[Pages H4617-H4638]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

SCIENCE, STATE, JUSTICE, COMMERCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
ACT, 2007

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 890 and rule
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House
on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 5672.

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In the Committee of the Whole

Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the
Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill
(H.R. 5672) making appropriations for Science, the Departments of
State, Justice, and Commerce, and related agencies for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes, with Mr. Hastings of
Washington in the chair.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the
first time.
The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) and the gentleman from West
Virginia (Mr. Mollohan) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 11 minutes.
(Mr. WOLF asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to begin consideration of H.R.
5672, making appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for Science, the
Departments of State, Justice, Commerce, and related agencies. This
bill provides a funding for programs whose impact ranges from the
safety of people in their homes and communities to the conduct of
diplomacy around the world and to the farthest reaches of space
exploration.
The bill before the House today reflects the delicate balancing of
needs and requirements. We have drafted what I consider a responsible
bill for fiscal year 2007 spending levels for the Departments and
agencies under the subcommittee's jurisdiction. We have carefully
prioritized the funding in the bill and made hard choices about how to
spend the scarce resources.
We have been very fair. We, the entire Committee, have been very fair
with each and every Member that has approached the subcommittee as we
went through this entire process.
I want to thank Chairman Lewis for supporting us with what I believe
is a fair allocation and helping us to move the bill forward. I also
want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Mollohan, who has been a very
effective and valued partner and colleague on the bill. I appreciate
his principled commitment and understanding of the programs in the
bill.
I also want to thank members of the subcommittee for their help and
assistance: Charles Taylor, Mark Kirk, Dave Weldon, Tom DeLay, Virgil
Goode, John Culberson, Rodney Alexander, Jose Serrano, Bud Cramer,
Patrick Kennedy, Chaka Fattah, and also Mr. Obey, the ranking member of
the full committee.
I truly appreciate the professionalism and cooperation of the
minority staff. In particular, I want to thank David Pomerantz,
Michelle Burkett, Sally Moorhead, Julie Aaronson and Rob Nabors from
the Democratic staff, who have been an enormous help during all the
long hours spent putting this bill together.
I also, Mr. Chairman, want to thank the members of the subcommittee
staff on both sides for their long hours to produce the fiscal year
2007 Science, State, Justice, Commerce bill. I would like to
particularly thank Mike Ringler, the clerk of the subcommittee, who has
done an outstanding job and really spent hours and hours away from his
family, as have the others, and who has led the subcommittee through
the House appropriations process.
I also want to thank publicly and personally Christine Kojac, John
Martens, Anne Marie Goldsmith, Clelia Alvarado, and Darryl Hill for
their tireless efforts. Their work is very much appreciated. Only a
handful of us know how much time and effort they have put in, but I
want to thank them. And the record ought to show, frankly, when history
looks back, who gets credit for a lot of what has taken place.
In my personal office, I would like to thank Dan Scandling, Janet
Shaffron, J.T. Griffin, Samantha Stockman, and Courtney Schlieter for
their efforts in working with the subcommittee; and from the minority,
if I left out anybody, I mentioned, I think, Dave Pomerantz, Michelle
Burkett, and Julie Aaronson, but also Rob Nabors for their efforts with
regard to this.
We have worked in a bipartisan manner. And that is just not rhetoric
for the Congressional Record, but it has truly been a bipartisan effort
in putting the bill together. And as a former staff member up here on
Capitol Hill, I personally want to thank each and every one of them.
They have really done an outstanding job.
The bill contains $59.8 billion in discretionary spending. At a time
of fiscal constraint, we have developed a bill that preserves critical
domestic and international programs while living within our
allocations. We have had to make some difficult choices and focus
limited resources on programs that are most critical to the Nation.
Program increases are focused on the most critical areas, including
science and competitiveness, counterterrorism, and law enforcement.
For the Department of Justice, the bill includes $22.1 billion, $1
billion above the request. The bill includes a total of $2.57 billion
for proven State and local law enforcement crime-fighting programs to
keep our communities safe.
We have restored, and I stress the word ``restored,'' $1.1 billion
above the request to the highest priority programs, including SCAAP,
justice assistance grants, and juvenile justice programs, all which the
Administration proposed to eliminate or dramatically reduce. That is
$1.1 billion with a ``B.''
The bill also includes important new investments to fight the
national epidemic of methamphetamine abuse; $367 million for justice
assistance grants to support local drug task forces, a $50 million
increase; $99 million in grants to combat meth, a $36 million increase;
and $40 million for drug courts, a $30 million increase, which is a 300
percent increase in drug courts; and a $15 million increase for DEA to
support State

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and local efforts to fight international trafficking.
Gangs pose one of the greatest threats to the safety and security of
all Americans. Today, gangs are more violent, more organized, and more
widespread than ever before. This bill focuses funding on fighting
gangs and gang violence. We have increased the FBI and the ATF antigang
programs, and restored funding to the gang resistance training program.
In addition, we have supported a $40 million gang program following the
Project Safe Neighborhoods model that would allow each U.S. Attorney's
Office to finance antigang strategies in cooperation with State and
local law enforcement.
The bill also includes $6.04 billion for the FBI to include
counterterrorism and counterintelligence capabilities, while continuing
to fight crimes such as child exploitation, human trafficking, and gang
violence. Again, programs we have increased far over the administration
level.
I would also like to highlight that the bill continues funding for
the eight faith-based rehabilitation programs in the Federal prison
system and recognizes the success that faith-based programs have had in
reducing recidivism. Before I got elected to Congress I was involved in
a prison program. You must give these men and women hope and an
opportunity. So, I think this is a very important program at all the
State, local, and Federal levels.
Statistically, two out of every three inmates are likely to re-offend
and end up back in prison, often with only days or months in their
release. Therefore, it is critical we promote programs that help break
this cycle, thereby improving the safety and the security of our
communities. In light of the success the values-based programs have had
in this regard, I encourage the Bureau of Prisons and state departments
of correction to continue alternative treatment programming that
emphasizes the teaching of positive social values and reform character.
It is immoral just to warehouse people and not give them any
rehabilitation, faith-based programs, mental health or other programs.
I have long been a supporter of these value-based types of programs and
think they should be continued in Federal and State prisons. I hope
that Congress will work to protect these programs.
If you take these programs away, faith-based, mental health, what
type of society will we have?
In Science, the other focus in the bill this year is science and
competitiveness. The capacity to innovate is the primary engine of our
economy and our way of life. In order to sustain it, we must increase
our investment in basic scientific research and strengthen science
education.
For this reason, the bill fully funds the President's American
Competitiveness Initiative, which includes a recommitment to doubling
the funding for basic science research over 10 years.
We have dramatically increased the NSF and NIST.
For NASA, the bill includes $16.7 billion.
I want to thank NASA and NIST chairman Sherwood Boehlert and Vern
Ehlers, who really played a major role in this, and Mr. Mollohan.
In NASA, the bill restores $100 million of the cut proposed to the
aeronautic research and responds to the lower than anticipated
increases for space science programs.
The space shuttle is set to launch on Saturday, and the bill before
you includes full funding for the shuttle program to support the
completion of the International Space Station and continuation of the
shuttle safety improvements.
In Commerce, we have dealt with critical functions of the National
Weather Service and NOAA's weather and climate forecasting.

