[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 71 (Thursday, May 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E837]
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. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    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:

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise to oppose H.R. 5326, making 
appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, 
and Related Agencies for the fiscal year 2013.
  This bill violates the bipartisan agreement Congress struck with the 
President last August when we enacted the Budget Control Act of 2012. 
That legislation created a framework to reduce the deficit by two 
trillion dollars. It provided balanced spending caps that reduced the 
nation's deficit while protecting our national priorities and the 
fragile economic recovery. The House Republican Leadership decided to 
ignore this agreement months after it was enacted by demanding an 
additional $19 billion in cuts in this bill and other appropriations 
bills. This bill is $1.6 billion less than the fiscal year 2012 
Commerce, Justice, Science bill and about $731 million less than the 
Senate's version. These unnecessary cuts reduce our investments in key 
areas like law enforcement, access to justice for the poor, scientific 
research, efforts to protect of environment and funding for our space 
program.
  These cuts are unnecessary and force Members of Congress to makes 
decisions to cut one necessary program at the expense of another 
critical program. For example, the original bill funds the Community 
Oriented Policing Services Hiring Grants Program (COPS) at $217 million 
less than the level requested by the Administration. An amendment was 
adopted to increase funding for the COPS grants to current level, but 
it took critical funding from NASA. If the Republican leaders would 
have abided by the Budget Control Act agreement, we would have been 
able to fund critical COPS grants and NASA. Maryland's economy depends 
on money to keep cops on the street and fund NASA facilities like the 
Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD.
  I also strongly oppose the inadequate funding levels for the Legal 
Services Corporation, which is the single largest funder of civil legal 
aid for low-income Americans. The bill funds the Legal Services 
Corporation at level that is $74 million below the President's request. 
The Obama Administration stated that tens of thousands of low-income 
Americans, including many military families and veterans, would be 
denied assistance with civil legal problems if these cuts are adopted. 
This would prevent them from receiving fair treatment in the courts. 
Our justice system should be open to everyone, not just those who can 
afford representation.
  I also strongly object to the plethora of ideological policy riders 
added to the bill to hamstring the Obama Administration's efforts to 
reduce border violence, protect the environment and uphold civil rights 
protected under the U.S. Constitution. The bill prevents federal law 
enforcement's ability to investigate and curb gun trafficking along 
U.S. Mexican border. The bill prevents the Administration from 
continuing efforts to prevent overfishing and protecting our oceans and 
wildlife. The bill prevents the Department of Justice from challenging 
state voter suppression laws, state immigration laws that potentially 
violate the U.S. Constitution, and the ability for the federal 
government to offer federal benefits to legally married same-sex 
couples.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in opposing this harmful 
legislation. I will monitor the progress of this bill in the Senate and 
conference. I am hopeful that future changes and improvements will give 
me a chance to vote on a more acceptable alternative.

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