expansion of NSF's footprint and budget-and not through siphoning 
resources from other research directorates. We note that the budget 
request includes a reprogramming of funds from existing NSF initiatives 
that would be transferred to the new directorate, but also requests new 
spending for the majority of the new directorate's budget.
    We urge Congress to accelerate the growth of NSF's budget by 
providing NSF with at least $10 billion in fiscal year 2022. The 
funding level will enable the NSF SBE Directorate to continue its 
support of social science surveys and a robust portfolio of population 
research projects. The NSF also continues to focus on interdisciplinary 
research initiatives, recognizing that social and behavioral science 
contributes to many critical areas of research. For example, the Mid-
scale Infrastructure program is currently funding broad-scale, sensor-
based data collection projects that represent collaborations among 
population scientists and computer scientists. Increased funding in 
fiscal year 2022 will allow NSF to continue funding the most promising 
grant applications and reduce the number of high caliber proposals that 
are rejected solely for lack of sufficient funds.
    Thank you for considering our requests and for supporting Federal 
programs that benefit the population sciences under the subcommittee's 
jurisdiction.

    [This statement was submitted by Mary Jo Hoeksema, Director, 
Government and Public Affairs.]
                                 ______
                                 
     Prepared Statement of the Regional Information Sharing Systems
    Information sharing and officer and citizen safety are top 
priorities of law enforcement leaders. For more than 47 years, law 
enforcement officers and criminal justice professionals have turned to 
and grown to rely on a nationally recognized and respected program 
known as the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS). RISS is a 
proven resource for law enforcement. It is difficult to place a dollar 
amount on RISS's return on investment because it not only helps law 
enforcement detect, deter, and resolve criminal investigations, RISS 
helps keep officers and citizens safe, while ensuring that privacy and 
civil liberties are protected. RISS is a leader in secure information 
sharing and investigative case support and has enabled an unprecedented 
level of collaboration among all levels of law enforcement. Our Nation 
and communities face threats every day--from national security to the 
opioid and methamphetamine epidemic, from violence against women and 
sex trafficking to property and financial crimes, and from cybercrime 
to identity theft. RISS offers quality and evidence-based support to 
law enforcement agencies and communities; often agencies cannot obtain 
these services and resources anywhere else. It is critical that RISS be 
sustained and expanded. It is respectfully requested that RISS be 
funded in fiscal year 2022 at $48 million.
    RISS is composed of six regional centers and the RISS Technology 
Support Center (RTSC). RISS is locally managed by policy board members 
consisting of police chiefs, sheriffs, commissioners, and other law 
enforcement leaders in each RISS Center's multistate region. An 
Executive Director operates each RISS Center. The RTSC is RISS's 
nationwide technology operation and maintains, operates, and enhances 
RISS's secure infrastructure and applications. The RISS Centers work 
regionally and nationwide to respond to each region's unique crime 
problems while working together on a nationwide basis to strengthen and 
advance criminal justice priorities. RISS is a trusted, secure, and 
cost-effective program law enforcement agencies and officers utilize 
to:

  --Share critical law enforcement and intelligence data across 
        jurisdictions.
  --Access case and analytical services that help solve crimes and 
        prosecute offenders.
  --Prevent friendly fire and safeguard the men and women protecting 
        our streets.
  --Preserve the integrity of operations and protect citizens and 
        communities.
  --Equip officers and criminal justice professionals with training, 
        technical assistance, and research.

    RISS receives hundreds of shared success stories from officers 
showcasing how RISS services and resources help law enforcement efforts 
in the field. To read example successes from each State, visit 
www.riss.net/Impact.

    Investigative Case Support: RISS provides investigative and 
analytical services, training, publications development, and 
investigative research, including the following:

  --Analytical services, such as cell tower mapping, link charts, 2D 
        and 3D crime scene diagrams, telephone-toll analysis, financial 
        analysis, digital forensics, and audio/video enhancements.
  --Intelligence and investigative research, which helps identify 
        suspect addresses, monikers, criminal associates, and other 
        investigative information.
  --Specialized equipment, such as cameras, recorders, and other 
        devices.
  --Technical support through RISS's field services staff and field-
        based solutions.
  --Training opportunities on topics such as investigative techniques 
        and emerging crime. Examples include Advanced Search Technique: 
        Hidden Compartment; Courtroom Testimony; Financial Crimes 
        Against Seniors; Basic Crash Investigations; Narcotics and 
        Counterfeit Goods; Death Investigations; and Unemployment 
        Fraud.
  --Law enforcement briefings and publications, such as Global 
        Pandemic-Implications on the Drug Trade and the Drug 
        Concealment Report: Traffickers' Unusual Places.

    RISS has set and achieved evidence-based goals since its inception. 
Below are some highlights of RISS's fiscal year 2020 results and 
productivity.

  --Developed 20,924 analytical products.
  --Loaned 2,752 pieces of specialized equipment.
  --Responded to 47,363 requests for research and technical assistance.
  --Sponsored or cosponsored 749 training opportunities and helped 
        train 33,119 individuals.
  --Provided access to more than 60.9 million investigative records to 
        authorized personnel.
  --Enabled users to conduct more than 4.5 million inquiries to RISS 
        resources.

    Secure Information and Intelligence Sharing: RISS integrates 
advanced technology and field-based solutions that connect systems and 
officers across jurisdictions.
    The RISS Secure Cloud (RISSNET) provides a system of systems 
concept, connecting networks and databases, providing bidirectional 
information sharing, and offering a single search of connected systems. 
RISSNET provides access to hundreds of resources and millions of 
records. Many of these systems are owned and operated by RISS partners, 
who use RISSNET to securely share information with a broader and vetted 
law enforcement community. RISS has also developed and maintains 
resources accessible via RISSNET, such as the:

  --RISS Criminal Intelligence Database (RISSIntel).--Provides for a 
        real-time, online federated search of connected systems; 
        adheres to 28 Code of Federal Regulations Part 23.
  --RISSLeads Investigative Website.--Facilitates multijurisdictional 
        information sharing.
  --Law Enforcement Secure Hosted Websites.--Provide partners a 
        solution to securely share information and materials with 
        specific groups or partners.
  --RISS Property and Recovery Tracking System (RISSProp).--Houses 
        pawn, secondhand, and other shop transactions to enable 
        officers to identify and return stolen property and identify 
        other related criminal activities.
  --RISS Master Telephone Index (MTI).--Compares and matches telephone 
        numbers in law enforcement investigations.
  --RISS Money Counter Network (MCN).--Stores currency serial numbers 
        compared to currency submitted by officers in previous cases.
  --Drug Pricing Reference Guide.--Enables officers to search for 
        comparable prices on narcotics; serves as a price guide when 
        assessing the value of seizures and contraband; and identifies 
        supply, demand, and popularity trends within the drug market.

    Below are examples of RISS technology-related accomplishments 
during fiscal year 2020.

  --Designed, developed, and began deploying the next generation of 
        RISSIntel. The new RISSIntel is housed in the secure government 
        cloud, provides advanced features and functionality, and 
        contains a new infrastructure and user interface.
  --Connected intelligence systems to RISSIntel and enabled 
        bidirectional sharing of information among more than 75 RISS 
        and partner intelligence databases.
  --Migrated RISSNET resources to a cloud environment and further 
        enhanced security.
  --Advanced the use of RISSProp to support organized retail crime 
        investigations and launched application enhancements. RISSProp 
        has helped recover more than $8 million in property since its 
        inception.
  --Leveraged RISSafe Watch Centers to support nationwide threat-to-
        life tips and leads.
  --Enhanced and expanded the use of the RISS MTI and the RISS MCN.

    RISS streamlines processes, increases information sharing and 
officer access to critical data, enhances officer and community safety, 
and advances important technology solutions.

    Deconfliction: RISS provides officer safety event deconfliction.

    Event deconfliction helps support and protect law enforcement 
officers in a variety of ways. Officers partaking in high-risk 
operations enhance their personal safety and the safety of those around 
them, and they identify operational conflicts and collaborate with 
other law enforcement agencies and officers. It also safeguards 
community members, helps ensure operational integrity, strengthens 
information sharing, helps reduce risk and liability, and builds 
community confidence. Officers can leverage each other's information 
and successfully apprehend criminals. Event deconfliction helps prevent 
``friendly fire'' and helps solve investigations.
    The RISS Officer Safety Event Deconfliction System (RISSafe) 
supports law enforcement personnel who are conducting an event near one 
another at the same time. When certain elements are matched between two 
or more events, a conflict results. Immediate notification is then made 
to the affected agencies or personnel regarding the identified 
conflict. Since RISSafe's inception, more than 2.2 million operations 
have been entered into RISSafe, resulting in more than 506,000 
identified conflicts. Without identifying these conflicts, officers may 
have interfered with another agency's or officer's investigation, links 
between cases may have been lost, or officers or citizens may have been 
unintentionally hurt or killed. RISSafe is accessible on a 24/7/365 
basis and is available at no cost to all law enforcement agencies. 
Currently, 29 RISSafe Watch Centers are operational, 23 of which are 
operated by organizations other than RISS.

    Partnerships and Collaboration: At the heart of police work is 
collaboration. RISS helps connect agencies and officers at every level 
and constantly seeks and strengthens partnerships with criminal justice 
associations, professional groups, and Federal partners. Example 
partnerships include the following:

  --Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
  --FBI's Law Enforcement National Data Exchange (N-DEx)
  --High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas
  --National Fusion Center Association
  --National Motor Vehicle Title Information System
  --Nlets-The International Justice and Public Safety Network
  --Office of the Director of National Intelligence
  --U.S. Attorneys' Offices
  --U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  --U.S. Department of Justice

    RISS Funding Increase in Fiscal Year 2022: RISS helps save agencies 
money and time and produces results. With increased funding, RISS can 
continue to provide its current programs while maximizing and expanding 
its secure infrastructure, proven services, and trusted partnerships. 
With increased funding at $48 million, RISS will support the following:

  --Expand the new RISSIntel to law enforcement agencies and connect 
        additional systems.
  --Expand access to RISSafe, including agencies and users in rural and 
        Tribal communities.
  --Expand RISSafe's 24/7/365 coverage and establish additional RISSafe 
        Watch Centers.
  --Enhance the RISS Officer Safety Website and develop training 
        videos, publications, and other materials.
  --Increase support for the WSIN RISS Center's threat-to-life endeavor 
        and facilitate fusion center involvement.
  --Expand RISSProp to other regions and agencies and expand the RISS 
        MCN by connecting additional money counter machines.
  --Replace or obtain new equipment, including protective gear for law 
        enforcement personnel.
  --Expand the ability for small and rural agencies to access 
        sophisticated, up-to-date investigative tools and equipment.
  --Leverage Federal and nationwide partnerships to expand information 
        sharing capabilities and available resources to officers and 
        law enforcement personnel.
  --Expand the MAGLOCLEN RISS Center's school safety action response 
        plans initiative.
  --Build on RISS's investigative support services and resources to 
        further aid law enforcement efforts to combat the opioid, 
        methamphetamine, and heroin crisis.

    The year 2020 was challenging for everyone. As our Nation's 
leaders, you have many critical topics to address and resolve moving 
ahead. Your leadership and support are valued and appreciated. Your job 
is hard. Our men and women in uniform also face challenges every day. A 
program like RISS helps them by providing resources, training, and 
information. RISS helps keep them safe. Our nation should continue to 
invest in and support the RISS Program.
    It would be counterproductive to require local and State RISS 
members to self-fund match requirements or reduce the Bureau of Justice 
Assistance discretionary funding. RISS cannot make up the decrease in 
funding that a match would cause, for it has no revenue source of its 
own. RISS is grateful for the opportunity to provide this testimony at 
your request and appreciates your ongoing support. For additional 
information, visit www.riss.net.