{time} 1730

We have also included a 5.2 percent increase for the PTO and an
increase of $72 million. For the State Department, and the broadcasting
Board of governors, a recommendation of $9.66 billion within this
Federal, $1.7 billion to provide full funding request for worldwide
security and improvements.
We have included the requested funds for international peacekeeping
to pay the assessed costs for missions in Sudan, Haiti and elsewhere.
We have included language to require notification to the Committee that
prevention and prosecution measures are taken to ensure zero tolerance
in sexual abuse in peacekeeping. We also added language supporting the
maintenance of a flat U.N. budget.
On the Small Business Administration, we have provided $90 million
for small business development grants, a $2 million increase; also
allows up to $17.5 billion in general 7(a) business loans, an
unprecedented level, while requiring no appropriation.
In closing, a summary of the bill provides the increase necessary to
maintain strength in critical law enforcement, fight terrorism, deal
with drugs.
I again want to thank the staff and thank the committee.

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Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I might
consume.
Mr. Chairman, I first want to compliment Chairman Wolf on his efforts
with regard to this bill. He has had a really tough job balancing the
subcommittee's portfolio, which is considerable, with diverse important
programs. He has managed in a very tough budgetary climate. I truly
admire his passion, and his conviction, which are all evident in this
bill.
Chairman Wolf characteristically does an excellent job, and certainly
his experience working for a number of years on this bill has served
him well in a very difficult situation. He is to be complimented here
today.
There are very definitely some great things, Mr. Chairman, that can
be said about this bill. Federal law enforcement is fully funded. Many
of those accounts, such as the U.S. Attorney's account, the Drug
Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Prisons, are all funded above
the President's requested level. Some are funded at the requested
level, such as the U.S. Marshal's service and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation.
This funding is a priority. It is important, and I support the
Chairman's efforts to provide it.
The bill also fully funds the American Competitiveness Initiative,
which in this bill will double over 10 years the research and
development lines for physical science and engineering at NIST and the
National Science Foundation.
Two significant funding improvements were made during full committee.
The chairman accepted an amendment to increase funding for the Survey
of Income and Program Participation by $10 million and accepted an
amendment providing partial funding for the SBA Microloan program.
These are two programs that many Members expressed concern about, and I
am pleased the amendments were adopted after being accepted by the
chairman.
Mr. Chairman, a number, around 80 to 90 at last count, of well-
meaning Members will offer amendments today. We ought to be offering
amendments to increase law enforcement funding. We ought to be offering
amendments to restore science funding at NASA and to help NASA with the
expensive and numerous tasks on its plate. We ought to be offering
amendments to increase funding for the Economic Development
Administration.
The list of programs needing more funding in this bill goes on and
on. But the funding just isn't there. The offsets just aren't there.
These well-intentioned amendments will come at the cost of important
programs when they are offered up as offsets, important programs such
as the census, U.N. peacekeeping efforts, salaries and expenses at the
Department of State, the Department of Justice, and the Department of
Commerce, which have already been cut back.
I just want to take a moment, Mr. Chairman, to remind Members about
why many of these amendments will need to be opposed. It is because the
insufficient budget resolution that was passed on this floor has
resulted in a narrow allocation for this bill that will not allow us to
fund all of the priorities that Members will advocate for on the floor.
As a matter of fact, the number of amendments that are being offered
today is the greatest number that I can ever remember being offered on
this bill. But they have been increasing every year as that budget
allocation has become smaller and smaller because of the budget
resolutions that we passed at the beginning of this process.
The number of amendments offered here today is in and of itself, I
think, one of the best indicators that we are not providing enough
money for domestic discretionary programs. Members are recognizing that
program by program by program. Members are offering amendments, trying
to increase funding for those programs, those worthy programs that I
just mentioned.
It is beginning to really hurt. It is beginning to really hurt law
enforcement, beginning to really hurt NASA and other science programs.
It is beginning to really hurt economic development programs.
For example, I know the chairman is committed to providing adequate
funding for our Nation's law enforcement, the men and women who put
their lives on the line every day in the name of public safety back in
our communities. The President's budget cut $1.3 billion out of State
and local law enforcement, about half of the funding provided in fiscal
year 2006.
Now, let me repeat that. The request that the President of the United
States sent to the United States Congress cut $1.3 billion out of State
and local law enforcement, about half the funding that we provided last
year. These funds are important resources to the men and women who are
keeping our districts safe, our communities safe.
Chairman Wolf restored $1.1 billion of this funding, for a total of
$2.3 billion for Federal assistance to State and local law enforcement.
That is what is in this bill, $2.3 billion for Federal assistance to
State and local law enforcement.
Last year, Mr. Chairman, the Congress provided $2.5 billion for State
and local law enforcement. That was $1 billion above the President's
request then, but $300 million below the 2005 level. The 2005 level
that we passed here was $1.2 billion above the request, but $200
million below the 2004 level. The 2004 level was $500 million below the
2003 level, and the 2003 level was $500 million below the 2002 level.
The 2002 level was $400 million below the high water mark for Federal
assistance to State and local law enforcement of $4.4 billion in 2001.
While we see what is happening here, the bottom line is that we have
cut about $2 billion in funding for State and local law enforcement
since 2001. Well, do we care about that? Does that have an effect? Well
these cuts, Mr. Chairman, are not without consequences.
Preliminary data from the FBI's uniform crime report for 2005
indicate that violent crime rates have increased 2.5 percent from 2004
to 2005. This is the largest increase since 1992. Is anyone surprised?
Certainly not.
Violent crime rates fell steadily from 1993 to 2002, and this nearly
coincides with the establishment of the community policing program
known as the COPS program under the Clinton administration. The Office
of Community Oriented Policing Services, COPS, was created in 1994;
100,000 police officers were put on the beat by funds provided under
the COPS program.
Consider these facts. COPS funded its 100,000th community policing
professional in May of 1999, and violent crime rates continued to fall.
Congress funded State and local assistance programs at $4.4 billion,
their highest level in 2001. Violent crime rates dropped between 2001
and 2002. Congress decreased State and local law enforcement funding in
2002 by $400 million, as I mentioned before, and violent crime rates
increased in 2003 and rose again in 2004 and rose again dramatically in
2005, coinciding with the lack of assistance coming from the Federal
Government to help our State and local law enforcement.
Well, Mr. Chairman, there is a correlation between the funding we
provide here in this committee for State and local law enforcement and
incidents of violent crime. There is a relationship.
With respect to this bill, Mr. Chairman, the President's fiscal 2007
budget, for the second year in a row, contained a .02 cents per pound
tax on the users of explosives. My State, due to its extraction
industry, would bear the largest share of the burden with this tax. The
repeated proposal of this tax by the President, coupled with the
inadequate allocation provided our subcommittee, has resulted in an
insufficient budget resolution; and this placed the chairman, Chairman
Wolf, in a very difficult position. So he used part of that tax,
understanding that in the process this would be challenged, and at the
appropriate point, Mr. Chairman, during consideration of this bill, I
intend to make a point of order against this tax. We appreciate the
Rules Committee not protecting this provision.

