[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 93 (Friday, June 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1509-E1510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 16, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2847) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, 
     and Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal yaer ending 
     September 30, 2010, and for other purposes.

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this bill.
  This legislation makes significant investments in two of our nation's 
top priorities--protecting Americans at home and in their communities, 
and encouraging scientific research and innovation.
  One of the fundamental responsibilities of our government is ensuring 
the safety and security of our citizens by keeping our streets and 
neighborhoods safe. One of the most successful crime fighting programs 
in recent history is the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) 
program. This bill provides $802 million overall for the program and 
$282 million for COPS hiring grants. When combined with the $1 billion 
provided in the Recovery Act, more than 7,000 police offices will be 
hired nationwide, 287 of those in New Jersey.
  Through this bill, the Office of Justice Programs will receive $2.2 
billion, $155 million over the Fiscal Year 2009 level. Programs such as 
the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants Program will 
receive $529 million to assist state and local law enforcement agencies 
in their efforts to control domestic crime as well as combat violent 
crimes, particular gang and drug-related criminal activity.
  The bill also provides $400 million ($11 million over the 2009 level) 
to the Office on Violence Against Women to aid in the prevention and 
prosecution of violent crime against women. Funds allocated by this 
bill will be used to strengthen the services available to victims of 
domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.
  In the area of science funding, the bill provides over $30 billion to 
support research at the National Science Foundation, the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration. The appropriations in this bill support the plan to 
double funding for basic research, as expressed by Congress in the 
American COMPETES Act. History shows that our country and our economy 
benefit when the federal government invests in our national innovation 
and intellectual infrastructure.
  This bill helps our students succeed in a global job market by 
investing $1 billion to support all aspects of science, technology, 
engineering and math (STEM) education from kindergarten through 
graduate school. It is imperative that we ensure our future generations 
are equipped with the skills they need to be capable participants in a 
scientific and technological workforce. Our economic growth is 
intertwined with our ability to remain competitive in the areas of 
Science and Technology. I want to thank the subcommittee chair, Mr. 
Mollohan, and the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Obey, for 
demonstrating a commitment to make meaningful investments in science 
education to guarantee the success of our children in this global 
market place.
  I also am pleased that the bill includes over $2 billion to study 
global climate change, undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges 
facing our Nation. Over $700 million will be used by the National 
Science Foundation and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
for climate change research and educational programs. The Geophysical 
Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in my district is leading the national effort 
in climate change research by employing sophisticated mathematical 
models and computer simulations to improve our knowledge and ability to 
predict climatic behavior and

[[Page E1510]]

trends. An additional investment of over $1.3 billion will be used to 
develop measurement techniques and for green building initiatives 
nationwide. It is vital to both our economic and our national security 
that we take whatever measures are necessary to gain a comprehensive 
understanding of the mechanisms that drive global warming in order to 
implement the full range of measures necessary to combat it.
  Finally, this bill also ensures that we will be able to conduct an 
accurate decennial Census in 2010. On top of the $1 billion that was 
provided for the Census in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 
this bill matches the President's request for $7.4 billion to conduct 
the largest and most advanced Census in our nation's history.
  Mr. Chair, I commend the committee for bringing us a bill that 
reflects the priorities of the American people, and I urge my 
colleagues to vote for it.

                          ____________________