    [This statement was submitted by Donna Williams, Chair, RISS 
National Policy Group.]
                                 ______
                                 
                 Prepared Statement of Research!America
  fiscal year 2022 appropriations for the national science foundation
    Research!America appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony 
for the record. We are the Nation's largest nonprofit alliance 
advocating for science, discovery, and innovation to achieve better 
health for all. We greatly appreciate the subcommittee's dedicated 
stewardship over funding for such critical priorities as the National 
Science Foundation (NSF). As you consider fiscal year 2022 allocations, 
we request that NSF receive at least $10.2 billion, an increase of 20 
percent, in fiscal year 2022 to create jobs, support sustained economic 
growth, and bolster the wellbeing of Americans and people around the 
globe.
    An increase of that amount aligns with the President's fiscal year 
2022 request for NSF. We agree that bolstering our science and 
technology (S&T) capability is essential to fueling innovation and 
discovery that can improve the Americans' lives and lift our knowledge 
to new heights.
    In that context, we are grateful to both parties in both chambers 
of Congress for pursuing legislation to greatly enhance our S&T 
strength and competitiveness. The NSF for the Future Act and U.S. 
Innovation and Competition Act are indicative of a forward-thinking 
approach to tackling threats--existing, emergent, and unknown--to 
Americans and individuals across the globe.
    NSF's portfolio is intentionally diverse because science investment 
can yield unknown discoveries, spanning biology, economics, 
engineering, mathematics, computational science, data analytics, the 
social and behavioral sciences, and other high impact disciplines. We 
strongly believe that robust funding for NSF is a sound strategy for 
advancing the United States' strategic interests in an ever-more 
complex international landscape, preempting and overcoming threats to 
our Nation and world, and for meeting the aspirations of the American 
people.
What the NSF Provides
    The NSF is a key driver for our Nation's S&T leadership, supporting 
strategically important research at more than 1,900 academic 
institutions in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and three U.S. 
territories. An estimated 313,000 students, teachers, researchers, and 
postdoctoral fellows were empowered by the NSF in fiscal year 2020. 
Approximately 95 percent of NSF funding is allocated to grants or 
cooperative agreements to researchers through a competitive merit 
review process. Since 1950, NSF has supported more than 248 Nobel Prize 
winners, including seven Nobel Laureates in 2020. The research 
supported by NSF bears on virtually every sector of our economy, 
supports cyber--and other crucial areas of national security, and 
factor importantly into the productive use of big data and other highly 
promising avenues of S&T.
NSF's COVID Response
    The NSF has been a key part of our National response to COVID-19. 
In March 2020, as the pandemic bore down on our Nation, NSF issued a 
call for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) proposals to address this new 
health threat. By April 10, 2020, more than 60 RAPID projects around 
the country were funded, supporting research related to the pandemic. 
For example, NSF-funded researchers modeled the spread of the virus and 
worked to understand transmission and prevention. Decades of NSF 
research investment was utilized in the response to the virus, 
including NSF-backed 3D printing technology for the production of PPE 
and computer software creating simulations to provide insight into the 
molecular structure of the virus.
    NSF investments are also helping us prepare for future public 
health threats. Research in artificial intelligence and big data have 
the potential to identify disease threats before they spread. Other 
NSF-backed initiatives, like the Civic Innovation Challenge, 
demonstrate how partnership between government and technology can equip 
communities to manage emergencies.
NSF Leverages American Ingenuity to Break New Ground in Science and 
        Technology
    NSF supports the type of high-risk research that drives progress 
and has resulted in recent groundbreaking discoveries. Researchers 
funded by NSF have made key breakthroughs in their 20-year quest to 
create quantum internet with a new process by which information stored 
at the atomic level can be received and read. Quantum internet can be 
used to send ``un-hackable'' messages and will improve GPS, both of 
which are key to national security. Though this is a long-term project, 
the invaluable applications are unquestionably worth the time and 
investment.
    NSF funding also made possible a smartphone app which can identify 
signs of eye disease in children. Using smartphone photos, the program 
identifies a telltale ``white sheen'' which can indicate 
retinoblastoma, as well as cataracts or an infection. Research like 
this forms the basis for future apps which help with early detection 
and diagnosis of disease.
    NSF-funded research also continues to propel progress through 
collaboration across multiple fields. Through NSF's continued support, 
scientists work together to produce cutting-edge research that pushes 
the fields of medicine, engineering, and biology forward. In 2019, 
interdisciplinary collaboration between multiple countries and more 
than 300 researchers allowed the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) to 
capture the first image of a black hole. This discovery increased 
confidence in the fundamental laws of physics while creating a 
technological basis for future breakthroughs. Projects like this drive 
innovation and create, as a by-product, advances in technology and 
information exchange, which in turn, are used for other research.
Americans Understand the Value NSF Delivers
    Since 1992, Research!America has commissioned national and State-
level surveys to assess public sentiment on issues related to research 
and innovation. Our surveys have explored Americans' perspectives on 
the role of NSF-funded S&T in advancing key national priorities. One of 
the most consistent findings over time has been Americans' support for 
basic research. In our most recent survey, fielded in January 2021, 85 
percent of respondents agreed that ``even if it brings no immediate 
benefits, basic scientific research that advances the frontiers of 
knowledge is necessary and should be supported by the Federal 
Government.''
NSF is Essential to Training the Next Generation of American Scientists 
        and Innovators
    The U.S.'s global leadership is directly tied to our strength in 
the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). 
NSF cultivates future American leaders in these strategically important 
disciplines. Since 1952, NSF has supported more than 61,700 students 
through Graduate Research Fellowships and has provided grant support to 
thousands of postdoctoral fellows and young investigators.
    The agency has also engaged in unique public-private partnerships, 
including the High Performance Computing (HPC) Consortium, a 
partnership between IBM, the White House Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the NSF. This 
partnership gave researchers studying the COVID-19 virus access to 
powerful computational platforms which allowed for major breakthroughs 
in modeling COVID-19 transmission and the atomic structure of the 
virus. Efforts like this set the stage for future success as our Nation 
seeks to accelerate the pace of medical and scientific progress.
    Research!America appreciates the complicated and complex task 
facing the subcommittee as it seeks to prioritize funding in a manner 
that best serves the American people. We urge you to provide at least 
$10.2 billion, an increase of 20 percent, for NSF in FY22. We hope you 
will call on our organization if additional information would prove 
useful.
    Thank you for your continued leadership and consideration.

    [This statement was submitted by Mary Woolley, President and CEO.]
                                 ______
                                 
              Prepared Statement of the Sac and Fox Nation
fiscal year 2022 budget for the office of justice programs, department 
                               of justice
    Chairwoman Shaheen and distinguished Members of this subcommittee, 
on behalf of the Great Sac and Fox Nation, I submit testimony of our 
Tribal priority requests for funding programs in the fiscal year 2022 
budget for the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) in the Department of 
Justice (DOJ). The Sac and Fox Nation is the home of Jim Thorpe, one of 
the most versatile athletes of modern sports who earned Olympic gold 
medals for the 1912 pentathlon and decathlon. The Nation would like to 
thank Congress for providing relief that is allowing Tribes to begin 
the recovery process from the pandemic that will remain as prominent in 
the minds of the world as the name Jim Thorpe.
    The Sac and Fox Nation would like to advance the following 
Department of Justice budget requests for fiscal year 2022:

    1.  Fully Fund the Tribal Law and Order Act
    2.  Fully Fund All Tribal Provisions of the Violence Against Women 
Act
    3.  Tribal Grants--Utilize DOJ Appropriations as Base Funding with 
Tribes Setting Their Own Priorities
    4.  10 percent Tribal Set-Aside from All Discretionary Office of 
Justice Programs
    5.  Approve a Streamlined Funding Mechanism for the Coordinated 
Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS)

    The Sac and Fox Nation also supports the appropriation requests of 
the National Congress of American Indians.
About the Sac and Fox Nation
    The Sac and Fox Nation is a Self-Governance Tribe headquartered in 
Stroud, Oklahoma. Our Tribal jurisdictional area covers all or parts of 
Lincoln, Payne, and Pottawatomie counties. Of the over 4,000 enrolled 
Tribal members, 2,600 live in Oklahoma. Our culture is based upon 
respect for the life within ourselves, our families, our communities, 
and all of creation. The Sac and Fox way of life is spiritually based. 
The Creator gave this way of life to the Sac and Fox people and we seek 
the guidance of the Creator in how to live. The oldest continuing 
religious practices are ceremonies like clan feasts, namings, 
adoptions, and burials. More recent religious practices include the 
Drum Dance, the Native American Church and Christianity.
Fully Fund Tribal Law and Order Act as Authorized
    The Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA) has three basic purposes:

    1.  Make Federal departments and agencies more accountable for 
serving Native peoples and land;
    2.  Provide greater freedom for Indian Tribes and Nations to design 
and run their own justice systems; and,
    3.  Enhance cooperation among Tribal, Federal, and State officials 
in key areas such as law enforcement, training, interoperability, and 
access to criminal justice information.

    The Sac and Fox Nation operates a Juvenile Detention Center which 
provides services to 46 Tribes in Oklahoma, Kanas and Texas, as well as 
the State of Oklahoma. We are anxious to advance the opportunities that 
TLOA can offer to further expand and increase access to our facility. 
However, unless TLOA is fully funded, facilities such as ours will not 
be able to attain the full potential and help to guide children in the 
system towards a successful future.
    The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has consistently reported about 
the chronic underfunding and the breakdown in the trust and treaty 
obligations of the United States to Tribes. In both the Quiet Crisis 
and Broken Promises reports, it was noted that ``Native Americans as a 
group suffer from one of the Nation's highest rates of crime 
victimization. At the same time, the criminal justice system in Indian 
Country faces structural barriers and struggles to fully recognize 
Tribal sovereignty. The additional failure to provide sufficient 
Federal funding undermines the ability of Tribal governments to provide 
criminal justice and public safety for their citizens.'' \1\ The full 
potential of TLOA cannot be realized or implemented without sufficient 
resources for Tribal justice systems and ongoing coordination and 
consultation between Tribal governments and appropriate Federal 
agencies. While Sac and Fox is optimistic that President Biden's 
Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation 
Relationships has benefitted those working in the Federal Government, 
we need Congress and staff to better understand how dire Tribal 
communities need resources to improve our quality of life and protect 
our people, land, and traditions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ A Quiet Crisis: Federal Funding and Unmet needs in Indian 
Country, July 2003, and Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding 
Shortfall for Native Americans, December 2018 by U.S. Commission on 
Civil Rights
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    While DOJ recognized the importance of completing the circle when 
it issued the ``Proposed Statement of Principles'' \2\, in which it is 
referenced that stable funding at sufficient levels for essential 
Tribal justice functions is critical to the long-term growth of Tribal 
institutions. Yet, more than 10 years after passage of TLOA, provisions 
of the act remain under funded.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ Guidelines Stating principles for Working with Federally 
Recognized Indian Tribes, Eric Holder, The Attorney General, U.S. 
Department of Justice, December 3, 2014

    Office of Violence Against Women.--Fully fund the programs 
authorized in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), including the $5 
million authorized for Tribal implementation of VAWA special domestic 
violence criminal jurisdiction and continue to fund the Indian Country 
Sexual Assault Clearinghouse at $500,000.
    Thank you for helping us to protect our mothers, daughters, sisters 
and wives from jurisdictional gaps or safe havens for criminals to 
include Indian Women in the 2013 reauthorization of VAWA. But without 
funding to implement the law, this is an idle victory. We urge you to 
fully fund all of the Tribal provisions of VAWA and offer survivors of 
these crimes protection and access to much-needed services.
    It is estimated that over 85 percent of American Indians and Alaska 
Natives will experience intimate partner violence, stalking, or sexual 
violence in their lifetime. This violence threatens the lives of Native 
women and children and the future of American Indian Tribes and Alaska 
Native villages. The Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) provides 
funding to Tribal governments to address violence against women in 
their communities. OVW's largest source of funding for Tribal 
governments is the Grants to Tribal Governments Program, which is 
funded via statutory allocations from other OVW programs. Full funding 
for these OVW programs results in full funding for the Grants to Tribal 
Governments Program.

    Tribal Grants.--Eliminate the competitive grant funding process and 
utilize Justice Department appropriations as base funding where Tribes 
and Tribal Courts themselves determine their own priorities.
    One of the biggest issues with DOJ funding is that it is 
competitive. In order to obtain essential funding Tribes must compete 
against each other based on DOJ's priorities and guidelines rather than 
Tribes identifying their own priorities to best serve their citizens at 
the local level.
    Tribes have advocated to dispel grant funding for desperately 
needed services at the local level. Instead, the approach should be to 
utilize DOJ appropriations as base funding so that Tribes can develop 
sustainable programs for the benefit of their citizens. Grants offer 
one-time funding streams with no assurances of future funding to build 
staff capacity and generally does not allow Tribes enough time to 
design and implement effective programs without having to engage in the 
next cycle to compete for funds. It appears that DOJ understands this 
concept inasmuch as it has previously proposed the idea of base funding 
in the form of a block grant during an earlier Tribal consultation on 
the OVW funding. We propose that DOJ not merely propose this for OVW 
but consider this for all Tribal appropriations in the Department so 
that Tribes can determine their own priorities.

    Tribal Set-Aside (Ten Percent).--Create a 10 percent Tribal set 
aside from funding for all discretionary OJP programs and ensure that 
those funds are allocated as flexible base funding. A 10 percent set 
Tribal set aside would streamline the Federal funding process by which 
Tribes receive resources to establish Tribal courts; assist in 
developing detention facilities; provide legal assistance; develop and 
maintain juvenile delinquency prevention programs; and provide 
substance abuse prevention programs. In addition, the set-aside funding 
would give Tribes the flexibility to develop a comprehensive strategy 
on how best to spend these resources to meet needs at the local level.
    Congress and the Administration should enact an amendment to the 
Budget Control Act of 2011 to fully exempt Indian program funding from 
future sequestrations to honor the Federal trust responsibility and the 
chronic and severe underfunding of all Tribal programs.

    The Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS).--CTAS 
attempts to streamline the grant application process for Tribes and 
Tribal Consortia to enable them to submit a single grant application 
for most of the Tribal grant programs in DOJ, as opposed to previous 
years in which Tribes were required to submit multiple grant 
applications. However, consideration was not given to the capacity of 
Tribes to prepare this large application model, which, for many Tribal 
communities, remains a struggle to apply for these multiple grant 
awards with separate reporting requirements, award periods, and grant 
managers. CTAS will not achieve its intended purpose of streamlining 
Tribal grants until it is accompanied by a streamlined funding 
mechanism.
    Thank you for allowing the Sac and Fox Nation to submit our funding 
priorities and comments on the Office of Justice Programs and the 
overall Department of Justice funding for Tribes.