Well, anyone on this subcommittee knows of the chairman's passion for
helping the weakest and most vulnerable in our society. To that end,
Chairman Wolf restored $367 million to the Justice Assistance Formula
Grant Program funds that helps our youngest and our most troubled
citizens. These funds were zeroed out by the President, and I applaud
Chairman Wolf for restoring them.

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Further, in continuance of his commitment to assisting law
enforcement with the ever-increasing gang epidemic in this country,
Chairman Wolf has restored $25 million cut from the President's budget
from the anti-gang initiative in the COPS program.
In the Department of Commerce, the funding provided for the American
Competitiveness Initiative came at a price. One of the programs that
couldn't be fully restored is the Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
This program is very important to basic industry areas across this
country. Mr. Chairman, the President slashed the funding for this
program but the chairman doubled it, bringing it to $92 million, about
$17 million below last year's enacted program.
Another program that suffers is the Advanced Technology Program,
which was eliminated by the President. We are able to fully fund the
decennial census and the American Community Survey. I well remember the
problems that arose during the last census and the fight for emergency
funding for census on the floor, and full funding this year keeps us on
track for the future.
In NASA, the President's budget request again made dramatic
reductions to science and aeronautics funding, as NASA tries to fit in
these programs and the return to flight, the International Space
Station and the Moon-Mars proposal at the same time it fails to deliver
on promised funding. The chairman again is forward-looking in his
restoration of $75 million to the science programs and $100 million to
aeronautics, which is a huge contributor to the American economy.
Despite these increases, however, funding levels will still generate
cause for alarm from our science community.
The bottom line is, for all of these programs and numerous others
that I have not mentioned, $59.8 billion is simply not enough. The
chairman has been extremely responsive to Members and to the needs of
the people who benefit from these programs, restoring and increasing
where he was able to do so in this tight allocation. But, despite these
noble efforts, we have seen for the past several years and will see
again this year programs being whittled away through attrition by the
administration that is reducing necessary discretionary spending in the
name of balancing a budget which, in truth, these actions would
demonstrate the administration has no intention of balancing.
One could easily make the argument that this bill needs several
billion dollar in additional funding, increased funding for the
Economic Development Administration, for the Small Business
Administration Microloans, for Legal Services Corporation, for funding
above the restoration that the Chairman provided for State and local
justice programs, funding for OSHA and for fisheries programs in the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a program supported by
so many Members here. More funding is needed for life sciences funding
at NASA and biology funding at the National Science Foundation and the
perceived need to accelerate the Crew Exploration Vehicle at NASA to
maintain the United States' access to space after shuttle retirement.
These all add up quickly.
Each of these is a need for which I have heard support, either from
constituents or from the community at large or from other Members.

{time} 1745

And each of these needs has meritorious arguments for funding. I
would hope all Members would view favorably any opportunity to seek an
increased allocation to support these critical programs.
I would like to again note how fortunate we are to have had such a
principled chairman for the past 6 years. It has been an honor to work
with you, Mr. Chairman, and I look forward to working with you again
next year, regardless of whether you remain on this subcommittee or
move to another one.
And, Mr. Chairman, I would like to note that every member of the
minority on this subcommittee has equally high regard for the chairman,
as he has worked with more than one of us as his ranking member.
I also would like to thank the majority staff, Mike Ringler,
Christine Kojac, John Martens, Anne Marie Goldsmith, Clelia Alvarado
and Darryl Hill, as well as J.T. Griffin from the chairman's personal
staff, for the fair and open way in which they have worked with the
minority in crafting this bill. Our input and the chairman's output was
accepted at every turn.
I also want to thank the minority appropriations staff, David
Pomerantz, Michelle Burkett, and Chris Martin for their tireless
efforts. And I want to thank Sally Moorhead and Julie Aaronson, of my
personal staff, for their valuable work on this bill.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to Mr.
Lewis, the chairman of the full Committee.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R.
5672, the Science, State, Justice, Commerce Appropriations bill for
fiscal year 2007.
This is the 10th of 11 bills the committee has brought to the House
floor as we go to the Fourth of July recess. I want to praise
especially Chairman Wolf as he goes about his sixth bill for this
subcommittee, and Ranking Member Mollohan. These two, working together,
have been a model reflective of the best of bipartisan effort in the
appropriations process.
In total, this measure provides $59.8 billion in discretionary
spending. The bill contains critical funding to make America more
competitive by investing in science. NASA is funded at $16.7 billion,
which is $462 million above last year's level. The National Science
Foundation receives $6 billion, the full amount requested as part of
the American Competitiveness Initiative, and an increase of $439
million from last year.
This legislation also continues the critical effort to fight the
scourge of meth and prosecute the war on terror. It also provides $2.6
billion for State and local law enforcement, including $405 million to
reimburse States for the cost of incarcerating illegal aliens.
The bill also includes vital funding for the Department of Commerce,
the State Department, the Small Business Administration and other
Federal entities.
I would like to make two additional points about this measure. First,
the Members should know the SSJC bill provides $387 million for Member
projects, $1.3 billion less than last year's enacted level.
Secondly, this year's bill terminates eight programs resulting in
$159 million taxpayer savings.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to make one final point. Last year, the
House Appropriations Committee successfully eliminated 53 programs, for
a savings of $3.5 billion. Building on that record in this year's 11
spending bills, the House Appropriations Committee has proposed
eliminating 95 wasteful or redundant programs, saving the American
taxpayer nearly $4 billion.
Mr. Chairman, this bill is a fine product worthy of your support. I
want to especially commend Mr. Mollohan for his cooperative work with
the chairman and have the entire House recognize Mr. Wolf for his work
on this year's bill.
Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to
the distinguished ranking member, Mr. Obey.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I would like to alert Members
to a practical fact associated with this bill. We have pending, once
general debate is over, about 100 amendments. If we assume that each
one of them will be debated for only 10 minutes, and that is a risky
assumption, but it is nonetheless to be hoped for, but if we assume
that we can get that kind of unanimous consent agreement, that means
that, with slippage and the time it takes to transact business, we are
talking about 25 hours of debate, not counting any time consumed by
roll calls. So we could very easily hit 30 hours of activity on the
House floor. I think Members need to understand that.
If they expect to get out of here at a reasonable time this week, I
would suggest that perhaps some people might conclude that at least
some of those amendments are duplicative, and that Members would choose
not to offer them.
I don't mean that about all amendments. I think some amendments are
deserving and need to be offered. But I would ask Members to look at
this with a very dispassionate eye to see

