[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 164 (Monday, December 13, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FULL-YEAR CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2011

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                               Speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesdau, December 8, 2010

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of today's legislation 
to make important national investments and protect food safety.
  The FY 11 Continuing Resolution will fund government operations at FY 
2010 levels through the end of the current fiscal year. At $45.9 
billion less than President Obama originally requested, Chairman Obey 
and the rest of the Appropriations Committee obviously had a very 
difficult set of choices to make, and I want to commend their efforts 
to address the nation's needs within the context of these significant 
fiscal constraints. In particular, I am gratified that today's bill 
provides $5.7 billion to meet the current shortfall in the Pell Grant 
program and gives the Department of Energy latitude to expand the 
Advanced Research Projects Agency--or ARPA-E--program designed to 
advance transformative energy research. At the same time, I do not 
support the provision unilaterally freezing non-military federal pay 
for the next 2 years. While I agree with the President that we must 
have a serious national debate about how to reduce the deficit and 
tackle the national debt, I would prefer to address our budget 
challenges in a thorough, comprehensive way.
  While I would prefer adoption of the stronger food safety legislation 
passed by the House, the Senate-passed FDA Food Safety Modernization 
Act we are considering today does make substantial improvements to our 
food safety system. It includes critical reforms that will improve food 
safety by providing FDA with the necessary authority to better prevent 
outbreaks, including increased inspections, enhanced surveillance and 
traceability.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge a yes vote.

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