    [This statement was submitted by the Honorable Justin F. Wood, 
Principal Chief.]
                                 ______
                                 
            Prepared Statement of the Sea Grant Association
    The Sea Grant Association (SGA) recommends Congress appropriate at 
least $107.9 million in fiscal year 2022 for the National Sea Grant 
College Program (Sea Grant) and at least $15 million for Sea Grant 
Aquaculture. The SGA recommendation of $107.9 million for Sea Grant 
includes a minimum of $25 million to expand Sea Grant's capacity to 
address coastal resilience issues.
    Sea Grant is funded out of appropriations provided to the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research (OAR) in the Operations, Research, and Facilities 
account. The SGA is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering 
the Sea Grant's vision, mission, and goals. SGA's regular members are 
the academic institutions that participate in the National Sea Grant 
College Program. The SGA advocates for greater understanding, use, and 
conservation of marine, coastal and Great Lakes resources.
    On December 18, 2020, the President signed into law the National 
Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2020, Public Law 116-221. 
This legislation reauthorized Sea Grant through fiscal year 2025. The 
legislation reiterated Sea Grant's core activities of supporting 
research, education, extension, and outreach. The legislation also 
called out support for several specific activities including efforts to 
strengthen coastal economic, environmental, and community resilience, 
and to conduct research and extension to further sustainable 
aquaculture. This testimony is submitted to the subcommittee to request 
the resources necessary for Sea Grant to meet the programmatic 
objectives and priorities called out in Public Law 116-221.
justification for the fiscal year 2022 sea grant association's request 
                             for sea grant
    Over 126 million residents--40 percent of the population of the 
United States--live in coastal counties. These counties employ 56 
million people, resulting in $3.4 trillion in wages annually, and 
produce more than $8.3 trillion in goods and services that support 
coastal and non-coastal communities. Weather- and climate-related 
hazards impacting these communities have increased at an alarming rate. 
The total cost of all U.S. billion-dollar disasters over just the last 
5 years (2015-2019) exceeds $525 billion. Weather and climate risks are 
deeply connected to threats to critical infrastructure, water and food 
supplies, social instability, unemployment, and governance challenges. 
Most recently, we are seeing these types of interdependencies play out 
as the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant economic crisis have clearly 
exacerbated impacts to coastal communities, particularly under 
resourced communities and communities of color. Sea Grant, with its 
partners and through the expansion of its resilience portfolio, will 
apply the knowledge gained via research to help communities of color, 
(including Native American and Indigenous communities), and low-income 
communities reduce or eliminate the barriers to the implementation of 
adaptation, mitigation, and resilience strategies.
    Increasing physical and economic damages, social inequities, and 
personal despair have tested our level of preparedness to deal with and 
respond to major weather and climate threats. Hurricanes, typhoons and 
tsunamis are compounded by other challenges including coastal 
inundation (due to rising sea levels and land subsidence), increasing 
storm intensity, aging infrastructure, uneven enforcement of building 
codes, lack of adequate zoning ordinances, poor planning and 
construction, continued development in high-risk areas, and the 
inexperience of coastal dwellers to prepare for and recover from these 
events. The frequency of ``sunny day'' flooding alone has doubled since 
2000 in the United States. Exacerbated by sea level rise, these events 
overwhelm sewage treatment plants and public utilities, disrupt 
transportation corridors, reduce property values of homes and 
businesses, and threaten public health. In addition, many regions may 
be at increased risk of anthropogenic disasters such as oil or chemical 
spills, which could occur alone or be exacerbated by other hazardous 
events. Communities of color and low-income communities are often on 
the frontline of these threats, experiencing the first and worst 
impacts of changes in climate and weather patterns. Only through 
knowledge, understanding, preparation and partnerships will communities 
be able to address the hazards that are uniquely concentrated in 
coastal counties.
    The resilience of our communities--the very safety, security and 
survival of their residents--depends on how well prepared they are for 
these threats and for recovery following an event. Community-level 
preparedness includes a number of considerations, from how individuals 
prepare to where and how critical infrastructure and buildings are 
constructed. Resilient communities have residents, businesses and 
infrastructure that are positioned to reduce the impacts of risks to 
lives and property. This allows people to return to their homes and 
businesses, and recover more quickly after an event than in communities 
that are not as prepared. Resilient communities also have thriving 
living shorelines and coastal resources such as mangroves, oyster 
reefs, barrier dunes, salt marshes, and other natural infrastructure 
that buffer waves and coastal storms and protect the shoreline from 
erosion during storms.
    Sea Grant is a network of research, education and outreach 
professionals who work in partnership with universities, communities, 
and stakeholders. Sea Grant's vision is to enhance the use and 
conservation of coastal, marine and Great Lakes resources to create a 
sustainable economy and environment. Sea Grant helps coastal and Great 
Lakes communities become more resilient through its activities that 
strengthen the ability of communities to effectively prepare and plan 
for environmental and economic challenges. Sea Grant has a proven track 
record of doing this at local, State, regional and national levels in 
partnership with its stakeholders and like-minded entities. With 
increased capacity, Sea Grant will help our coastal and Great Lakes 
communities become more resilient. Expanding Sea Grant's resilience 
portfolio will protect lives, sustain critical infrastructure, protect 
and restore critical natural resources, enhance economic opportunity 
and recovery from the COVID pandemic, and support more rapid economic 
recovery after events. Sea Grant is recognized for its ability to 
develop locally relevant solutions to build coastal community 
resilience. Sea Grant's strength lies in its ability to work 
effectively at the local government and community level with tailored 
information, guidance and support.
    To address coastal resilience issues more adequately, the Sea Grant 
Association recommends an increase in base funding for Sea Grant of at 
least $25 million. This investment would focus on two major areas:

  --Capacity building ($10M) to support recruitment of additional 
        resilience extension, communication or education staff in each 
        State Sea Grant program and support a national coordinator and;
  --Research, engagement, decision support, implementation ($15M) 
        proposed to be directly allocated to each State Sea Grant 
        program to support local State-based research, training, 
        technical assistance and coordination that enhance community 
        resilience.
      quantifying sea grant's contribution to coastal communities
    Within Sea Grant, 20 national office staff, 34 university-based 
State programs, 646 extension staff and educators, 488 researchers, and 
at least 2,700 partners are funded and leveraged to cooperatively reach 
the program's goals. Sea Grant's mission is to address the needs of 
America's coastal and Great Lakes communities using the best available 
science, beginning with an understanding of the needs of diverse 
stakeholders. Since its inception Sea Grant has been at the forefront 
of actionable science addressing priorities of national, State, and 
local importance. Sea Grant has coordinated efforts to solve problems 
locally and regionally, emphasizing partnerships, meeting stakeholder 
needs, and using feedback from end-users to inform research, with a 
$412.4 million economic benefit from an $80 million Federal investment 
in 2019. In addition, in 2019, Sea Grant created or supported 10,400 
jobs; created or sustained 998 businesses; provided the 34 State-level 
programs with funding that assisted 263 communities improve their 
resilience; helped nearly 13,000 people adopt safe and sustainable 
fishing practices; helped restore or protect an estimated 1.8 million 
acres of habitat; worked with over 1000 industry and private sector, 
local, State and regional partners; and supported the education and 
training of nearly 2000 undergraduate and graduate students.
    Sea Grant's locally based staff and specialists collaborated with 
governments, academia, industries, non-profit groups, and individuals 
to ensure thriving coastal and Great Lakes communities. Just as it has 
done in response to hurricanes, oil spills, and other environmental and 
economic challenges, Sea Grant in 2020 learned how to draw from past 
experiences to use its strengths to support its constituents during the 
COVID-19 pandemic. Sea Grant's credibility in scientific and disaster 
communications was an advantage to coastal and Great Lakes communities 
around the Nation by providing online resources to enhance at-home STEM 
education, assisting the seafood industry and other coastal businesses 
in their direct marketing of their products, navigating the 
complexities of Federal and State assistance programs, and working 
quickly to find innovative ways to connect with and support their 
stakeholders.
    Sea Grant sends 95 percent of its appropriated funds to coastal 
States through a competitive process to address issues that are 
identified as critical by public and private sector constituents and 
coastal communities throughout the United States. Sea Grant fosters 
cost-effective partnerships among State universities, State and local 
governments, NOAA, and coastal communities, businesses, and relevant 
non-governmental organizations. Funding for Sea Grant results in 
support for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient 
communities and economies, healthy coastal ecosystems, environmental 
literacy, the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows and other fellowship programs, 
and workforce development. In its 50 plus-year history, Sea Grant's 
successes can be attributed to its ability to respond to the changing 
needs of our coastal communities.
    Local, State, regional, and national partnerships are critical to 
addressing issues central to the survival of our coastal communities, 
economies, and ecosystems. Coastal and Great Lakes communities need to 
be informed, engaged, and prepared to respond to these threats and to 
turn these adversities into opportunities. This is precisely what Sea 
Grant does.
    Sea Grant has been an integral player in creating economic 
opportunities, enhancing food and water security, and reducing risks 
from natural hazards and extreme events facing coastal communities 
through research and outreach efforts. Sea Grant is user-driven and 
university-based, and fully engaged with regional, State, and local 
organizations.
    With the funding recommendations contained in this statement, Sea 
Grant will leverage significant State and local support, continue to 
increase the economic development and resiliency of coastal 
communities--particularly coastal communities of color, and help 
sustain the health and productivity of the ecosystems on which our 
communities depend.
    Thank you for the opportunity to present this testimony.

    [This statement was submitted by Dr. Susan White, President.]
                                 ______
                                 
     Prepared Statement of the Society for Industrial and Applied 
                           Mathematics (SIAM)
          fiscal year 2022 for the national science foundation
    Summary: This written testimony is submitted on behalf of the 
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) to ask you to 
continue your support of the National Science Foundation (NSF) in 
fiscal year 2022 by providing NSF with at least $10 billion. In 
particular, we urge you to provide strong support for the Research and 
Related Activities Account (R&RA) that supports key applied mathematics 
and computational science programs in the Division of Mathematical 
Sciences and the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure. SIAM also 
requests your support for the Education and Human Resources (EHR) 
directorate that addresses fundamental challenges in mathematics and 
STEM education.
    Full Statement: On behalf of SIAM, we submit this written testimony 
for the record to the subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and 
Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the U.S. Senate.
    SIAM has over 14,000 members, including applied and computational 
mathematicians, computer scientists, numerical analysts, engineers, 
statisticians, and mathematics educators. They work in industrial and 
service organizations, universities, colleges, and government agencies 
and laboratories all over the world. In addition, SIAM has almost 500 
institutional members, including colleges, universities, corporations, 
and research organizations. SIAM members come from many different 
disciplines but have a common interest in applying mathematics in 
partnership with computational science to solve real-world problems, 
which affect national security and industrial competitiveness.
    First, we would like to emphasize how much SIAM appreciates your 
Committee's continued leadership on and recognition of the critical 
role of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and its support for 
mathematics, science, and engineering in enabling a strong U.S. 
economy, workforce, and society.
    Today, we submit this testimony to ask you to continue your support 
of NSF in fiscal year 2022 and beyond. In particular, we join with the 
research and higher education community and request that you provide 
NSF with at least $10 billion in funding for fiscal year 2022. This is 
consistent with the President's budget request for fiscal year 2022 
that calls for $10.2 billion. After years of inadequate funding, NSF 
needs bold growth to protect U.S. competitiveness as countries such as 
China are rapidly increasing their science and engineering investments. 
According to the National Science Board, in fiscal year 2017, NSF 
rejected close to four billion dollars of proposals rated ``very good 
or higher'' due to budget constraints. Funding of $10 billion would 
help the agency address critical unmet national research needs, reverse 
historical underinvestment, and allow new activities related to 
translation, innovation, and partnerships that will enable expanded 
approaches to critical technologies and science and engineering 
solutions.
    As we are reminded every day, the Nation's health, economic 
strength, national security, and welfare are being challenged in 
profound and unprecedented ways. Many of these challenges are fueled by 
gaps in our understanding of complex systems such as biologic 
processes, the energy grid, cyberspace, terrorist networks, or the 
human brain. Mathematics and computational science play a foundational 
and cross-cutting role in understanding these systems through advanced 
modeling and simulation, developing techniques essential to designing 
new breakthrough technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), and 
providing new tools for managing resources and logistics. Progress in 
computational sciences and applied mathematics also underpins advances 
across an array of fields and challenges in computing, materials, 
biology, engineering, and other areas.
                      national science foundation
    NSF serves a unique and critical function supporting all areas of 
science and engineering to further innovation and seed the knowledge 
and technologies for a strong future America. NSF provides essential 
Federal support for applied mathematics and computational science, 
including more than 60 percent of all Federal support for basic 
academic research in the mathematical sciences. Of particular 
importance to SIAM, NSF funding supports the development of new 
mathematical models and computational algorithms, which are critical to 
making substantial advances in such fields as neuroscience, energy 
technologies, genomics, and nanotechnology. In addition, new techniques 
developed in mathematics and computing research often have direct 
application in industry. Modern life as we know it--from search engines 
like Google to the design of modern aircraft, from financial markets to 
medical imaging--would not be possible without the techniques developed 
by mathematicians and computational scientists using NSF funding. NSF 
also supports mathematics education at all levels, ensuring that the 
next generation of the U.S. workforce is appropriately trained to 
participate in cutting-edge technological sectors and that students are 
attracted to careers in mathematics and computing.
    SIAM applauds NSF's investments in Industries of the Future areas 
with programs such as the AI Institutes, Institutes for Data-Intensive 
Research in Science and Engineering, Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes, 
TRIPODS \1\ Institutes, and the NSF-Simons Research Centers for 
Mathematics of Complex Biological Systems. Furthermore, SIAM supports 
the new Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) 
included in the President's budget request for NSF. SIAM applauds the 
aims of the new proposed Directorate to advance science and engineering 
research and innovation, accelerate the translation of basic research, 
solve national and societal problems, and support education pathways. 
While investment in emerging areas like AI is important, SIAM urges 
Congress to provide sufficient NSF support for core programs, such as 
those funded by the Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) and the 
Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC), which have stagnated in 
recent years and whose foundational investments underpin advances 
across many science and engineering challenges.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Transdisciplinary Research on Principles of Data Science