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whether or not an amendment needs to be offered and whether any useful
message will be sent by its offering.
Secondly, I want to repeat or emphasize what the gentleman from West
Virginia said about the gentleman from Virginia, the chairman of the
subcommittee, Mr. Wolf. One of the things I most appreciate about him
is that he is not one of those laid back, super cool people who so many
people seem to think should dominate politics and government these
days. He has passion, and I think that he often has passion about the
right things. And I, for one, want to say that I respect greatly the
job the gentleman has done as chairman of this subcommittee the last 6
years. I think that we are all proud to have been able to serve with
him.
And thirdly, I would like to address this bill for just a moment, if
I could, Mr. Chairman. I know that the chairman from Virginia has done
his dead level best to produce a decent bill. I know the gentleman from
West Virginia has done the same.
But I want to point out that as the gentleman from West Virginia
says, there will be a good many amendments offered in the next 3 days.
And I think it is clear, because of the number of amendments, that
Members recognize that there are so many useful things, so many
important things that this bill needs to do that it will not be able to
accomplish because of the budget number assigned to it under the budget
resolution.
Sometimes I hear people bemoaning the fact that the subcommittee
doesn't have enough resources. And you would think that somehow this
ceiling was imposed anonymously from on high. It was imposed from on
high all right, but it wasn't anonymously. And in my view, every person
who voted for the budget resolution has a responsibility for some of
the important cuts in law enforcement, in Earth-based sciences, in
legal services, and in other areas that this bill is forced to make
because of that budget resolution. I want to point to just two.
With respect to law enforcement, what has been going on is a Kabuki
dance between us and the White House over the past 5 years. The White
House proposes draconian cuts; they slash deeply in law enforcement
grants. The committee then restores about two-thirds of that funding.
We all say, ``Oh, what good boys and girls are we.'' We pat ourselves
on the back. But in the end, we haven't been able to salvage those
programs, and we see that this bill is $2.1 billion below where law
enforcement grants would have been in 2001.
Secondly, with respect to legal services, about which I will offer an
amendment at a later point in the debate, that bill a decade ago was
funded at $400 million. That program today is funded at slightly over
$320 million, a slight increase over the President's request, but still
a cut from last year, and a substantial reduction from where it was a
decade ago.
Since that time, inflation has eaten up a significant portion of the
purchasing power of that program. We should not be doing that to people
in this society who, without this program, will have very little
ability to take advantage of the court system when they feel that they
have been abused, and they will be boxed out of our justice system
simply because they have no money. I don't think that Congress ought to
allow that to happen, and I regret that this bill contributes to this
problem.
Having said that, I respect the work that both gentlemen have done.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I recognize Mr. Kirk, a member of the
committee, for 2 minutes.
Mr. KIRK. Mr. Chairman, I rise to compliment my chairman, Mr. Wolf,
and our ranking minority member, Mr. Mollohan.
This bill will help small businesses to comply with the Sarbanes
Oxley Act under a new bipartisan provision which establishes an
ombudsman at the Securities and Exchange Commission. Both Minority
Leader Pelosi and the Speaker have called for help in this area, and
the bill does that.
With regard to our critical relationship with China, we recommended
retaining the current U.S. embassy site even after the new embassy is
complete. This is a wise step to allow for the expansion of the U.S.
Government in China, especially to help protect the Olympic Games in
2008 from terrorists.
We also took action in this bill to preserve the Turkish Service of
the VOA, a critical media market for the United States bordering Iran
during these days of crisis. Our action will help stabilize that NATO
ally.
At USTR, we called in this bill for stronger action to stop the theft
of American intellectual property in China. And while the central
government in Beijing has made the right promises, Congressman Rick
Larsen and I noted in our U.S. China Working Group work that this key
trade issue between China and America remains unresolved at the local
level. And this bill provides clear direction to the USTR in that area.
This bill also provides new resources to Federal law enforcement.
ATF, the lead Federal antigang agency in this bill, gets $950 million,
a $48 million increase from last year. We also provide a $15 million
increase for DEA, and I applaud Chairman Wolf for approving new funding
for a DEA aircraft to collect intelligence overseas against drug
traffickers.
This bill funds a critical integration of DEA into the intelligence
community. And in my experience, DEA has some of the best information
on terror financing in the U.S. Government.
The bottom line on this bill is it funds key Federal law enforcement
operations in Chicagoland, backing Andy Traver, the special agent in
charge of ATF, Robert Grant, the special agent in charge of the FBI,
and Rick Sanders, the special agent in charge of DEA. And that is a
good thing, especially when they all support our legendary U.S.
attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald.
It also provides $85 million more for U.S. Attorneys--61 more
Assistant U.S. Attorneys--giving more resources to our legendary U.S.
Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois--Patrick Fitzgerald--and
his crusade against terror on the Sears Tower and public corruption in
Illinois.
Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to
the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), who served as
the ranking member on this subcommittee in the last several years.
Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this bill, and before
I go any further, I want to join the well-deserved chorus of folks who
have praised the chairman, Mr. Wolf. For 4 years I was his ranking
member, and I have never met a gentleman who can be, in the middle of
differences on issues, so fair and so humane. And Chairman Wolf knows
that on many issues we didn't disagree and still don't disagree. But
the way in which he handled them, the way in which he treated me, and
the way in which he treated the minority party really says a lot about
who you are. And if we took a poll over here, you would find out that
we wish we could change the rules to make sure you remain in your
position, as ranking member next year, but certainly in your position.
And that is the kind of person that you are.
It is also a great pleasure for me to work with our ranking member,
Mr. Mollohan. And the respect that we have for each other has really
made our working together a good experience. And I thank you for that.

