[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 182 (Wednesday, November 30, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2138-E2139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONSOLIDATED AND FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT 2012, H.R. 2112

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 30, 2011

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the 
Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act 2012 (H.R. 
2112). This legislation combines three fiscal year 2012 appropriations 
measures: Agriculture; Commerce-Justice-Science; and Transportation, 
Housing and Urban Development. H.R. 2112 also includes a short-term 
continuing resolution that will fund the remainder of the federal 
government through December 16.
  H.R. 2112 represents the final House-Senate conference agreement on 
three of this year's twelve appropriations bills. While I strongly 
oppose many of the cuts to critical priorities included in H.R. 2112, 
the final package is--on the whole--far better than the proposals from 
Tea Party Republicans in the House.
  Fiscal year 2012 appropriations for the Agriculture, Rural 
Development and Food and Drug Administration are significantly improved 
from the House-passed bill. The Women, Infants and Children program 
receives $6.6 billion, an increase of $570 million over the House bill 
and $36 million above the Senate. As a result, 700,000 low-income 
children and pregnant women in America will not lose the basic 
nutrition they desperately need and deserve. The conference agreement 
provides $1 billion for food safety inspections, which will protect 
America's food supply by preventing the elimination of USDA meat 
inspectors. Food safety in our country is further strengthened by the 
$2.5 billion included for the Food and Drug Administration. This $334 
million increase over the House level will allow the FDA to continue 
implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act. Funding was also 
restored for international food aid programs that fulfill America's 
moral obligation to assist millions of men, women and children around 
the world who are struggling with famine.
  However, I am deeply disappointed that a handful of special interest 
groups succeeded in blocking important improvements to school nutrition 
standards that were recommended by the USDA. As a result, it will be 
harder for school districts to increase the use of whole grains, reduce 
the sodium content of school lunches and end the ridiculous practice of 
categorizing pizza as a vegetable. Every student in every American 
school knows pizza is not a vegetable. With this bill, Congress is 
failing our students and parents by allowing corporate interests to 
trump common sense. With this bill, weare missing an opportunity to 
substantially improve the health of America's children. This is a wrong 
that must be made right.
  My Republican colleagues also won a victory for Wall Street criminals 
by demanding cuts to the entity responsible for enforcing financial 
laws. H.R. 2112 includes $100 million less for the Commodity Futures 
Trading Commission (CFTC) than requested by President Obama to carry 
out the financial reforms passed by Congress. Reckless behavior in 
America's financial sector has destroyed millions of jobs and trillions 
of dollars in education and retirement savings. It is unconscionable 
that House Republicans would undermine the ability of federal 
regulators to protect American families from a repeat of the 2008 
crisis that nearly triggered a second Great Depression. Unfortunately, 
Congressional Republicans refused to yield. The result is a bill that 
leaves our country exposed to a repeat of this crisis.
  Fiscal year 2012 Appropriations for Commerce-Science-Justice will 
enhance U.S. global competitiveness by making critical investments in 
science and technology. Overall, H.R. 2112 includes $490 million more 
for these priorities than the bill proposed by the House Republicans. 
As a result, the National Science Foundation, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, and the Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration receive funding to conduct research that spurs 
innovation and drives future economic growth. In addition, the 
legislation provides $128 million for the Manufacturing Extension and 
Partnership Program, which helps American companies maintain good 
paying American jobs and compete with manufacturers in China, India, 
and other leading economies. And H.R. 2112 reverses the House 
Republican's massive cuts to firefighters, state and local law 
enforcement agencies, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For 
example, the Commerce-Justice-Science bill passed by House Republicans 
eliminated funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) 
program that helps Minnesota keep police officers on our streets. This 
bill provides $198.5 million for COPS.
  Fiscal year 2012 appropriations for Transportation, Housing and Urban 
Development fall short of what is needed to strengthen America's 
economy and stabilize our communities. Yet, the conference agreement 
does succeed in maintaining current levels of investment in most areas. 
For example, H.R. 2112 includes $39.8 billion for the federal-aid 
highway program, $12.1 billion more than the House draft bill and a 
level consistent with the annual funding assumed in the surface 
transportation extension act. The agreement also includes $10.5 billion 
for transit programs, $2.5 billion more than the House draft bill. This 
translates into $93.1 million for construction of the Central Corridor 
Light Rail line. While replacing the massive cuts to transit proposed 
by House Republicans is an achievement, the final agreement falls $5 
million short of the federal commitment to the Central Corridor 
project. This shortfall is a major concern and something that must be 
addressed in the upcoming fiscal year 2013 process. Another concern is 
the complete elimination of funding for highspeed rail. Ideological 
opposition to rail investments from House Republicans will slow work on 
the planned Chicago-to-Twin Cities high-speed-rail route that will 
depart from St. Paul's Union Depot. However, the conference agreement 
did include $1.4 billion for Amtrak capital and operating grants and 
removed onerous House language that would have eliminated Amtrak 
service on 26 short-distance routes, affecting 15 states and more than 
9 million passengers.

[[Page E2139]]

  Regarding federal housing programs, House Republicans proposed 
devastating cuts that would have done serious harm to low-income 
families in Minnesota. Fortunately, this conference agreement rejected 
the most damaging Republican cuts. Section 8 tenant-based vouchers 
receive $18.9 billion, above the original level included in either the 
House or Senate bills. H.R. 2112 also maintains funding for homeless 
veterans, the McKinney-Vento homeless assistance grant program and 
housing counseling services. Still, the legislation fails to meet the 
growing needs for safe, affordable shelter in our communities. For 
example, cuts to the Community Development Block Grant program will 
undermine the efforts of Minnesota cities to respond to the effects of 
high unemployment and the collapse in the real estate market.
  H.R. 2112 is the result of extended negotiations and represents a 
genuine compromise between competing priorities. I believe that many of 
the provisions in this legislation should be revisited and many of 
funding levels should be restored in the next appropriations cycle. 
Still, I plan to support this legislation today with my vote to ensure 
the critical resources in H.R. 2112 reach Minnesota communities without 
further delay.

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