    SIAM urges strong investment in the Research and Related Activities 
account (R&RA) to enable robust funding for the Division of 
Mathematical Sciences (DMS), the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure 
(OAC), and other core programs and crosscutting initiatives for 
essential mathematical and computational science research, workforce 
development programs, and early career researcher support.
                 nsf division of mathematical sciences
    The NSF Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) in the Directorate 
for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) provides core support for 
all mathematical sciences. DMS also funds national mathematical science 
research institutes; infrastructure, including workshops, conferences, 
and equipment; and postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate training.
    The activities supported by DMS and performed by SIAM members, such 
as modeling, analysis, algorithms, and simulation, underpin 
advancements across science and engineering and provide new ways of 
obtaining insight into the nature of complex phenomena, such as the 
power grid, software for military applications, and the human body.
    Investment in DMS is critical because of the foundational and 
cross-cutting role that mathematics and computational science play in 
sustaining the Nation's economic competitiveness and national security, 
and in making substantial advances on societal challenges such as 
energy and public health. NSF, with its support of a broad range of 
scientific areas, plays an important role in bringing U.S. expertise 
together in interdisciplinary initiatives that bear on these 
challenges. Agencies such as the Department of Defense and National 
Institutes of Health depend on the NSF-supported applied math and 
computational sciences ecosystem to fulfill their missions as they 
build on NSF-funded modeling, algorithm, and simulation breakthroughs 
and leverage the workforce trained using NSF support. Both agencies and 
foundations partner with NSF thereby leveraging Federal funding for 
maximum impact, such as with the Joint NSF/National Institutes of 
Health Initiative Quantitative Approaches to Biomedical Big Data 
(QuBBD).
               nsf office of advanced cyberinfrastructure
    Work in applied mathematics and computational science is critical 
to enabling effective use of the rapid advances in information 
technology and cyberinfrastructure. Programs in the NSF Office of 
Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC) in the Directorate for Computer and 
Information Science and Engineering (CISE) focus on providing research 
communities access to advanced computing capabilities to convert data 
to knowledge and increase our understanding through computational 
simulation and prediction. SIAM strongly endorses OAC's efforts as a 
steward for computational science, building bridges across NSF to 
accelerate transformational science and engineering, and driving 
universities to improve their research and education programs in this 
multidisciplinary area. SIAM strongly endorses NSF's role advancing 
high performance computing to meet critical national security needs, 
fully leverage computing technology for economic competitiveness and 
scientific discovery, and position the U.S. for sustained technical 
leadership.
        supporting the pipeline of mathematicians and scientists
    A lack of sufficient funding for NSF's Education and Human 
Resources (EHR) directorate has left critical gaps in addressing 
fundamental challenges for mathematics and STEM education across 
educational levels. SIAM supports EHR and its programs like Improving 
Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE), which is key to both advancing 
STEM professional development and developing a STEM literate citizenry. 
SIAM notes that mathematical education is foundational to STEM learning 
across disciplines, and NSF should continue to fund development of 
mathematical and computational skills, including at the undergraduate 
level when young scientists and engineers gain critical interests and 
competencies.
    SIAM supports the NSF CAREER awards, Graduate Research Fellowships, 
and Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MSPRF) 
that are crucial to the training and professional development of the 
next generation of leadership in mathematical sciences research and 
education.
                               conclusion
    We would like to thank you again for your ongoing support of NSF 
that enables the research and education communities it supports, 
including thousands of SIAM members, to undertake activities that 
contribute to U.S. health, security, and economic strength. NSF needs 
sustained growth to maintain our competitive edge in science and 
technology, and therefore we respectfully ask that you continue robust 
support of these critical programs in fiscal year 2022.
    We appreciate the opportunity to provide testimony to the Committee 
on behalf of SIAM. SIAM looks forward to providing any additional 
information or assistance you may ask of us during the fiscal year 2022 
appropriations process.

    [This statement was submitted by Susanne C. Brenner, President, 
Anne Gelb, Vice President for Science Policy, and Suzanne L. Weekes, 
Executive Director.]
                                 ______
                                 
  Prepared Statement of the Society for Industrial and Organizational 
                               Psychology
    fiscal year 2022 national science foundation appropriations and 
                                language
    On behalf of the Society for Industrial and Organizational 
Psychology (SIOP), we are pleased to provide this written testimony to 
the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and 
Science, and Related Agencies for the official record. In this 
testimony, SIOP urges the subcommittee to consider two requests: 
provide the requested amount of $10.2 billion for the National Science 
Foundation (NSF), including strong support for the Directorate for 
Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE), in the fiscal year 
2022 appropriations process; and report language to encourage NSF to 
more rigorously implement the science of team science in the agency's 
funding strategies for large-scale and multi-disciplinary research 
projects.
Appropriations Support
    SIOP is a community of nearly 10,000 members worldwide with a 
common interest in promoting the research, practice, and teaching of 
industrial and organizational (I-O) psychology to enhance human well-
being and performance in organizational and work settings. SIOP 
provides a platform for scientists, academics, consultants, and 
practitioners to collaborate, implement, and evaluate cutting-edge 
approaches to workplace challenges across sectors.
    We have evidence that Federal investment in social and behavioral 
science research directly and positively impacts the U.S. economy, 
national security, and the health and well-being of Americans. Through 
SBE, NSF supports basic research to develop a scientific evidence base 
for improving the performance, effectiveness, management, and 
development of organizations and the workforce. The methods, 
measurements, and theories developed through this Federal investment 
enhance business practices, policymaking, and interprofessional 
collaboration. The evidence base derived from basic research in the 
science of organizations is applied throughout the public and private 
sectors.
    SBE is critically important to NSF and has been highly responsive 
to the transformative events of the past year. This was especially 
evident during the COVID-19 outbreak when SBE supported the second most 
research grants to address the virus among NSF Directorates. This 
included significant support for the field of I-O psychology as the 
nature of work had fundamentally shifted. Through SBE investments, 
including those from the Science of Organizations program, I-O 
psychologists developed data-driven methods to address workplace 
dysfunction, including impacts on employee well-being, work-life 
balance, performance, and engagement; the effects of rapid changes to 
workers across various levels of job structure, socioeconomic status, 
and race; and the challenges and opportunities related to remote 
collaboration during COVID-19 and as industries shift to a ``new 
normal.'' Further, SBE provided support to I-O psychologists to study 
other pressing issues, including how job-related stressors impact 
police officers and, in turn, the communities they serve. With support 
from SBE for I-O psychologists, society is better positioned to learn 
from our collective experiences and design more effective, equitable 
workplaces.
    SIOP also supports NSF's dedication to its Future of Work at the 
Human-Technology Frontier Big Idea, which seeks to address and improve 
human-technology interactions as workplaces integrate and adapt to 
artificial intelligence, automation, machine learning, and beyond. In 
addition to developing these technologies, successful implementation 
relies on understanding human learning at various stages of life, and 
improving education and training to appropriately use these 
technologies.
    Continued Federal support for I-O psychology keeps its knowledge 
and expertise in the public domain and enhances shared workplace 
efficiency and understanding of worker well-being at all levels. Other 
applications of I-O psychology include: transitioning veterans and 
service members to civilian jobs, managing age diversity in the 
workplace, accounting for the technology-enabled workforce, and 
developing preventative sexual harassment workforce interventions, 
among many others.
    Given NSF's critical role in supporting fundamental research and 
education across science and engineering disciplines, SIOP supports an 
overall fiscal year 2022 NSF budget of $10.2 billion. SIOP requests 
robust support for the NSF SBE Directorate, which funds important 
research studies, enabling an evidence base, methodology, and 
measurements for improving organizational function, performance, and 
design across sectors and disciplines.
Science of Team Science
    In last year's testimony, SIOP requested report language to 
encourage the further adoption of the Science of Team Science (SciTS) 
in NSF programs and policies. SciTS is the empirical examination of the 
processes by which large and small scientific teams organize, conduct, 
and communicate research. I-O psychologists with expertise in SciTS 
have engaged with NSF program officers and leadership, as well as some 
congressional staff to ensure their findings are fully ingrained in the 
agency's new models and approaches for funding cross-disciplinary 
science and/or large-scale research projects (e.g. Engineering Research 
Centers; Science and Technology Centers; Convergence Accelerators; and 
National Artificial Intelligence [AI] Institutes). As NSF increasingly 
encourages and promotes collaboration, SIOP believes it is important 
that the agency take additional steps to ensure evidence-based team 
science is considered in multi-partner initiatives to improve 
communication between researchers, productivity, efficiency and cost-
effectiveness. This is especially important as NSF continues to focus 
on public-private partnerships.
    In fiscal year 2020, the House Appropriations bill report included 
the following language that was in the spirit of the original request:

          ``Scientific collaboration.--NSF is encouraged to improve the 
        understanding of scientific collaboration and how scientists 
        work together.'' \1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/
democrats.appropriations.house.gov/files/
FY2020%20CJS%20CJS%20Filed%20Report%20-%20HR3055.pdf

    While this language was most appreciated and helpful, SIOP is of 
the opinion that the message would be more impactful if it were to 
specifically mention the importance of ``team science'' in multi-
disciplinary research programs and projects.
    Team science is a well-known research subject at NSF and the 
language should be understood by the agency. NSF has funded several 
team science studies through SBE and program officers across 
directorates have expressed interest in leveraging team science to 
improve multi-disciplinary awards, including participating in one-on-
one conversations with SIOP experts and inviting them to present on NSF 
panels. SIOP appreciates NSF's interest in learning more about 
leveraging SciTS to improve programs and collaborations at the agency. 
While NSF has taken some steps forward to address the importance of 
team science in some multi-disciplinary awards, we feel that 
appropriations report language that specifically mentions the 
importance of team science would build on this existing momentum and 
further catalyze meaningful action.
    For further reference, SIOP members served on the National 
Academies' Committee on the Science of Team Science, which produced the 
2015 report on this topic: https://www.nap.edu/catalog/19007/enhancing-
the-effectiveness-of-team-science. Also, slides and recordings from 
NSF's 2018 Accelerating Engineering Research Center Preparedness 
Workshop can be found at: https://ercbiennial.asee.org/2018-pgw/
program/. SIOP members Drs. Steve Kozlowski and Kara Hall present on 
team science.
Requested Report Language

          Team Science.--NSF is encouraged to continue to seek ways to 
        implement the science of team science to improve scientific 
        collaboration as the agency develops new models and approaches 
        for funding large-scale and cross-disciplinary research 
        projects. In particular, NSF is encouraged to ensure that it is 
        implementing the recommendations from the National Academies of 
        Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report, Enhancing the 
        Effectiveness of Team Science.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\ https://www.nap.edu/catalog/19007/enhancing-the-effectiveness-
of-team-science

    Thank you for the opportunity to offer SIOP's support for NSF. 
Please do not hesitate to contact SIOP should you have any questions. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional information is also available at www.siop.org.

    [This statement was submitted by Dr. Steven Rogelberg, President, 
and Tracy L. Vanneman, Executive Director.]
                                 ______
                                 