{time} 1800

This bill is such a huge bill that a lot of times when we stand on
the floor and we speak about it we will say that there are 25 good
things in it, then we will say there are 10 things that need fixing or
vice versa, and people will say, well, they are being negative about a
bill. But the public and a lot of Members just do not realize how many
agencies are covered by this bill; and, in spite of what at times is a
very difficult allocation, Chairman Wolf, with the assistance of
Ranking Member Mollohan, has been able to do wonders within this bill.
Just to give you some of the things that I pay attention to: A large
increase in funding for the National Science Foundation as part of the
American Competitive Initiative. Funding levels on which we can build
for NOAA as we move through conference and full funding for the
National Weather Service. Full funding for the crucial work that the
Census Bureau must do in preparation for its next census, which we all
know is mandated by the Constitution.
And if I may add to the comments that the ranking member made before,

[[Page H4632]]

there will be many amendments tonight, and I take this opportunity to
say that some of those amendments will have offsets, I think, hurting
the Census Bureau and hurting the Bureau's ability to conduct the next
census. So I hope when Members put forth amendments, they will realize
where the offset is coming from. It is not just this particular one but
other agencies that would be hurt by the offsets. We all want to put
money in certain areas. I surely will speak about that tonight. But we
have to be careful where those dollars come from.
Forty million dollars in funding for the Drug Courts, which is at the
fiscal year 2005 level. The full amount requested on the Diplomatic and
Consular Programs for worldwide security upgrades and for security
projects under the Embassy Security, Construction and Maintenance
account.
Now, within the Department of Justice account, I continue to be
concerned about the dwindling level of support we are providing to our
State and local governments. And here is where the issue is and it is
such a difficult issue. We, since September 11, and I come from New
York City and I understand this issue well, have focused a lot of
attention, and rightfully so, on the war on terrorism. But if you get
the FBI and speak to them, they will even admit that they have had to
focus a lot of their attention from other issues that they used to go
after, other crimes, to focus on the war on terror.
So when you represent a district like I do in the South Bronx, you
wonder just how long we can go without paying full attention to the war
on drugs, to the war on crime, to the war on blue collar crime, to the
war on crime in our streets. That is why recently, as we know, the FBI
admitted that violent crime had spiked for the first time last year
since 2001, and I believe it is a direct consequence of the war on
terror. So one of our challenges for the future is to see how we can
deal with and strike that balance.
Although the full amount requested was provided for international
peacekeeping activities, I worry that there will not be sufficient
funding for what we all know will be additional peacekeeping needs as
we move forward in the fiscal year. I also regret the inability to
fully fund our membership obligations to international organizations.
And, lastly, I have joined our committee ranking member, Mr. Obey, in
saying that the Legal Services Corporation is a program that needs to
get the full funding that it deserves. We have come a long way when you
realize that I am standing here defending a program that was created by
Richard Nixon but which affects a community like ours to a great
extent, the ability to have people who ordinarily cannot afford a
lawyer be represented in the court.
As I said before, the bill strikes a balance. We wish, as we all
know, that we had more funding. But in spite of the shortcomings, the
bill that was put together by the committee and under the leadership of
Mr. Wolf is a good bill and one that I will support and vote for.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Boehlert), chairman of the Science Committee.
(Mr. BOEHLERT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this bill;
and I want to thank my friend, Chairman Frank Wolf, for working so
closely with me on the science portions of the bill.
The passage of this bill may be looked back on as a landmark moment
in American history. Now, that probably sounds like a lot of hyperbole,
but I mean it. This bill puts us on course to enact the American
Competitiveness Initiative, which will double the combined budgets of
three key science agencies: the National Science Foundation, the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Department of
Energy Office of Science, which already received appropriations in the
Energy and Water bill.
These agencies, which are not exactly on the tip of the tongue of
most Americans, are keystones of our Nation's economic future. Our
Nation will remain strong and prosperous only if we remain innovative,
and we will only remain innovative if we have the most robust research
and education enterprise in the world. And it is these agencies that
help enable the U.S. to lead the world in science, math, and
engineering education and in research.
And I want to especially thank Chairman Wolf for supporting education
funding as well as research funding in this bill, particularly for
supporting the Noyce Scholarship Program at NSF, which attracts top
science and math majors into teaching.
I also want to thank the chairman for the way he handled
appropriations for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. I
have said repeatedly, and the authorization act we passed last year
says clearly, that NASA must be a multi-mission agency. With this bill,
the House will be putting money where its mouth is. Without interfering
with the lunar mission, this bill puts desperately needed funding back
in science and aeronautics.
I would like to see even more money going into science, particularly
Earth science, but this is a good start, and I am especially pleased
that the bill text includes explicit funding levels for science and
aeronautics.
Finally, giving the competing priorities, I think the bill does the
best it can for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
although, of course, I hope that, as in the past years, the final
numbers are a little bit higher. I appreciate the language Chairman
Wolf included in the report, drawing attention to the concerns we all
share about the future of the polar satellite program, NPOESS.
So I urge my colleagues to support this forward-looking landmark
bill.
Guess what? It all boils down to one thing. This bill is about my
favorite four-letter word. And do not get nervous. You can say it on
the House floor. You can say it in polite company. That favorite four-
letter word is ``jobs.'' We must remain competitive. We must retain as
much opportunity for our people here at home. This bill opens the door
for that opportunity.
Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the
distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for
yielding.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to speak to two different issues. One is
the potential amendment to the Voting Rights Act, where a suggestion
may be made to withhold funding for the enforcement of the Voting
Rights Act. The Voting Rights Act is one of the most important civil
rights pieces of legislation in the history of the United States, and
we should not do anything to avoid the full and fair enforcement of the
Voting Rights Act.
That bill should be coming up in a few days. We do not know exactly
when. There has been an agreement with leadership that the bill be
adopted as it came out of committee. It came out of committee 31-1, so
we would hope that the leadership would bring it to the floor.
Mr. Chairman, there is another issue that is extremely important, and
that is the Legal Services Corporation. If we are going to have people
enjoy the rights that they have throughout America, we have to make
sure that they have access to courts. The legal Services Corporation,
primarily legal aid programs across the country, are extremely
important; and we need to make sure that they are fully funded. The
bill includes a provision where the number is lower than it should be,
and we need to make sure that the amendments to increase Legal Services
are adopted.
So, Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman's giving me the
opportunity to bring these two issues to the floor.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hobson), who has really done a lot of work on
a very important issue with Mr. Rogers.
Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise to engage in a colloquy with the
gentleman from Michigan and the gentleman from Virginia on the FBI's
Field Office Supervisory Term Limit Policy, commonly referred to as the
Up and Out Policy.
This policy would require that Supervisory Special Agents who have
served 5 years to transfer to headquarters and be assigned overseas or
compete for an Assistant Special Agent in Charge position. If a
Supervisory Special Agent

