[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 72 (Friday, May 18, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E870-E871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN OPPOSITION TO H.R. 5326 ``COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED 
           AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 18, 2012

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 5326, which 
makes appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, 
Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
2013. Although the bill provides adequate funding levels for many 
programs that I support, they are far outweighed by the unpalatable 
provisions in the bill. That is why I will vote no on final passage.
  Let me list some of the more objectionable provisions of this bill.

[[Page E871]]

                         Department of Commerce

  The bill reduces funding by $93 million for National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). I also oppose the $92 million 
reduction from the President's FY 2013 Budget request for the Census 
Bureau. A cut of this magnitude threatens the Bureau's ability to 
implement Economic Census data collection activities that peak in FY 
2013, hindering the successful development of critical benchmarks for 
Gross Domestic Product estimates.


                         Department of Justice

  I strongly oppose the level of funding provided in the bill as 
reported by the Committee for the Community Oriented Policing Services 
Hiring Grants Program, which is $217 million below the President's FY 
2013 Budget request. This reduced funding level would result in the 
loss of approximately 1,200 police hires/rehires, including veterans. 
Inaddition, some communities seriously impacted by crime would not be 
able to support enough police officers to effectively respond.
  The Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Program offers local, 
state, federal and tribal law enforcement access to intelligence 
databases, investigative support and research, equipment loans, 
training and publications, and field staff support, among other 
services. RISS is a proven, trusted and cost-effective program that has 
contributed to 52,350 arrests and yielded $857 million in narcotics, 
property and case seizures. This represents a 223 percent return on 
federal investment. Today, state and local law enforcement agencies are 
experiencing reductions in funding and resources and are turning to 
RISS to cope. Nevertheless, RISS funding was severely decreased from 
$45 million in FY2o11 to $27 million in FY2012 and a recommended $27 
million in FY2013. I requested an additional $18 million for this 
program to return funding back to $45 million.
  Mr. Speaker, the purpose of State Criminal Alien Assistance Program 
(SCAAP) is to reimburse municipalities for the costs incurred 
incarcerating undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes. This program 
is vitally important to my home state of California. In 2009, 
California received $159 million in SCAAP funds, representing over 40 
Percent of the funds allocated nationwide. These funds are an important 
contribution towards California's cost of incarcerating undocumented 
immigrants, which is over $1 billion annually. The Committee 
recommended federal funding for SCAAP at $165 million, which is a cut 
from FY2012 levels by $75 million and which falls below my request by 
$785 million.


             Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

  I also believe strongly that the Committee's funding level for EEOC, 
which is $7 million less than the FY 2013 Budget request is inadequate. 
As the Administration points out in its Statement of Administration 
Policy, funding at this level would prevent EEOC from filling critical 
investigator positions lost through attrition, which would increase 
EEOC's backlog and weaken its ability to enforce Federal laws that 
protect individuals from discrimination based on their race, color, 
religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetic information.


                    Legal Services Corporation (LSC)

  I also strongly oppose the level of funding provided in the bill for 
the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), which is $74 million below the FY 
2013 Budget request. At this funding level, tens of thousands of low-
income Americans, including many military families and veterans, would 
be denied assistance with civil legal problems, impacting their ability 
to receive fair treatment in the courts.
  Now Mr. Speaker, as a representative of the 37th Congressional 
District of California, I understand the importance of supporting 
emerging businesses and manufacturers. 30,000 of my constituents are 
employed in the manufacturing sector, and nearly 45 percent of all U.S. 
imports travel through the district's neighborhoods. The 37th district 
also includes three universities and five medical facilities, all of 
which benefit from funding directed at science and research.
  The programs covered in this bill have a direct impact on lives 
across the country, and I am deeply committed to ensuring that 
commercial, legal and research facilities in my district are able to 
continue their important work. I would note briefly the provisions in 
the bill as amended that I do support:
  1. U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA): The EDA is the 
only federal agency focused on private sector job creation. It provides 
infrastructure grants, strategic planning assistance, business 
development capital, and technical assistance in economically 
distressed areas. The Committee approved funding at $219.5 million, or 
92.2 percent of my funding request.
  2. Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program: MEP is the only 
public-private program dedicated to providing technical support to 
small and medium sized manufacturers to improve efficiency, 
productivity and profitability. In FY2009 alone, MEP projects created 
or retained 52,948 jobs, generated more than $9.1 billion in sales and 
provided cost savings of more than $1.41 billion. The Committee met my 
request for funding at $128 million.
  3. Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA): MBDA works to foster 
the growth and competitiveness of minority-owned U.S. businesses. 
Minority firms currently provide nearly 5.8 million jobs but have the 
potential to create 17.5 million jobs, leading to stronger communities 
and a bolstered economy. The Committee designated $28,689,000 for the 
agency, 94.2 percent of my request.
  4. Department of Justice Youth Mentoring Grants: This account is the 
sole remaining source of federal funding to support mentoring for at-
risk youth. The account provides grants to non-profit organizations 
that reduce youth interaction with the juvenile justice system, which 
proves to be a cost-effective method for reducing the likeliness of 
drug and alcohol use while improving academic performance and family 
relations. The Committee exceeded my request and FY2012 funding by 
allocating $90 million.
  5. National Science Foundation (NSF): This funding will allow NSF and 
universities to sustain and expand their vital research and education 
programs, which range from improving science education to developing 
multimedia technologies to improve telemedicine. This significant 
investment will support technological advancement here at home and 
properly train the country's next generation of scientists and 
engineers. Funding for FY2013 is $7.3 billion, which is 97 percent of 
my request.
  6. Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors (STOP) Formula Grant 
Program: As the cornerstone of VAWA, STOP awards funds to every state 
and territory to create and sustain coordinated community responses and 
trainings for law enforcement, prosecutors, judicial personnel, and 
victim advocates. This coordinated response has been proven effective 
in helping hundreds of thousands of victims find safety and holds 
perpetrators accountable for their actions. The Committee recommends 
funding at $189 million, 92.2 percent of my request.
  7. VAWA Transitional Housing Assistance Grants Program: After fleeing 
dangerous and abusive situations, survivors must rebuild their 
shattered lives. The VAWA Transitional Housing Program provides an 
essential continuum between emergency shelter and independent living, 
helping victims move from crisis to stability. The Committee met my 
funding request of $25 million.
  8. Victims of Trafficking Grant Program: There are currently 40 task 
forces nationwide that integrate federal, state and local law 
enforcement with prosecutorial and victim service organizations to 
prevent and prosecute human trafficking and to protect the victims of 
trafficking and slavery. I supported the continuation of this task 
force program, and the Committee has set funding at $13.5 million, 90 
percent of my request.
  9. Community Relations Services: CRS provides resources and tools to 
address community conflicts that arise from racial and ethnic tensions. 
The Committee recommended $11,456,000 for these services, or 95.1 
percent of my request.
  10. Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms: The TAAF program is the 
only trade adjustment assistance program that works with economically 
distressed U.S. manufacturers impacted by international trade 
agreements, offering technical assistance to help them remain employers 
in their communities. Its continuation is critical to the 
sustainability and growth of domestic manufacturing, and the Committee 
met my request of $15.8 million.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the decision of the Appropriations 
Committee to fund the programs I have described at a level consistent 
with my requests and want to express my thanks to Chairman Wolf and 
Ranking Member Fattah for their responsiveness. It is my hope that the 
more problematic provisions of the bill will be corrected as the 
process goes forward so that the final version of the bill can be 
signed by the president and worthy of my support.

                          ____________________