           Prepared Statement of the Society for Neuroscience
  support of fiscal year 2022 appropriations for the national science 
                               foundation
    Chair Cartwright, Ranking Member Aderholt, and Members of the 
subcommittee, on behalf of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN), we are 
honoured to present this testimony in support of robust appropriations 
for biomedical research at the National Science Foundation (NSF). SfN 
urges you to provide at least $10.2 billion, an increase of 
approximately $1.7 billion, in funding for NSF in fiscal year 2022. Dr. 
Moses Chao and I, as Chair of the Government and Public Affairs 
Committee and President of SfN respectively, understand the critical 
importance of Federal funding for neuroscience research in the United 
States. I currently serve as a researcher and as a Professor in the 
Department of Psychology at Cambridge University and Dr. Chao is a 
professor of Cell Biology, Physiology and Neuroscience, and Psychiatry 
at the New York University School of Medicine. Our research serves as 
two examples of the wide variety of neuroscience research advancing our 
collective understanding of the brain.
    My own research focuses on the neural and psychological basis of 
drug addiction and is dedicated to understanding the maladaptive 
engagement of the learning, memory, and motivational mechanisms 
underlying compulsive drug use. Drug abuse and addiction have 
devastating consequences at the individual, family, and society levels, 
as clearly evidenced by the opioid crisis and also increased alcohol 
drinking during pandemic lockdowns. My research group made significant 
advances in showing structural and neurochemical changes in the brain 
associated with behavioral impulsivity confer a major risk on 
vulnerability to develop cocaine addiction. We also demonstrated the 
neural circuit basis of the transition from recreational to the 
compulsive use of opioids, stimulants, and alcohol, revealing 
commonalities as well as differences in the neural basis of addiction 
to these drugs. This understanding opened the door to the development 
of novel pharmacological and psychological treatments for addiction 
which may promote and maintain abstinence from drug use.
    Dr. Chao's research efforts focus on growth factors (also called 
neurotrophins) in the brain. These proteins are crucial for everything 
from neuron differentiation, growth, and survival during development to 
learning and memory in children and adults. Deficits in neurotrophins 
are involved in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, 
Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, and Amyotrophic Lateral 
Sclerosis (ALS), as well as limiting recovery after stroke or brain 
injury.
    Dr. Chao and I cover different areas of neuroscience research, 
though we have come together to convey the need for further and ongoing 
investment in neuroscience research. SfN believes strongly in the 
research continuum: basic science leads to clinical innovations, which 
lead to translational uses positively impacting the public's health. 
Basic science is the foundation upon which all health advances are 
built. To cure diseases, we need to understand them through fundamental 
discovery-based research. However, basic research depends on reliable, 
sustained funding from the Federal Government. SfN is grateful to 
Congress for its support of the important mission of the NSF, which 
includes a focus on promoting the progress of science and advancing the 
National health, prosperity, and welfare, through increased 
appropriations in recent years.
                the importance of the research continuum
    NSF funding for basic research is critical for facilitating 
groundbreaking discoveries and for training researchers at the bench. 
For the United States to remain a leader in biomedical research, 
Congress must continue to support basic research fueling discoveries as 
well as the economy. The deeper our grasp of basic science, the more 
successful those focused on clinical and translational research will 
be. We use a wide range of experimental and animal models not used 
elsewhere in the research pipeline. These opportunities create 
discoveries--sometimes unexpected discoveries--expanding knowledge of 
biological processes, often at the molecular level. This level of 
discovery reveals new targets for research to treat all kinds of brain 
disorders that affect millions of people in the United States and 
beyond.
    NSF basic research funding is also a key economic driver of science 
in the United States through funding universities and research 
organizations across the country. Federal investments in scientific 
research fuel the Nation's pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical 
device industries. The private sector utilizes basic scientific 
discoveries funded through NSF to improve health and foster a 
sustainable trajectory for American's Research and Development (R&D) 
enterprise. Basic science generates the knowledge needed to uncover the 
mysteries behind human diseases, which leads to private sector 
development of new treatments and therapeutics. This important first 
step is not ordinarily funded by industry given the long-term path of 
basic science and the pressures for shorter-term return on investments 
by industry. Congressional investment in basic science is irreplaceable 
in the pipeline for development of drugs, devices, and other treatments 
for brain-related diseases and disorders.
    Another example of NSF's success in funding neuroscience is the 
Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) 
Initiative. A part of the research landscape in neuroscience, the BRAIN 
Initiative has been critical in promoting future discoveries across 
neuroscience and related scientific disciplines. By including funding 
in 21st Century Cures, Congress helped maintain the momentum of this 
endeavor. Note, however, using those funds to supplant regular 
appropriations would be counterproductive. There is no substitute for 
robust, sustained, and predictable funding for NSF. SfN appreciates 
Congress' ongoing investment in the BRAIN Initiative and urges its full 
funding in fiscal year 2022. Some recent exciting advancements in NSF 
funded neuroscience research include the following:
Increasing happiness through new experiences
    As COVID-19 has affected Americans' daily routines, NSF-funded 
research may point the way towards strategies to improve people's 
moods. In a study conducted before the pandemic, participants wore GPS 
trackers for several months and reported on their mood throughout each 
day. The researchers found a correlation between a more positive mood 
and days when participants went to more locations outside of their 
daily routine. When people had more variability in their day, they were 
more likely to report feeling ``happy,'' ``relaxed,'' or ``excited.'' A 
follow-up study looking at functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) 
scans of participants' brains found these positive changes in mood are 
driven by communication between the hippocampus, the part of the brain 
that maps the environment, and the striatum, which plays a key role in 
reward. This work suggests adding a variety of experiences, even 
something as simple as a walk around the neighborhood, to our daily 
lives may be critical to maintaining a positive outlook.
Understanding the origins of creativity
    Music, art, and other creative activities are fundamental endeavors 
to the human experience. Where this creativity comes from in the human 
brain and how it is controlled, however, is a question of great debate. 
Researchers funded by the NSF sought to answer this question by 
studying jazz guitarists performing while wearing 
electroencephalography (EEG) caps to measure their brain activity. 
These guitarists, who ranged in experience from novices to 
professionals, were asked to improvise several performances, which were 
recorded and judged by experts. Brain-activity data showed less-
experienced guitarists relied more on right frontal hemisphere 
structures associated with conscious control over activity, while more-
experienced participants had more activity in structures associated 
with the default mode network, suggesting their performances require 
less active control. This suggests as a creative endeavor is improved, 
the brain switches from conscious monitoring of the activity to a more 
automatic reliance on what has already been learned. This baseline 
knowledge reduces the active concentration an expert will need for 
these learned skills, allowing for more cognitive resources to be 
devoted to the creativity of their output.
   covid-19 is a challenge and opportunity for neuroscience research
    Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed progress in 
neuroscience research, with social distancing requirements hampering 
ongoing research related to the brain. Investment in neuroscience 
research, including on the neurological aspects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus 
and the COVID-19 pandemic itself is needed though cannot be allowed to 
eclipse or replace regular funding for neuroscience research. We urge 
you to identify ways to ensure the funding surge needed to address the 
COVID-19 emergency does not slow progress on other important and 
innovative research, including the groundbreaking research in 
neuroscience and mental health. SfN encourages the subcommittee to fund 
basic research on the biology of how COVID-19 impacts brain function as 
well as impacts the virus has on the nervous system in preclinical 
models and, by extension, on humans. In doing so, SfN encourages 
Congress and the NSF to prioritize intentional collaboration and 
coordination to effectively allocate scarce resources so researchers 
can investigate all facets of infectious and non-infectious disease.
    Ongoing research already demonstrates the need for scientists to 
examine the neurological impacts of COVID-19. While mortality due to 
SARS-CoV-2 may be primarily due to its effects on the lungs, it is now 
apparent the virus damages many other organs, including the central 
nervous system. We need to understand how these direct and indirect 
effects on other organ systems are producing chronic diseases and long-
term disability, making people more susceptible to other chronic 
disorders covered by the different NIH Institutes. A recent study 
(Lancet article, Taquet et al 2021) shows an increased risk of anxiety, 
depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and insomnia were reported 
after COVID-19 diagnosis. These data, though incomplete, suggest brain 
impairment may be associated with COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, it 
was found people with two copies of the risk gene for Alzheimer's 
disease were more likely to have severe COVID-19 (Kuo et al J. 
Gerontology 2020). These findings, coupled with incidents of memory 
loss, brain fog and hallucinations reported in the New York Times (3/
23/21) illustrates a need for increased resources to study the impact 
of this virus on the peripheral and central nervous systems, as well as 
the immune and inflammatory systems. The COVID-19 public health 
emergency provides an important example of the critical need for 
collaborative research and coordinating data and resources across 
institutes. A balanced and collaborative research effort across 
institutes will likely be the path toward solving these multiple 
issues.
congress & nsf must support access to models necessary for neuroscience 
                               discovery
    Adequate NSF funding is necessary to advancing our understanding of 
the brain; however, full realization of this funding's promise requires 
appropriate access to research models, including non-human primate and 
other animal models. Animal research is highly regulated to ensure 
ethical and responsible care and treatment of the animals. SfN and its 
members take their legal and ethical obligations related to this 
research very seriously. While SfN recognizes the goal of the 
reduction, refinement, and eventual replacement of nonhuman primate 
models in biomedical research, much more research and time is needed 
before such a goal is attainable. Premature replacement of non-human 
primate and other animal models may delay or prevent the discovery of 
treatments and cures-not only for neurological diseases like 
Alzheimer's disease, addiction, and traumatic brain injury, but also 
for communicable diseases and countless other conditions. There are 
currently no viable alternatives available for studying biomedical 
systems advancing our understanding of the brain and nervous system; or 
when seeking treatments for diseases and disorders like depression, 
addiction, Parkinson's Disease, and emotional responses. This research 
is critically important and presents an opportunity to benefit 
countless people around the world. SfN urges Congress to work with the 
NSF to ensure this important research can continue.
                        funding in regular order
    SfN joins the biomedical research community supporting an increase 
in NSF funding to at least $10.2 billion, a $1.7 billion increase over 
FY21. This proposed increase is necessary to provide certainty to the 
field of science, allowing for the exploitation of new scientific 
opportunity, additional training of the next generation of scientists, 
increased economic growth and further improvements in the public's 
health. Equally as important as providing a reliable increase in 
funding for biomedical research is ensuring funding is approved before 
the end of the fiscal year. Continuing Resolutions have significant 
consequences on research, including restricting NSF's ability to fund 
grants. For some of our members, this means waiting for a final 
decision to be made on funding before knowing if their perfectly scored 
grant would in fact be realized or operating a lab with 90 percent of 
the awarded funding until appropriations are final. This negatively 
impacts all the positive benefits research provides the field. SfN 
strongly supports the appropriation of NSF funding in a timely manner 
which avoids delays in approving new research grants or causes 
reductions in funding for already approved research funding.
    SfN thanks the subcommittee for your strong and continued support 
of biomedical research and looks forward to working with you to ensure 
the United States remains the global leader in neuroscience research 
and discovery. Collaboration among Congress, the NSF, and the 
scientific research community has created great benefits for not only 
the United States but also people around the globe suffering from 
brain-related diseases and disorders. On behalf of the Society for 
Neuroscience, we urge you to continue this critical cooperation and 
support of biomedical research.

    [This statement was submitted by Barry Everitt, Sc.D., F.R.S., 
President, and Moses Chao, PhD, Chair, Government and Public Affairs 
Committee.]
                                 ______
                                 