[[Page H4633]]

does not want to be transferred, they would be demoted at a substantial
pay cut in some instances.
Representative Rogers and I have been working with Chairman Wolf and
the FBI on the implementation of this policy to minimize the
significant financial burden it has on Special Agents, particularly
those who became supervisors before this policy went into effect. Based
on our discussions, we have a commitment from the FBI to seek
legislation to ensure that the retirement benefits of Supervisory
Special Agents who choose to step down are not negatively impacted.
In addition, the FBI is committed to creating a pilot housing
allowance program for employees in the D.C. metro area. This pilot
program will improve the FBI's ability to attract talented agents to
come to headquarters and will help agents manage the burden of living
in a high-cost city and will improve morale.
Mr. Chairman, I now yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Rogers).
Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for
yielding.
I appreciate the hard work from Mr. Hobson, Chairman Wolf, and the
FBI to address the potentially devastating impact of the FBI's Up and
Out Policy on agents in the field who have given decades of public
service to protect our Nation. I cannot thank enough Chairman Wolf and
Mr. Hobson for the long hours of negotiation that allowed us to stand
with the men and women who stand in harm's way in protection of the
United States.
It is critical that the Federal Government protect the retirement
benefits of Supervisory Special Agents who have honorably served their
country, and I look forward to working with you to address this issue
this year.
Further, I am very pleased that the FBI is committed to establishing
a housing allowance pilot program here in Washington, D.C., within the
funds provided in this bill. We ask a lot of our agents in the field,
agents who risk their lives every single day to put mobsters in jail,
break up terrorist plots across America, protect the public integrity
by Federal, State, and local officials, and so much more. The least we
can do is give them the fair compensation that allows them to provide
for their family and have a home that is not hours away from their
field office. By creating this first-ever housing allowance within the
Bureau, agents will be able to reduce their commute time, giving them
more time to take a son to a swim meet or a daughter to a dance
recital. But perhaps most importantly, Mr. Chairman, this program will
be a morale boost and will allow FBI agents to focus on their vital
work to protect America and all Americans.
I look forward to continuing to work with the FBI, Chairman Wolf, and
yourself, Mr. Hobson, on ensuring that FBI agents are compensated
fairly; and I thank you for your strong leadership on this important
issue.
Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I want to thank
Chairman Wolf for his help on this. He has lived up to the discussions
that we had.
And I see Mr. Kingston has arrived, who wanted to make a comment on
this, with Chairman Wolf's indulgence.
Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia.
Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. Hobson for yielding; and I
wanted to thank you and Mr. Rogers for your leadership and Mr. Wolf for
working together to come up with a suitable solution to this or at
least a step in the right direction.
But I have been very concerned that the middle-aged middle American
professional FBI leader would be forced to either take less than a
leadership position with the FBI or do a stint in Washington, in which
many of them have already done that, and they will do it at the same
pay salary that they are, disrupting their wife's career or their
spouse's career or disrupting their own career and taking a pay cut
effectively, which I believe would run off a lot of our good and
seasoned FBI employees. Their other choice would be to stay at home and
have somebody with less experience become their boss, and it just does
not make sense. We have too many good people in the field with careers
running from 15 to 20, 25 years; and we do not want to lose them.

{time} 1815

They are the professionals who are running the FBI and doing the good
work. So I commend all of you guys for the hard work that you have done
on this.
Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. Kingston, and I thank Chairman
Wolf.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. Hobson. I want to thank Mr.
Hobson, Mr. Rogers and Mr. Kingston for their leadership. This should
be called the Hobson-Rogers-Kingston bill to help the FBI. They have
done a great service.
I support the establishment of a Housing Allowance Program within the
level of funds provided for the FBI in the bill and look forward to
working to protect the retirement benefits of the supervisory special
agents. Mr. Hobson, Mr. Rogers and Mr. Kingston, thank you very much.
Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the distinguished
gentleman. Let me take an appropriate time to thank both of the
proponents of this bill, the ranking member, Mr. Mollohan, for his
consistent leadership and caring attitude toward these issues; and, Mr.
Wolf, let me thank you very much for the 6 years of service that you
have given. Obviously, you have a great passion for so many issues that
deal with the improvement in the quality of lives, not only for those
in this country, but around the world.
I do want to raise a number of issues, Mr. Chairman, and as I thank
both the full committee chairman, Mr. Lewis, and then the ranking
member, Mr. Obey, I am really disappointed as to where we find
ourselves with the NASA funding. I know the choices have been made with
the Moon to Mars account having risen 30 percent, but I think it is
important to note that the President requested some 14 percent less for
NASA education, $25 million, compared to 2 years ago, from $178.9
million to $153.3 million.
NASA's education programs capitalize on the excitement of NASA's
discoveries and missions to inspire future generations of space
scientists. I know in speaking to Historically Black Colleges, this has
had a terrible impact.
In fact, one of the programs that was authorized under the NASA
authorization that the Science Committee, of which I am a member, voted
unanimously for, the Dr. Mae C. Jemison Program, the first African
American female astronaut still remaining in history, a program named
after her to encourage math and science among minority girls. Certainly
with the brain drain that we have and the lack of scientists that we
are producing in this country, this is an important program.
Might I also mention that in a few days we will launch another space
shuttle. But I am concerned, and I have raised this with the director
and have sent him a letter, that this shuttle is going in spite of the
opposition of safety engineers at NASA. I believe that this record must
not close on an appropriation bill without requiring answers from NASA,
and I hope to get those answers in the next 24 hours.
Mr. WOLF. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Weldon).
Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for
yielding. I want to join with others in commending him and the ranking
member on producing a very good bill. There are a lot of important
priorities in this legislation. We are funding critical agencies
involved in the war on terror, the Department of Justice, the
Department of State, as well as our critical problems with
methamphetamine abuse and gangs.
But I want to particularly commend the chairman on his work in the
NASA account. NASA continues to be a very, very important component of
the fabric of our society. We are a Nation of explorers. It has become
part of our culture. The heroics of the efforts of people involved in
programs like Mercury and Gemini continue on to this day.
We are now in a critical phase where we are developing a new manned
vehicle to replace our aging, venerable space shuttle fleet with the
Crew Exploration Vehicle, with its planned

[[Page H4634]]

