[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 65 (Wednesday, May 9, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E755]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2013

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5326) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, 
     Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2013, and for other purposes:

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of 
the Lewis-Johnson amendment to H.R. 5326, the Fiscal Year 2013 
Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill. This amendment prevents 
funds in the FY13 CJS Appropriations bill from being used to shut down 
the regional Department of Justice Antitrust Division Offices in 
Atlanta, Dallas, Cleveland, and Philadelphia. These closures will have 
a serious adverse effect upon antitrust enforcement in 21 states 
including Texas, and my district in particular. The Dallas Antitrust 
Office has been responsible for approximately $1 billion in criminal 
fines to date. It has been a priority of this Administration to reign 
in waste, fraud, and abuse, and that is exactly what the Dallas 
Antitrust office has been doing.
  Mr. Chair, I would ask to submit into the Congressional Record a copy 
of my April 23, 2012, letter to Attorney General Holder highlighting 
the critical role the Dallas Field Office serves upholding vital 
antitrust laws in our region and the United States.

                                                   April 23, 2011.
     Hon. Eric H. Holder, Jr.,
     Attorney General, Department of Justice,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Attorney General: In October 2011, the U.S. 
     Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its plans to close the 
     Dallas Antitrust Division Field Office. The Dallas Field 
     Office is joined by three other offices planned for closure 
     in Atlanta, Cleveland, and Philadelphia. I strongly oppose 
     this proposal and believe that millions of Americans and many 
     U.S. companies across multiple states stand to be severely 
     impacted by this closure.
       The Dallas Field Office serves Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, 
     New Mexico, and Oklahoma in enforcing antitrust laws. By 
     closing the Dallas Field Office and reassigning those 
     enforcement positions to the remaining field offices, the 
     Department is seriously curtailing the government's ability 
     to enforce lawful business practices. DOJ's Antitrust 
     Division has an extensive history of promoting fair 
     competition in the marketplace. Shuttering the Dallas Field 
     Office will significantly undo the progress that has been 
     made during this Administration, paving the way for future 
     corruption and abuse.
       In DOJ's October 2011 press release, you cite the potential 
     cost savings of nearly $8 million as one of the primary 
     factors behind this decision. I respectfully reject any 
     arguments for cost savings in this context, particularly 
     because there is a failure to consider the millions of 
     dollars that the Dallas Field Office has brought in through 
     criminal fines. While the Dallas Office costs roughly $3.5 
     million to operate each year, it has returned approximately 
     $1 billion in criminal fines to date. These gains do not 
     include criminal fines levied through the Atlanta, Cleveland, 
     or Philadelphia field offices. Thus, closure of the Dallas 
     Field Office is short-sighted for both long-term enforcement 
     of federal antitrust laws, and the lost revenues that 
     criminal penalties bring back to the American people.
       Another aspect of your reasoning centers around 
     consolidating offices in order to focus on larger 
     international investigations. Aside from the obvious 
     implications that this would have for local or regional 
     enforcement of antitrust laws, history has demonstrated the 
     ongoing need to keep that focus at home in a similar, if not 
     greater, capacity. The Dallas Field Office has served a vital 
     role in numerous cases here in the U.S., while still managing 
     to have an effective international presence, as demonstrated 
     in the case of Hoffman-LaRoche. The $500 million fine paid by 
     the global healthcare company still represents the largest 
     criminal fine ever collected by the Antitrust Division or 
     Department of Justice.
       Understanding this, I am respectfully requesting additional 
     insight into the agency's rationale behind this proposal. The 
     Dallas Field Office serves a critical role in upholding vital 
     antitrust laws in the United States. Closing this office will 
     open the doors for further violations of federal antitrust 
     and competitive bidding laws.
       Should you have any questions or comments, please contact 
     Justin Maturo of my staff at Justin.M[email protected] or 
     (202) 225 8885.
           Sincerely,
                                            Eddie Bernice Johnson,
     Member of Congress.

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