       Prepared Statement of the Tribal Law and Policy Institute
                         department of justice
    On behalf of the Tribal Law and Policy Institute (TLPI), this 
testimony addresses important programs in the Department of Justice 
(DOJ). First, TLPI joins the American Bar Association (see attached 
letter) in requesting substantially increased funding for Tribal courts 
in response to the $1.2 billion annual shortfall for Tribal courts as 
identified in the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) 2020 report to 
Congress, Report to the Congress on Spending, Staffing, and Estimated 
Funding Costs for Public Safety and Justice Programs in Indian Country, 
2018.
    Secondly, TLPI joins the National Congress of American Indians 
(NCAI) in requesting:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Program                   NCAI Fiscal Year 2022 Request
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOJ: Tribal Grants: Eliminate            Use DOJ appropriations as base
 competitive grant funding process and    funding.
 utilize Justice Department
 appropriations as base funding so that
 Tribal nations determine their own
 priorities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOJ: Tribal Set-Aside from Office of     Create a 10 percent Tribal set-
 Justice Programs (OJP).                  aside for all discretionary
                                          OJP programs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOJ: Tribal Set-Aside from Crime         Create a 5 percent set-aside
 Victims Fund.                            for Tribal governments.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOJ: Tribal Youth Program under the      $25,000,000
 Juvenile Accountability Block Grants
 program.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOJ: Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal     $3,000,000
 Assistance (TCCLA) Grant.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOJ: Community Oriented Policing         $52,000,000
 Services (COPS) Tribal Law Enforcement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOJ: OVW Tribal programs under the       Fully fund all VAWA-authorized
 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).       programs including the Sexual
                                          Assault Clearinghouse and
                                          $5,000,000 for Tribal
                                          implementation of VAWA special
                                          domestic violence criminal
                                          jurisdiction.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    TLPI is a 100 percent Native American operated non-profit 
corporation organized to design and deliver education, research, 
training, and technical assistance programs which promote the 
enhancement of justice in Indian country and the health, well-being, 
and culture of Native peoples. TLPI focuses on collaborative programs 
that provide critical resources for Tribal court systems and other 
programs involved in promoting improvement of justice in Indian 
country.
    The Federal Government's trust responsibility to Tribal nations is 
at the heart of TLPI's recommendation to follow NCAI's fiscal year 2022 
Indian country budget request. Like all other governments, Tribal 
nations are responsible for the protection and care of their citizens, 
residents, and visitors on Tribal lands. Through treaties and other 
agreements, Tribal lands were ceded in exchange for the promise of 
protected self-governance and adequate resources from the United 
States. Those promises are the foundation of the government-to-
government relationship that exists today.
    Part of the Federal trust responsibility to Indian Tribes includes 
basic governmental services in Indian Country, funding for which is 
appropriated in the discretionary portion of the Federal budget. Tribal 
governments protect and preserve their unique cultures, identities, and 
natural environments for future generations. As governments, Tribes 
must deliver a wide range of critical services, such as education, 
workforce development, youth programs, and first-responder and public 
safety services, to their citizens. The Federal budget for Tribal 
governmental services reflects the extent to which the United States 
honors its promises to Indian people--and to date, those promises have 
not been truly honored.
    Tribal justice systems historically have been under-funded and 
continue to be under-funded in most Tribal communities. In 1991, the 
United States Civil Rights Commission found that ``the failure of the 
United States Government to provide proper funding for the operation of 
Tribal judicial systems . . . has continued for more than 20 years.'' 
\1\ In 2014, the Attorney General's Advisory Committee on American 
Indian and Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence noted that 
Department of Justice (DOJ) funding for Tribal justice systems has been 
consistently decreasing in recent years.\2\ The Indian Law and Order 
Commission (ILOC) noted that in addition to funding shortfalls, DOJ's 
short-term, competitive funding approach is deficient because it 
reflects Federal priorities rather than Tribal ones, favors hired 
grant-writers, requires Tribes to compete against each other, and 
offers only 3-year programs that often leave Tribes with staff turnover 
and short-term programs.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ United States Commission on Civil Rights, The Indian Civil 
Rights Act: A Report of the United States Commission on Civil Rights 71 
(June 1991).
    \2\ Attorney General's Advisory Committee on American Indian and 
Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence, U.S. Dep't of Justice, 
Report of the Advisory Committee on American Indian and Alaska Native 
Children Exposed to Violence: Ending Violence So Children Can Thrive 53 
(November 2014).
    \3\ Indian Law and Order Commission, A Roadmap for Making Native 
America Safer: Report to the President & Congress of the United States 
83 (2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Further, the Civil Rights Commission continued reporting on this 
topic with A Quiet Crisis: Federal Funding and Unmet Needs in Indian 
Country in 2003 and Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding 
Shortfall for Native Americans in 2018. Broken Promises found that 
``Federal funding for Native American programs across the government 
remains grossly inadequate to meet the most basic needs the Federal 
Government is obligated to provide . . . Since 2003, funding for Native 
American programs has mostly remained flat, and in the few cases where 
there have been increases, they have barely kept up with inflation or 
have actually resulted in decreased spending power.'' \4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\ United States Commission on Civil Rights, Broken Promises: 
Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans, 4 (December 
2018).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Finally, in 2020, the BIA submitted a report to Congress, Report to 
the Congress on Spending, Staffing, and Estimated Funding Costs for 
Public Safety and Justice Programs in Indian Country, 2018. The total 
annual estimated need for Tribal public safety and justice programs 
included $1.3 billion for Tribal law enforcement and $1.2 billion for 
Tribal courts. According to the same report, BIA funding only meets 
14.7 percent of estimated need. Leaving Tribes to fight for short-term 
funds via competitive grant processes, many administered by the DOJ.
    DOJ funding across programs affecting Indian country should be 
dramatically increased and the distribution mechanism modified. As 
nations, Tribes should not have to compete for short-term grants that 
reflect Federal priorities. Rather, funds should be allocated as 
flexible base funding.
    Create a 10 percent Tribal allocation across all Office of Justice 
Programs (OJP) programs.--A 10 percent OJP Tribal set-aside would 
simplify the Federal funding process by which Tribal nations receive 
resources to establish Tribal courts; assist in developing detention 
facilities; provide legal assistance; develop and maintain juvenile 
delinquency prevention programs; and provide substance abuse prevention 
programs. Further, the Tribal set-aside provides Tribes the flexibility 
to develop a comprehensive strategy on public safety and justice needs. 
It also would create new opportunities for coordinating BIA and DOJ 
funding to reduce inefficiencies and unnecessary administrative costs.
    Include Tribal governments in disbursements from the Crime Victims 
Fund.--The Crime Victims Fund (CVF) is the Federal Government's primary 
funding source for providing services to victims of crime. Unlike State 
and territorial governments, which receive an annual formula 
distribution from the CVF, Indian Tribes were only able to access CVF 
funds via pass-through grants at the discretion of the States or by 
competing for very limited resources administered by the DOJ. This 
system left a significant unmet need in most Tribal communities-
communities where crime victimization rates far exceed the National 
average.
    For the past 4 years, Congress has directed a portion of the 
overall disbursements from the CVF to Tribal nations. The 5 percent 
Tribal set-aside included in the fiscal year 2021 appropriations bill 
will direct $100.75 million to support and improve crime victim 
services on Tribal lands. This funding greatly impacts crime victims' 
services infrastructure on Tribal lands, and it is imperative that it 
be appropriated on an annual basis to sustain the programs and services 
that will be developed. TLPI urges the committee to keep disbursements 
from the CVF at the increased level and to direct an amount equal to 5 
percent of overall CVF disbursements to Tribal governments on a non-
competitive basis.
    If Congress declines to adopt the flexible 10 percent set-aside 
across OJP programs, restore fiscal year 2010 levels of $25 million in 
funding for the Tribal Youth Program (TYP) under the Juvenile 
Accountability Block Grants Program.--Native youth living in Indian 
country face numerous overlapping barriers to safety, wellness, 
academic achievement, and positive youth development. Barriers occur at 
the individual, family, community, and regional levels, resulting in 
disproportionate involvement with juvenile justice, child welfare, and 
other youth-serving systems. Today's Native youth continue to face the 
effects of collective intergenerational and historical traumas.
    TYP is the first OJJDP program dedicated to prevention, 
intervention, and juvenile justice system improvement in Native 
communities. The need for the program can be demonstrated by the 
application rates within the last 5 years. For the majority of those 
years, the DOJ Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitations, Purpose 
Area 9 (TYP) received some of the highest number of grant applicants 
and categorically received the least amount of funding. Further 
exacerbating the issue, TYP is currently funded at some of its lowest 
levels since its establishment in the 1990s. This is despite an 
increase in funding in fiscal year 2021, the first increase in 3 years. 
Due to this decreased funding, hundreds of Tribes across the United 
States are left grappling with how to ensure that their most cherished 
resource is provided equal opportunity as other youth in this country 
to heal, thrive, and realize their life potential. Funding for the TYP 
should, at minimum, be restored to its fiscal year 2010 level of $25 
million.
    Fund the Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance, Training and 
Technical Assistance (TCCLA) grant program at a level of $3 million.--
The Indian Tribal Justice Technical and Legal Assistance Act of 2000 
(Public Law 106-559) authorized DOJ to award grants to non-profit 
entities, such as the 25 Indian Legal Services programs connected with 
the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), to provide civil and criminal 
legal assistance to both Tribal governments and their justice systems 
and to individual indigent Tribal citizens. Services impacted by this 
funding include domestic violence, pro se assistance, re-entry and 
expungements, child welfare, free legal clinics and toll-free hotlines, 
and much more.
    Increase funding of Tribal law enforcement programs under DOJ's 
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grants to $52 million.--
Since its inception, the COPS Office has awarded more than 2,000 grants 
totaling over $400 million to Tribes to hire more than 1,700 new or 
redeployed law enforcement officers. It has helped Tribes obtain 
necessary law enforcement training, equipment, vehicles, and 
technology. The COPS Office has also become one of the primary 
resources available to Tribal law enforcement agencies attempting to 
develop and maintain policing infrastructure and upgrade outdated 
equipment. Yet, there is still substantial unmet need within Tribal 
justice systems for more COPS funding.
    Fully fund the programs authorized in the Violence Against Women 
Act (VAWA), including the funds authorized for the Sexual Assault 
Clearinghouse and Tribal implementation of VAWA special domestic 
violence criminal jurisdiction.--It is estimated over 85 percent of 
American Indian and Alaska Native women will experience violent 
victimization in their lifetimes.\5\ OVW provides funding to Tribal 
governments to address violence against women in their communities. 
OVW's largest source of funding for Tribal governments is the Grants to 
Tribal Governments Program, which is funded via statutory allocations 
from other OVW programs. Fully-funding these OVW programs results in 
full funding for the Grants to Tribal Governments Program and for the 
implementation of Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\ U.S. Department of Justice, Violence Against American Indian 
and Alaska Native Women and Men: 2010 Findings from the National 
Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey 2 (2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               conclusion
    Thank you for your consideration of this testimony.

    [This statement was submitted by Gerald Gardner, Executive 
Director.]
                                 ______
                                 
 Prepared Statement of the United States Section of the Pacific Salmon 
                               Commission
   fiscal year 2022 budget for the national marine fisheries service
    Mr. Chairman, and Honorable Members of the Committee, I am W. Ron 
Allen, the Tribal Commissioner and Chair for the U.S. Section Budget 
Committee of the Pacific Salmon Commission (PSC). I am also the Tribal 
Chairman/CEO of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe located on the Olympic 
Peninsula of Washington State. The U.S. Section prepares annual budgets 
for the implementation of the Pacific Salmon Treaty. The implementation 
of the Treaty is funded through the Departments of Commerce, Interior 
and State.

          Department of Commerce funding in support of implementing the 
        Pacific Salmon Treaty is part of the Salmon Management 
        Activities account in the National Marine Fisheries Service 
        (NMFS) budget. The United States and Canada completed 
        negotiations of revised Annex Chapters to the Treaty in 2019. 
        Funding in the Department of Commerce budget intended for the 
        programs to fulfill national commitments created by the revised 
        Treaty Annex Chapters was $39,500,000 in the fiscal year 2021 
        budget. The U.S. Section recommends fiscal year 2022 funding of 
        $43,500,000 to implement national commitments created by the 
        Treaty. This represents a $4,000,000 increase from fiscal year 
        2021 funding levels.

    The Department of Commerce principally funds programs conducted by 
the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska and the NMFS. 
However, the cost of programs conducted by the States to fulfill 
national commitments created by the Treaty continue to be substantially 
greater than the funding provided in the NMFS budget. Consequently, the 
States have supplemented the Federal Treaty appropriations from other 
sources, including State general funds. Many of those funding sources 
are limited or no longer available and this has been exacerbated by the 
ongoing global pandemic.
    The $20,000,000 increase in the fiscal year 2020 budget and the 
$5,000,000 in the fiscal year 2021 budget were greatly appreciated, 
however it falls short of what the U.S. Section estimates is needed to 
fully implement the revised Annex Chapters to the Pacific Salmon 
Treaty.
    The U.S. Section recommends that the Pacific Salmon Treaty line 
item in the Salmon Management Activities section of the NMFS budget be 
funded at $43,500,000 for fiscal year 2022. This line item includes 
$14,730,000 to provide base support for the States of Alaska, 
Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. NMFS activities to implement the 
Treaty's conservation and allocation provisions for Coho, Sockeye, 
Chinook, Chum, and Pink salmon fisheries is funded through overhead 
fees. Effective, science-based implementation of negotiated salmon 
fishing arrangements and abundance-based management approaches for 
Chinook, southern Coho, and Northern Boundary and Transboundary River 
salmon fisheries.
    The U.S. Section recommends annual operational costs of $13,460,000 
for hatchery conservation programs and habitat restoration for Puget 
Sound critical stocks, $3,910,000 for Southeast Alaska Chinook Salmon 
mitigation, and $5,540,000 to increase prey availability for Southern 
Resident Killer Whales. The recommended funding also includes 
$5,850,000 for sound science initiatives to fill key science gaps and 
improve fishery management effectiveness. The recommended funding also 
helps meet requirements of the biological opinion for species listed as 
endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
    The U.S. Section recommends restoring the funding for the Chinook 
Salmon Agreement line item in Salmon Management Activities to 
$1,800,000. This funding supports research and stock assessments 
necessary to acquire and analyze the technical information needed to 
fully implement the abundance-based Chinook salmon management program 
provided for by the Treaty. The States of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, 
and Idaho, and the 25 Treaty Tribes conduct projects selected in a 
rigorous competitive process.
    The International Fisheries Commissions line, under Regional 
Councils and Fisheries Commissions in the NMFS budget was funded at 
$457,000 in fiscal year 2021 and provides the U.S. contribution to 
bilateral cooperative salmon enhancement on the transboundary river 
systems, which originate in Canada and flow to the sea through 
Southeast Alaska. This project was established in 1988 to meet U.S. 
obligations specified in the Treaty and annual funding should continue 
at about $463,000 annually.
    The core Treaty implementation projects included in the Pacific 
Salmon Treaty line, and the U.S. Chinook Agreement line under Salmon 
Management Activities, as well as the International Fisheries 
Commission line under Regional Councils and Fisheries Commissions 
consist of a wide range of stock assessment, fishery monitoring, and 
technical support activities for all five species of Pacific salmon in 
the fisheries and rivers between Cape Suckling in Alaska to Cape Falcon 
in Oregon. The States of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and the 
NMFS conduct a wide range of programs for salmon stock abundance 
assessment, escapement enumeration, stock distribution, and fishery 
catch and effort information. The information is used to establish 
fishing seasons, harvest levels, and accountability to the provisions 
of Treaty fishing regimes.
    Prior to fiscal year 2020, the base annual Treaty implementation 
funding remained essentially flat since the inception of the Treaty in 
1985. In order to continue to fulfill the Federal commitments created 
by the Treaty, as costs and complexity increased over time, the States 
had to augment Federal funding with other Federal and State resources. 
However, alternative sources of funding have seen reductions or, in 
some cases, have been eliminated. The increases of $20,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2020 and $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2021 to implement the 
revised Annex Chapters were a welcome change.
    Negotiations to revise the provisions of the Annex Chapters to the 
Treaty, except for the Fraser River Chapter, were successfully 
completed in 2018. The revised provisions will last for 10 years. These 
chapters contain the specifics for implementing the Treaty for each 
species in each geographic area. The provisions for a revised Fraser 
River Chapter were completed in 2019. The revised chapters represent 
the combined efforts of the participants to ensure healthy salmon 
populations for the next 10 years. They also require commitments to 
increase efforts to improve upon current management strategies for 
numerous salmon populations.
    Finally, you should consider the fact that the value of the 
commercial harvest of salmon subject to the Treaty and managed at 
productive levels under the Treaty, supports the infrastructure of many 
coastal and inland communities. The value of the commercial and 
recreational fisheries, and the economic diversity they provide for 
local communities throughout the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, is 
immense. The Pacific Salmon Commission recently funded an economic 
study of these fisheries and determined that this resource creates 
thousands of jobs and is a multi-billion dollar industry. The value of 
these fish to the 25 Treaty Tribes in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and 
Alaska goes far beyond their monetary value, to the cultural and 
religious lives of American Indian and Alaska Native peoples. A 
significant monetary investment is focused on salmon due to the 
listings of Pacific Northwest salmon populations under the Endangered 
Species Act.
    Given these resources, the U.S. Section will continue to utilize 
the Pacific Salmon Commission process to develop recommendations that 
help with the development and implementation of solutions to minimizing 
impacts on listed stocks. We will continue to work towards the true 
intent of the Treaty, and with your support, we will manage this shared 
resource for mutual enhancements and benefits.
    This concludes the statement of the U.S. Section of the Pacific 
Salmon Commission submitted for consideration by your Committee. We 
wish to thank the Committee for the support given to us in the past. 
Please let us know if we can supply additional information or respond 
to any questions the Committee Members may have.
    Thank you.