agenda to support operations of someday going back to the Moon and
possibly on to Mars.
So I commend the chairman. This is a very important component in the
account.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Ehlers).
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this excellent bill
and to thank my good friend and colleague, Chairman Frank Wolf, for his
tireless leadership in funding for basic scientific research in the
fiscal year 2007 budget.
In a tough budget environment, Chairman Wolf has fought hard to
ensure that the President's American Competitiveness Initiative is
fully funded. I appreciate the chairman's hard work on an issue that is
so important to the Nation.
I spent my career in Congress championing the need for investment in
basic research to help keep our Nation on the leading edge of science
and innovation. We have gained so much benefit from basic research,
ranging from MRIs, through laser technology, human genome mapping,
fiberoptics, and GPS systems. The President has recognized the
necessity of this investment through his American Competitiveness
Initiative, which includes much needed funding for the National Science
Foundation.
I very much appreciate that Chairman Wolf has recognized this need
and has done as much as he could within the constraints of the budget
to provide this funding.
Also I should mention NIST and the great work they do, as well as
NOAA and the National Weather Service. In these difficult budgetary
times, the chairman has done a marvelous job, and I am very pleased by
the funding levels for these entities. I urge my colleagues to support
this bill, and again thank Chairman Wolf for his leadership on
important science research and education issues.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Calvert).
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chairman, this Nation's investment in the sciences
is not only the right thing to do; it is critical to our very survival
as a global leader. Throughout the 20th century, one of the strengths
of the United States was our knowledge-based resources, particularly
science and technology. But now we are at a crossroad and we have the
ability to continue to strengthen the scientific and technological
foundations of our economic leadership, which appear to be eroding at a
time when many other nations are building their innovative capacity.
Recently, Chemical and Engineering News reported that 75 percent of
all new R&D sites are planned to be established in China and India over
the next 3 years. Currently, China awards 59 percent of its
undergraduate degrees in the areas of science and engineering, compared
with 32 percent in the United States.
As chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, I believe the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration should be funded at a
higher level than the President's request, but I know the realities of
funding allocations.
Aviation is currently the country's largest manufacturing export. The
average sales in the aerospace industry is about $200 billion a year.
It is one of the main contributors to our global competitiveness. We
are main contributors to our global competitiveness. We are facing an
increasing economic challenge from abroad and cannot take a chance of
faltering. If we begin to slip in the wrong direction, reversing
directions is even more difficult.
As my friend, Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist for the Hayden
Planetarium, has told me, ``Much work remains to convince the public
and Congress of America's need for sustained investment in NASA, with
returns on education, the economy and the security. It is not just
about Tang and Velcro; it is about a way of enabling the future we all
want to occupy.''
The House Appropriations Committee has done a great job in trying to
funnel funding into the science agencies within its jurisdiction,
despite its very tight allocation. I want to commend those members of
the committee and ask this body to support this carefully balanced
appropriations bill. We cannot move funding from science to the other
areas, and we cannot rob Peter to pay Paul by moving funding from one
science agency to another.
I urge my colleagues to vote against any amendments that would strip
NASA of funding to add to other accounts, regardless of how well-
intended those other programs may be.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Poe).
Mr. POE. Mr. Chairman, I rise for the purpose of a colloquy with the
chairman regarding the importance of the Crime Victims Fund and
programs authorized in Justice for All Act.
Mr. Chairman, I know you understand the importance of the Crime
Victims Fund, which provides funding for victim services programs and
compensation for victims of crime from Federal criminal court fines,
forfeitures and special assessments, not taxpayer dollars. For the
second year in a row, your committee rejected the administration's
proposal to permanently rescind the $1.2 billion in the fund, and for
that I thank you.
The bill places a limit on obligations in the Crime Victims Fund at
$625 million. I want to ensure that all of that money is used for crime
victim programs and that the limitation does not include any obligation
that may be made under the Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve.
Is that the chairman's understanding?
Mr. WOLF. Yes, that is my understanding. The Antiterrorism Reserve is
a separate portion of the Crime Victims Fund, and there is a statutory
authority allowing obligations to be made on top of any limitation
carried in this bill.
Frankly, the administration never sent a rescission up again with
regard to this.
Mr. POE. I want to thank the chairman. I also want to highlight the
programs under the Justice for All Act of 2004 which authorizes funding
to increase victims notification programs, DNA backlog programs, and
Sexual Assault Forensic Exam grants.
This bill provides a significant investment for programs authorized
in the act, but I want to call special attention to the Sexual Assault
Forensic Exam grant program so that training, technical assistance,
education, equipment and information regarding the collection,
preservation and analysis of DNA in sexual assault cases can be
enhanced.
I ask the chairman's help in supporting this grant program through
the funds provide for the Justice For All Act.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will yield, I thank my
colleague from Texas. The bill includes $10.69 million specifically for
victims programs authorized by the Justice for All Act, which is $1
million above the President's request, and includes $176 million for
DNA grants not earmarked, which is $68 million above the current level.
As we work with the Senate in conference, we will work to ensure the
highest level possible for all the programs authorized by the Justice
for All Act.
Mr. POE. I thank the chairman on behalf of victims of crime and the
Victims Rights Caucus and the criminal justice professionals, and I
thank you for your support.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The CHAIRMAN. All time for general debate has expired.
Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment
under the 5-minute rule.
During consideration of the bill for amendment, the Chair may accord
priority in recognition to a Member offering an amendment that he has
printed in the designated place in the Congressional Record. Those
amendments will be considered read.
The Clerk will read.
The Clerk read as follows:

H.R. 5672

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes, namely:

TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

General Administration

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

For expenses necessary for the administration of the
Department of Justice, $90,136,000,

[[Page H4635]]

of which not to exceed $3,000,000 shall remain available
until expended.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last
word.
Mr. Chairman, first let me commend the chairman and ranking member
for their work on this bill. Today I rise to bring attention to a very
critical issue, and that is how to provide evidence-based treatment for
prisoners with mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
Nearly 74 percent of those arrested test positive for drugs and
alcohol at the time of arrest. The disease of alcoholism and addiction
is obviously a very important one in our justice system, and hence if
we are going to reduce recidivism rates and reduce the revolving door
of people going in and out of prison, we must tackle this issue of both
trying to reduce the stigma and the access to treatment of those with
alcoholism and addiction.
A study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse has said that prison-
based substance abuse treatment programs combined with aftercare
reduces recidivism. Those who have not received these programs have
recidivism rates up to 75 percent of the time. Those who have had
treatment have recidivism rates under 27 percent of the time. Seventy-
five percent recidivism without treatment, 27 percent recidivism with
treatment.
So the fact of the matter is, we can make an enormous difference in
helping to reduce not only the lives lost, but also the cost to our
prison system. We are going to add $90 million in this bill for new
prison construction. How many people out there as taxpayers want to pay
for new prison construction, when over half the people in prison today
are there for simple possession of drugs and alcohol.
I would like to ask the chairman of the committee to engage in a
colloquy, and first commend him for increasing the amount for the drug
courts over 300 percent in this budget, recognizing the importance of
reducing recidivism and keeping people out of the prison system, and
ask him whether he would work with me to make sure that we tie in the
National Institute on Drug Abuse, obviously the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration, and, of course, HHS, to help us
address this overall issue that does not just lie in the justice
system, but rather lies around an interagency approach to this subject.

