[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 138 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2181]]
 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4818, CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, November 20, 2004

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant support of the conference 
report on H.R. 4818, the FY 2005 Omnibus Appropriations bill. Though 
there are many important and laudable provisions contained in this 
spending bill, I am troubled by other specific provisions and by the 
process that this bill has followed.
  I am pleased that the bill provides an increase in funding for 
national security and counterintelligence operations at the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation. Unfortunately, this Congress has failed in its 
effort to pass comprehensive intelligence reform legislation, which 
would ensure that this money is being spent appropriately and that the 
efforts of our agencies are coordinated.
  I am pleased to see that this conference report provides $1.3 billion 
for Education Impact Aid, $24 million more than last year. This program 
provides funding for military impacted schools such as those in the 
towns of Eatontown and Tinton Falls. I am also pleased that the bill 
includes $250 million for the community college initiative, which will 
fund workforce development partnerships between community colleges and 
employers.
  Despite these provisions, we have more work to do to fully fund what 
should be a top priority for this Congress--education. One day after we 
passed the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities 
Education Act, IDEA, we underfunded aid to schools by $1.7 billion. 
Considering the rising cost of higher education, I am disappointed that 
the bill does not increase the maximum Pell Grant Award. We cannot keep 
the maximum Pell grant award at $4,050 and expect families to be able 
to afford college.
  I am deeply troubled that this bill includes such a restrictive 
limitation on funding for a woman's constitutionally protected right of 
choice. Specifically, this bill prohibits use of funds to pay for 
health benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion. It also 
protects health care providers who refuse to provide this needed 
service. Such measures are designed to limit women's rights, and have 
no business in this bill.
  I am disappointed that the Community Oriented Policing Service, COPS, 
program has been cut by $142 million. Many of the towns in my district 
have received funding for police officers through this program, which 
has made our communities safer. It simply makes no sense to be taking 
cops off the street at a time when they are more needed than ever.
  I am also troubled that this spending bill cuts the budget for the 
National Science Foundation, NSF, by $62 million from last year's 
inadequate appropriation. The work of the NSF provides the basic 
scientific underpinnings for the most advanced technological research 
and development in the world. We cannot hope to remain the world's most 
scientifically advanced nation if we continue to shortchange our 
researchers.
  I am disturbed by the economic situation in which we find ourselves. 
Congress was forced to increase its debt limit by $800 billion--and 
that is on top of debt increases of $450 billion in 2002 and another 
$984 billion in 2003. The increase in the debt ceiling in just the past 
3 years is almost 2.5 times the entire Federal debt accumulated between 
1776 and 1980.
  We are in this situation because of the choices of the President and 
the Republican majority. They chose to prioritize tax cuts for the 
wealthy, rather than adequately maintaining balanced budgets and 
protecting the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds. They chose to 
engage in a costly, dangerous, and unnecessary war in Iraq, which has 
sapped our ability to combat al Qaeda and fund important domestic 
priorities. They chose to bundle funds for 13 Government departments 
rather than engaging in a robust debate justifying the policies and 
priorities that we are asking the American people to pay for.
  Perhaps most disturbing about this appropriations bill is the process 
that it has followed. The infamous provision allowing unprecedented 
authority for Members of Congress and staff to access the private tax 
returns of individuals and businesses demonstrates that our budget 
process is broken. This provision was slipped into a 3,000 page bill 
which Members had no time to read before voting. The process has become 
corrupted by the Republican majority, which has evidently decided that 
enacting pet projects and controversial items that cannot pass on their 
own merit, are more important than debate, compromise, and good 
governance.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this bill because it will allow the important 
work of the Federal Government to continue. However, I hope that next 
year's appropriations process reflects a greater commitment to funding 
important priorities and following a fair and thorough legislative 
process.

                          ____________________