    [This statement was submitted by W. Ron Allen, Chair.]
                                 ______
                                 
        Prepared Statement of the Western Governors' Association
    Chair Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran, and Members of the 
subcommittee, the Western Governors' Association (WGA) appreciates the 
opportunity to provide testimony on two items within the jurisdiction 
of the subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related 
Agencies, both of which relate to the U.S. Department of Commerce. WGA 
is an independent organization representing the Governors of the 22 
westernmost States and territories. The Association is an instrument of 
the Governors for bipartisan policy development, information-sharing 
and collective action on issues of critical importance to the western 
United States.
    Western Governors support adequate and dedicated funding for the 
National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) program under 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). WGA is 
well-acquainted with the significant environmental, economic, and 
social effects of drought on the West and its communities. Drought 
contributes to the incidence of forest and rangeland wildfire, impairs 
ecosystems and wildlife habitat, degrades agricultural productivity, 
and poses threats to municipal and industrial water supplies. A growing 
population's dependence on limited water resources creates challenges 
for water management across the West, from the Great Plains to the 
Intermountain West to the coastal, estuarine and marine environments of 
the Pacific States and islands. Planning for an adequate, reliable and 
clean water supply requires accurate and complete water and weather 
information.
    NIDIS promotes a coordinated and integrated approach to managing 
future drought. This approach involves improved forecasting and 
monitoring to provide the kind of authoritative, objective and timely 
drought information that farmers, water managers, decision-makers, and 
local governments require for effective drought preparation and 
response. Through NIDIS, NOAA is building a network of early warning 
systems for drought while working with local resource managers to 
identify and address unique regional drought information needs.
    Western Governors value the approach used to build and improve 
NIDIS. Rather than creating a new NIDIS bureaucracy, the system draws 
from existing capacity in States, universities and multiple Federal 
agencies, as called for in the original authorizing legislation. Given 
our shared fiscal challenges, WGA regards this as a model for Federal-
State collaboration in shared information services.
    Water users throughout the West--including farmers, ranchers, 
Tribes, land managers, business owners, recreationalists, wildlife 
managers, and decision-makers at all levels of government--must be able 
to assess the risks of drought before its onset to make informed 
decisions and implement effective mitigation measures. For these 
reasons, Western Governors request continued support and adequate 
funding for the National Weather Service River Forecast Centers and 
Weather Forecast Offices and the NIDIS program, which perform a 
valuable role in western water management and drought response.
    Many western communities, especially Tribal communities, lack 
access to broadband internet due to the high cost of infrastructure and 
the economic realities of serving low customer densities in potential 
service areas. This has left many rural businesses at a competitive 
disadvantage and citizens without access to telework, telemedicine and 
distance learning opportunities. Consequently, Western Governors 
support opportunities to improve connectivity on rural and Tribal lands 
and efforts to leverage State expertise through State block grants. The 
Governors appreciate the increased funding allocated to Tribal and 
State projects within the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration (NTIA) last fiscal year, including funding to mitigate 
the effects of COVID-19 and the new Tribal Broadband Connectivity 
Program. The Governors look forward to engaging with NTIA on this 
funding and stand ready to implement projects for the benefit of rural 
and Tribal communities,
    Deployment of broadband infrastructure to these underserved and 
unserved communities requires an accurate picture of nationwide 
broadband availability. Western Governors applaud recent efforts to 
address the accuracy of broadband data coverage measurements through 
the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Broadband Data Task Force 
and the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability 
Act, known as the Broadband DATA Act, and support continued investment 
in these efforts. WGA also encourages coordination of data collection 
strategies among the Federal Communications Commission, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture and other agencies involved in broadband mapping and 
deployment.
    Western Governors recognize the enormous challenge you have in 
balancing competing funding priorities, and we appreciate the 
difficulty of the decisions the subcommittee must make. These 
recommendations are offered in a spirit of cooperation and respect, and 
WGA is prepared to assist you as the subcommittee discharges its 
critical and challenging responsibilities.

    [This statement was submitted by James D. Ogsbury, Executive 
Director.]
                                 ______
                                 
         Prepared Statement of the Western States Water Council
         noaa/nws u.s. weather research program appropriations
    On behalf of the Western States Water Council (WSWC), a government 
entity advising the governors of 18 States, we wish to express our 
strong support for a $15 million increase in the U.S. Weather Research 
Program line item within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's (NOAA) Fiscal Year 2022 appropriation for the National 
Weather Service (NWS), Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) 
account.
    The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public 
Law 115-25), reauthorized in 2019 along with the National Integrated 
Drought Information System (NIDIS), directed NOAA to ``collect and 
utilize information in order to make usable, reliable, and timely 
foundational forecasts of subseasonal and seasonal [S2S] temperature 
and precipitation.'' The statute further required submission of a 
report to Congress that described ``specific plans and goals for the 
continued development of the subseasonal and seasonal forecasts'' and 
``an identification of research, monitoring, observing, and forecasting 
requirements'' needed to meet the statutory goals.
    In 2020, the NWS submitted to Congress the report, Subseasonal and 
Seasonal Forecasting Innovation: Plans for the Twenty-First Century. 
The report outlines current uses of NOAA S2S products and services, and 
how NOAA plans to improve the usability and transference of data, 
information, and forecasts. Developed with input from Federal, 
regional, State, Tribal, and local government agencies, research 
institutions, and the private sector, the report outlines innovations 
needed to achieve two goals for improving products and services: (1) 
improving the skill of foundational tools in order to improve the skill 
of the official S2S forecasts; and (2) enhancing the value of S2S 
products for stakeholders.
    The report recommended a number of pilot projects, including one 
for improving forecasts of winter precipitation (which provides the 
snowpack sustaining water supplies in mountain areas) in the West, and 
one for spring/summer precipitation forecasts for agricultural water 
supply in the Plains States. Another was recommended for Artic sea ice 
and one for tropical cyclones.
    The WSWC urges the subcommittee to provide resources to start the 
western pilot project to improve S2S precipitation forecasting to 
support water management. In fiscal year 2021 NOAA's Weather Research 
Program line item was budgeted at $26.5 million. The fiscal year 2022 
President's budget request is $26.7M. A $15 million investment in S2S 
pilot projects would be on par with NOAA's successful Hurricane 
Forecast Improvement Project (HFIP).
    Much of the West is currently experiencing unprecedented drought 
conditions. Currently, nearly all of our 18 member States are suffering 
from severe to exceptional drought, with half afflicted by the latter, 
the driest condition represented on the U.S. Drought Monitor scale 
(www.drought.gov). Agricultural interests are hit hardest as crops, 
feed, and forage deteriorate and rise in cost, threatening farmers, 
ranchers, and dairies. In some cases, producers are culling herds. 
Municipal water shortages are also possible, particularly for rural 
communities. Dry, hot, and windy weather combined with dried out 
vegetation has wildfires on the rise.
    The scientific insights, data, and tools that the S2S pilot 
projects promise would help agricultural, rural, and urban water and 
land managers make better decisions. Better forecasts will provide 
private and public decisionmakers with longer lead times than are 
currently feasible to implement mitigation policies and programs. This 
would help to protect surface and ground-water supplies and provide 
greater certainty to farmers and ranchers who must make important crop, 
livestock, and conservation decisions now without reliable extended 
precipitation forecasts.
    Current skill in S2S precipitation forecasting is not adequate to 
support water management decision-making, and a priority need to be 
placed on improving S2S forecasting capabilities. Water is the life-
blood of the West, which experiences far greater variability in annual 
precipitation than does the eastern half of the country. Managing water 
in the West is about managing for the extremes of droughts and floods, 
and the need to store water when available to manage it during drier 
times for cities, farms, energy, and the environment. Better longer-
term precipitation forecasts are a necessary tool for more efficient 
water resource management. Will this summer (or next winter) be wet or 
dry? This is a critical question asked every year by State, local, 
Federal, and Tribal water managers, as well as by cities, farmers, and 
hydroelectric powerplant operators.
    Although the skill of conventional short-term weather forecasts 
(which go out as far as two weeks) has improved over the past several 
decades, the same cannot be said for the critical longer-term forecasts 
important for water management. These longer S2S forecasts span time 
periods of several weeks out to one or 2 years. The NWS's Climate 
Prediction Center (CPC) has minimal skill when producing available S2S 
forecasts.
    As documented by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental 
Information, disasters at both wet and dry extremes of the hydrologic 
cycle are responsible for billions of dollars in losses. With better 
S2S forecasts, water managers can better prepare for and respond to 
drought and flooding, reducing loss of lives and property, as well as 
economic and environmental losses. Similarly, decision makers in 
agriculture, fisheries, hydroelectric power generation, and emergency 
management sectors share a common interest in more skillful and useful 
forecasts.
    Lead time is critical in making water management decisions. Longer 
lead times are especially useful in planning and managing for the 
extremes of droughts and floods. Skillful S2S forecasts would inform 
and allow for more efficient operation of dams and reservoirs, 
balancing competing objectives of flood control and water storage. 
Absent good predictive capability, weeks ahead, reservoir operators 
must manage risk as conservatively as possible to ensure that space 
will be available to hold winter-spring runoff and manage floods. 
Better forecasts would allow operators to store more water for use 
during drought, while still providing flood protection--the equivalent 
of developing new water supplies at minimal cost. There are 
opportunities for improving S2S forecasting, but historically there has 
been a S2S research investment gap between conventional numerical 
weather modeling and century-scale climate modeling. Significant 
scientific progress has been achieved at the weather and century-scale 
ends of this spectrum, thanks to ongoing Federal investments, but much 
remains to be done at the S2S scale.
    According to the American Meteorological Society, the skill of 5- 
to 6-day NWS temperature forecasts in 2012 is equivalent to that of 3- 
to 4-day forecasts in 1992. Also, substantial Federal support from 1990 
onwards for the U.S. Global Change Research Program resulted in major 
progress in developing increasingly complex climate models. However, 
similar progress and investment have not occurred at the S2S time scale 
so important for western water management. Improving S2S precipitation 
forecasting is a scientifically challenging subject that will require a 
commitment of dedicated, sustained funding. There is no silver bullet 
for S2S forecasting improvement, but the necessary ingredients for 
making progress include investment in all aspects of the subject (human 
resources, high-performance computing, observing systems, and 
transition of research innovations to operations). Well-defined metrics 
and timelines for evaluating success, with a strong project management 
focused on outcomes, are needed.
    Regional pilot projects in areas where NOAA's current predictive 
skill is minimal are key to accelerating advancement of forecasting 
skill. Pilots provide opportunities to test tools such as statistical 
models or hybrid statistical-dynamical tools that can enhance 
information provided by NOAA's dynamical models.
    The international Colorado River Basin has experienced prolonged 
drought conditions, for over 20 years, resulting in declining reservoir 
elevations in Lake Mead and Lake Powell. Water agencies in the seven 
Colorado River Basin States have been taking unprecedented steps to 
manage the risk of shortage, including executing historic drought 
contingency plans with the Department of the Interior in 2019. Drought 
risk management programs in the contingency plans cost money and/or 
water. Skillful seasonal precipitation forecasts would help support 
decisions to balance costs against risks of shortage.
    In 2015 NOAA released its first-ever service assessment for 
drought, for the California drought which had then completed its third 
year. NOAA assessments evaluate its performance after significant 
hydrometeorological, oceanographic, or geologic events. The assessments 
are triggered by factors such as major economic impacts to a large area 
or population, or extensive national public interest impacts. 
Assessments evaluate the effectiveness of products and services made 
available to stakeholders, to help NOAA continuously improve the 
services it provides. The drought assessment's top finding given the 
input received from numerous stakeholders emphasized the need for an 
improved seasonal prediction capability focused on cool-season mountain 
precipitation, both in California and in the Colorado River Basin. ``A 
majority of the stakeholders interviewed for this assessment noted one 
of the best services NOAA could provide is improved seasonal 
predictions with increased confidence and better interpretation.''
    NOAA's CPC seasonal precipitation products are national in scale 
and are not designed to provide regional forecast information--
information which is most relevant to decision makers. For instance, 
State and Federal officials managing California's water supply have a 
major unmet need for skillful predictions targeted at cool-season 
snowpack for the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
    Improving the skill of S2S precipitation forecasting to make it 
usable for water resources management is scientifically challenging. In 
2016, the National Academy of Sciences released a report on a national 
research agenda for improving S2S forecasting. The report provided a 
vision for S2S forecasts that could be as widely used in the next 
decade as conventional weather forecasts are today. It identified key 
strategies and made 16 specific recommendations for a research agenda. 
It noted, ``More skillful and useful S2S forecasts--developed through 
sustained engagement with users and advances in basic knowledge and 
technological capabilities--could radically improve the basis for 
decision making on S2S timescales. There are also emerging science and 
technical capabilities that make rapid advances in S2S forecasts more 
likely than envisioned even 5 years ago.''
    Preliminary experimental work being performed by NOAA's Earth 
Systems Research Laboratory (ESRL) under a contract with the California 
Department of Water Resources developed a preliminary statistical model 
for S2S precipitation using sea surface temperatures and sea level 
pressure. This work demonstrates a potential opportunity for improving 
S2S forecasting precipitation through NOAA investment in statistical 
modeling.
    NOAA outlooks now rely heavily on the El Nino-Southern Oscillation 
(ENSO) as a source of predictability. NOAA's early winter forecast in 
2014 called for a weak to moderate El Nino with above-normal 
precipitation for California. ENSO conditions were neutral and 
California had one of its driest years on record. In 2015, NOAA 
correctly predicted the onset of very strong El Nino conditions, but 
the expectation of a wet Southern California and dry Pacific Northwest 
was met with continued drought in Southern California and flooding in 
the Pacific Northwest, illustrating how much work remains to be done to 
improve seasonal forecasting.
    NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) tracks 
U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (https://
www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions). The 2012 drought was the most extensive 
drought to affect the U.S. since the 1930s, with moderate to extreme 
drought conditions affecting more than half the country. Estimated 
losses totaled $34.8 billion. Drought in the West and Plains States in 
2013 caused an estimated $11.7 billion in losses. In 2014 California 
suffered its worst drought of record, and together with other States, 
losses were estimated at $4.4 billion. The western drought of 2015 cost 
$5 billion and in 2016 a Southeast and Northeast drought cost $3.8 
billion. Similarly, drought costs across the Nation have been estimated 
at $2.7 billion in 2017, $3.1 billion in 2018, and $4.5 billion in 
2020. These numbers don't include related wildfire losses, or losses 
due to floods. This year the West is experiencing another drought, the 
costs of which will be significant.
    Better S2S forecasts would help inform decision-making and help 
mitigate such losses. This $15 million request for a pilot project to 
accelerate research and improve S2S predictive capabilities is a small 
investment, compared to the potential savings nationwide.
                                 ______
                                 
         Prepared Statement of the Western States Water Council
             nasa's applied earth science research programs
    The Western States Water Council (WSWC) is a policy advisory body 
representing 18 States. Members are appointed by their respective 
governors. Since 1965, the WSWC has long been involved in western water 
conservation, development, protection, and management issues, as well 
as promoting development and advancement of earth science, particularly 
water-related data acquisition, management and dissemination.
    The WSWC championed the placement of a thermal infrared (TIR) 
imager on Landsat 8 and the expedited construction and launch of 
Landsat 9 with TIR capabilities. We strongly support innovation to 
provide similar next generation National Land Imaging Program data--
including thermal imaging capabilities--while exploring the potential 
for medium and longer-term advances in technology, design and future 
capabilities to meet existing and future uses. Landsat TIR data is used 
extensively by western States and others to measure and monitor 
agricultural and other outdoor water uses and needs. It is increasingly 
important for present and future management of our scarce water 
resources and is an excellent example of the application of basic 
science pioneered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA).
    In the West, the agricultural and water communities have benefited 
tremendously from the use of moderate resolution thermal satellite data 
to map out, measure and monitor consumptive water use. Agriculture is 
by far the largest consumer of water in the West, and better managing 
that use is an essential component of both water and food security, as 
well as sustainable economic development and environmental protection. 
Increasing demands for water related to growth and changing values are 
leading to more and more transfers of water from agriculture to other 
uses, with resulting challenges in maintaining viable rural 
agricultural communities. Many western States are using Landsat thermal 
data to protect water rights and manage water use.
    NASA has identified the ``water and energy cycle'' and ``water 
resources'' as topics to support in the agency's research and 
applications programs respectively. The Council strongly supports and 
works cooperatively to advance linkages between NASA's capabilities and 
water managers' needs, working with NASA/JPL's Western Water 
Applications Office (WWAO). WWAO's mission is to ``connect the drops'' 
and improve how water is managed in the arid western U.S. by getting 
NASA science, data and technology into the hands of water managers and 
decision makers. Connection, data and innovation are at the heart of 
WWAO.
    The Council urges the Congress to appropriate sufficient funds to 
support and enhance WWAO's and NASA's focus on research for water 
resources applications, as well as to promote long-term engagement with 
State and regional agencies in the western United States responsible 
for water management and water policy--so as to maximize benefits to 
the public from NASA's existing and future investments in Earth 
observations, Earth system models and systems engineering.
    The WSWC also calls on the Congress to plan for and provide 
resources for long-term continuity of observations and the transition 
from research to operations (R2O), such as the use of Landsat TIR 
sensor data. The Open Evapotranspiration (OpenET) software system and 
data platform is another example of the use of NASA TIRs data through 
an operational use partnership (https://openetdata.org/). OpenET is a 
collaboration involving scientists from Federal agencies and academic 
institutions using satellite and weather data to map consumptive water 
use/evapotranspiration (ET) at the individual field scale. 
Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) is another tool that 
NASA has used to measure land subsidence due to groundwater extraction, 
and its use has been demonstrated as part of NASA's Airborne Snow 
Observatory (ASO) for estimating snowpack conditions. Additional 
airborne and spaceborne remote sensing research and observations have 
the potential to provide information on varied temporal and spatial 
scales that could with sustained engagement focus on the R2O transition 
and ultimately be useful for water resources planning, management and 
decision-making.
    NASA's work with the California Department of Water Resources on 
applications for use of remote sensing information has demonstrated 
that the potential exists for repurposing data collected from certain 
present NASA missions for water management applications, and that 
additional potential exists for research applications with sensors 
planned in future Decadal Survey missions such as the NASA-ISRO 
Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), which is designed to observe and take 
measurements of the planet's crust and disturbances, including 
subsidence due to groundwater pumping. The successful transfer of 
technology from the research domain to the applications domain is 
dependent, in part, on continuing communication between researchers and 
those responsible for resource management and policy decisions and a 
long-term commitment to maintaining such communication.
    Much of the West is currently experiencing unprecedented drought 
conditions. Currently, nearly all of our 18 member States are suffering 
from severe to exceptional drought, with half afflicted by the latter, 
the driest condition represented on the U.S. Drought Monitor scale 
(www.drought.gov). Agricultural interests are hit hardest as crops, 
feed, and forage deteriorate and rise in cost, threatening farmers, 
ranchers, and dairies. In some cases, producers are culling herds. 
Municipal water shortages are also possible, particularly for rural 
communities. Dry, hot, and windy weather combined with dried out 
vegetation has wildfires on the rise. Western States are using NASA 
tools to monitor drought-related impacts and consumptive water uses and 
needs.
    Thank you for the opportunity to express our support for various 
NASA programs and missions the application of which support western 
water management.
                                 ______
                                 
        Prepared Statement of the Wildlife Conservation Society
 funding for the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (noaa)
    The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) would like to thank Chair 
Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran, and the Members of the subcommittee for 
providing this opportunity to submit testimony in support of funding in 
the fiscal year 2022 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuaries Program, the 
National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources funding 
for the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale and for 
Regional Ocean Data Portals within the Coastal Zone Management Grants 
and Services funding line.
    WCS was founded with the help of Theodore Roosevelt in 1895 with 
the mission of saving wildlife and wild places worldwide. Today, WCS 
manages the largest network of urban wildlife parks in the United 
States. Visited by 4 million people annually, the network includes our 
flagship, the Bronx Zoo, as well as the New York Aquarium in Brooklyn. 
Globally, our goal is to conserve the world's most important wild 
places, focusing on 14 priority regions that are home to more than 50 
percent of the world's biodiversity. We have offices and field programs 
in more than 60 countries and with our partners manage more than 200 
million acres of protected areas around the world, employing more than 
4,000 staff including about 200 Ph.D. scientists and 100 veterinarians. 
Working in all the world's oceans, WCS combines its expertise in the 
field, aquarium and zoos to achieve its conservation mission both in 
New York and around the world. In our view, the largest threats facing 
marine wildlife and habitats require innovative, science-based 
solutions that balance conservation and sustainable use of the ocean.
    The future of our ocean and coastal resources--and our National 
well-being--depends on a strong NOAA. For these reasons, we support 
robust investment in the Federal Government's premier ocean science, 
conservation and management agency. We ask that the subcommittee 
Members use this additional investment in NOAA in the fiscal year 2022 
Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies appropriations bill to 
increase investments in the National Marine Sanctuaries Program, North 
Atlantic right whale conservation and regional ocean data portals.

    NOAA--National Marine Sanctuaries Program--$84.503 Million: The 
National Marine Sanctuary System is our essential network of protected 
waters held in trust for all Americans. Marine sanctuaries and 
monuments are home to millions of species, preserve our Nation's 
maritime heritage, and promote access for exploration and world-class 
outdoor recreation. The conservation and sustainable use of marine 
ecosystems and biodiversity are vital to maintaining a healthy ocean 
and Great Lakes, addressing the climate crisis, and underpinning 
productive coastal economies.
    The United States is an ocean nation containing 3.4 million square 
nautical miles of ocean-larger than the combined land area of all 50 
States. The National Marine Sanctuary Program serves as trustee for 14 
ecologically and culturally significant ocean and Great Lakes sites. 
The system works with diverse partners and stakeholders to promote 
responsible, sustainable ocean uses that ensure the health of our most 
valued ocean places. A healthy ocean is the basis for thriving 
recreation, tourism and commercial activities that drive coastal 
economies. The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries also leads the 
National Marine Protected Areas Center, the Nation's hub for building 
innovative partnerships and tools to protect our special ocean.
    WCS strongly supports the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment 
to 30x30 goals--conserving at least 30 percent of the world's lands and 
oceans by 2030 (30x30). U.S. implementation of 30x30 provides a 
critical foundation for global success on biodiversity conservation, 
mitigating and adapting to climate change through natural climate 
solutions, and preventing zoonotic spillover that causes pandemics such 
as COVID-19. It provides an opportunity for improved inter-agency 
coordination, as well as alignment, and synergy among existing and new 
laws, regulations, and mechanisms to enhance habitat protection. 30x30 
can also provide a pathway to reconciliation of the issues of equity 
and justice that underlie conservation in this country by honoring and 
elevating the role of Indigenous Nations in any 30x30 strategy.
    Although there are places that merit all protections that U.S. law 
can provide, working lands and busy waters also play a critical role in 
meeting the Nation's 30x30 goals. As such, the National Marine 
Sanctuaries Program which balances conservation and sustainable use 
must be an integral part of the U.S. response. The program needs 
additional resources to support existing Sanctuaries as well as to 
initiate the public-facing, stakeholder-driven process to designate new 
Sanctuaries in areas that NOAA has determined are worthy of 
designation. While there is no Sanctuary in the New York Bight, WCS 
nominated Hudson Canyon as a National Marine Sanctuary in 2016. Located 
just 100 miles from the Statue of Liberty, NOAA determined it is a site 
of ecological and economic importance and placed the nomination in its 
inventory of successful nominations. WCS's nomination recommended a 
Hudson Sanctuary designation would supplement and complement existing 
regulations by ensuring that oil, gas and mineral exploration and 
extraction be permanently precluded from a Hudson Sanctuary and that 
the existing authorities (e.g. Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 
the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and NOAA's Highly 
Migratory Species Division) continue to regulate fisheries when a 
Sanctuary is designated. With increased resources from Congress, WCS 
looks forward to NOAA initiating the public-facing, stakeholder driven 
designation process for Hudson Canyon.
    For these reasons, WCS supports the Biden-Harris Administration's 
recommended investment of $85.503m for the fiscal year 2022 Sanctuaries 
and Marine Protected Areas ORF as detailed in the President's Budget 
Request and Congressional Justification.

    NOAA--Office of Protected Species, funding for North Atlantic Right 
Whale conservation within Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles, and Others 
Species, $20 Million: NOAA's Office of Protected Species is responsible 
for the conservation, protection and recovery of more than 150 
endangered and threatened marine species under the Endangered Species, 
including the North Atlantic right whale. The Office is also 
responsible for the management and protection of all whales, dolphins, 
porpoises, seals, and sea lions under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
    Fewer than 360 North Atlantic right whales remain on Earth, with as 
few as 90 breeding-aged females. While the 17 newborn calves sighted 
this winter offer an emblem of hope, right whale deaths still outnumber 
births by a margin of three to two. We are facing an emergency 
situation: this species cannot recover without a significant reduction 
to the high level of mortality they are currently experiencing, 
including from ship strikes in high trafficked areas such as New York 
and New Jersey waters. Scientists from the Wildlife Conservation 
Society, in collaboration with partners that include the Woods Hole 
Oceanographic Institution, monitor right whales and other marine 
mammals as they migrate through New York's busy waters. The New York 
Bight is used for shipping, fishing, and wind farm development, yet the 
impacts of these activities on whales is poorly understood. Eight 
million dollars out of $20 million is needed to increase investments in 
research, monitoring and management related to vessel strikes and 
fishing gear entanglements by NOAA. With this funding, managers, 
stakeholders and the public will be able to contribute to the 
conservation of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.

    NOAA--Coastal Zone Management Grants and Services, Regional Data 
Portals, $10 Million: The ocean is increasingly crowded and conflicts 
arising from current and emerging offshore ocean uses present unique 
management challenges. These challenges must be addressed regionally, 
including collaboration between regions, and holistically with States, 
Tribes, fishery management councils, Federal agencies, and other ocean 
users across all sectors, including industry and conservation partners. 
Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs), convened by coastal State 
governors, are already structured to maximize interagency collaboration 
on cross-jurisdictional ocean and coastal matters and many have been 
efficient models for convening all ocean users.
    Ocean data portals developed by ROPs are designed to maximize 
interagency collaboration on cross-jurisdictional ocean and coastal 
matters while also providing an important tool for stakeholder 
engagement and public education. Both ROPs and the publicly accessible 
ocean data portals they manage serve a key coordinating function, 
working to enhance a common understanding among stakeholders and 
agencies about ocean resources and their use. This leads to improved 
management decisions that help cut costs, benefit our business 
ventures, boost our scientific understanding, and conserve ocean 
ecosystems. WCS relies on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the 
Ocean (MARCO) data portal to inform our conservation work. We also use 
this unique tool to inspire and educate teachers and students about 
marine conservation.
    WCS appreciates the opportunity to share its perspective and to 
make a case for increases in Federal investments in conservation in the 
fiscal year 2022 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act. As an ocean nation, Americans depend on Federal 
investment in NOAA programs that are rooted in marine science and 
stakeholder engagement. These investments will help us balance marine 
conservation and sustainable use of the ocean.
    Thank you for the opportunity to provide details on these WCS 
requests to the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies 
Appropriations subcommittee in preparation for the fiscal year 2022 
Appropriations Act. WCS marine science and policy experts are available 
to the subcommittee should there be any follow up questions.
    Contact: Noah Chesnin, Associate Director, New York Seascape 
Program, [email protected]