{time} 1830

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Rhode Island, a
member of our subcommittee, for raising this very, very important
issue.
As you mentioned, dealing with the issues of substance abuse and
prisoners is a critical component of ensuring that they do not repeat
their crimes. Reducing recidivism of prisoners is a goal that those of
us on both sides of the aisle can support.
I appreciate the gentleman's commitment. We will see what we can do
with regard to coordination. The gentleman has been very faithful in
raising this over and over. We will try to help in every way possible.
Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. I know the gentleman will. I thank him
for all of his work in this area, and I thank him for his 6 years of
service as chairman on the committee.
Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
Mr. Chairman, over the last year, I have mentioned to Chairman Wolf
on a number of occasions that I think of him every time that it rains.
With the torrential downpours that we have had here in the Northeast
over the last several days, I have been thinking of him even more, and
thanking him, thanking him sincerely as well as thanking Ranking Member
Mollohan and their respective staffs for responding to the great
potential for preventable flooding disaster in the part of the country
that I represent along our southern border in Texas.
I very much appreciate the subcommittee including $6.4 million in
this bill for improvements to the levees along the Rio Grande River.
This means that construction can begin for vital protection for the
cities of McAllen, Hidalgo, Pharr and Granjeno.
Thank you for reassuring the families in these communities that,
despite both the very tough competition for Federal dollars and our
inability to get the Administration to really place a priority on flood
protection, that you heard and answered their plea for help. This is a
significant increase in support that will help ensure that, in the
event we have a hurricane or even a very strong tropical storm, that
thousands of families will not find their homes flooded, their
businesses closed, their drinking water polluted and relief efforts
hampered as both the local airport and highways are inundated.
In the spring of last year, as I first began representing the Rio
Grande Valley, I made what was, until recently, the only request for
more levee rehabilitation dollars. I appreciate the 39 local
governments, school districts and economic development corporations
that endorsed this call for life-saving Federal investment.
While today's bill nearly triples the Administration request for
levees, I know the subcommittee is fully aware that much more is needed
every year for the next decade to ensure rehabilitation for these
levees, which are up to 9 feet short, geologically flawed, structurally
unsound and could be overtopped along 38 river miles.
The millions that we invest today are the beginning of a vital
investment that, when repeated in future years, will save us billions
in flood relief and untold human misery.
But for the fate of nature, the hurricane that hit New Orleans could
just as easily have tracked west instead of tracking east and caused a
similar disaster in Texas. Until the entire rehabilitation program of
the International Boundary and Water Commission is completed, at a
total cost that is a mere fraction of what Congress has already
approved for New Orleans, we remain at very great risk.
Now the Valley looks to our Texas Senators and to the Administration
to fully support what this subcommittee has done and to add funds to
what is being approved here in this bill so that together we can ensure
a reasonable level of safety and avoid another Katrina-style disaster.
Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to enter into a colloquy with the
chairman.
Mr. Chairman, as you remember, 6 years ago I came to this floor and
shared with the body about a Hurricane Summit that I had held in the
Second District of North Carolina. It was in response to devastation
that took place from a major hurricane by the name of Floyd.
That hurricane was the strongest and most devastating storm to hit
the United States in more than 25 years. When Floyd roared across the
east coast from the Carolinas to New England and through Virginia and
Washington, D.C., in September of 1999, it took 56 lives and upward of
$6 billion in devastation.
Floyd showed us that much more damage, death and destruction can be
created by the unexpected inland flooding of fresh water, more so than
what happens on the coast. North Carolina was a good example of that.
My district is an inland district and suffered greatly from that storm.
Last summer, this was displayed again with devastating intensity
during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. When, as we all witnessed, the
damage that was done, that did not just limit itself to the areas on
the Gulf Coast.
After the storm pushed inland in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama,
in the weeks that followed, we saw the severe flooding and the anguish
and the problems that was wrought by it. And just this past weekend we
saw it right here in Washington, D.C.
That Hurricane Summit brought together metrologist experts from
universities, the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather
Service to develop more accurate indexes for inland flooding
monitoring. The purpose of this index, simply put, is to save lives.
Too many times these storms hit and bring harm to people who have a
false sense of security because they believe they live far inland and
too far inland to escape flooding.
With information that was gathered at that summit, we drafted
legislation, as you remember, Mr. Chairman, and it ensured that NOAA
and the National Weather Service would make significant improvements to
the Inland

[[Page H4636]]

Flooding Warning System. That bill was H.R. 4826, the Inland Flood
Forecasting and Warning System Act of 2002, that passed the 107th
Congress, and it enjoyed wide bipartisan support.
The legislation directed NOAA to do three things: Improve the
capacity to forecast inland flooding associated with tropical storms
and hurricanes; two, to develop a distinctive inland flooding warning
system for emergency management officials that clearly defines inland
flood risks and dangers; and, third, train emergency management
officials, National Weather Service personnel and metrologists to use
these improved forecasting techniques on inland flooding.
And the important part of this legislation required the National
Weather Service and NOAA to report annually to Congress on the progress
of this new index. Mr. Chairman, this week we saw, as I said, what
could happen here.
I would like to work with you and the members of the Appropriations
Committee to ensure that NOAA provides these reports to Congress in a
timely manner. Congress must provide the proper oversight to NOAA to
ensure that the progress to develop this important index is done and it
is accomplished as soon as possible to save lives.
I thank the chairman. I yield.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I agree with the gentleman. Just look at the
weather we have been having here in the Washington, D.C., area the last
several days.
I would like to thank the gentleman from North Carolina for his
leadership on the issue. We look forward to working with him on the
issue as the bill moves forward.
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word for the
purpose of engaging in a colloquy with the chairman.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to first commend the chairman and the
ranking member for the good work that they have done on this
legislation.
Mr. Chairman, as you know, there is a Federal Bureau of Prisons
facility that has been authorized and appropriated in a small farming
community in my district, in Mendota, California. In May, 2000, the
Bureau of Prisons proposed to build a medium security correctional
institute in the U.S. Western Region and selected Mendota as the site.
This facility, when completed, would house 1,152 beds that are needed
in a system that is already over 37 percent over capacity.
In fiscal 2001 and fiscal 2002, $158.9 million was appropriated for
the site planning, development, construction of the Mendota facility.
However, rescissions of $57 million in fiscal year 2002 and 2004 have
jeopardized this project. To maintain the existing contract, the final
option must be exercised by this year, October 8, 2006.
Should this contract expire, a new bid is expected to increase the
cost of the facility by over 20 percent more. Over $100 million in
Federal funds has already been spent on the facility. It now sits
empty, and 40 percent of the construction is completed.
If this rescission is allowed to stand, it will stand as a testament
to the Federal Government's response of being penny wise and pound
foolish.
Mr. Chairman, is it your understanding that the $89 million included
in this bill for construction and maintenance of Federal prisons is not
directed to specific facilities?
Mr. WOLF. The gentleman from California is correct.
Mr. COSTA. Then, Mr. Chairman, if the Bureau of Prisons deems this
project a priority, would the chairman agree to work with me to try to
make funds available to continue this facility so that it is not left
half completed and therefore wasted Federal funds would have been
spent?
Mr. WOLF. The committee is aware of the circumstances surrounding the
Mendota facility and will work with the gentleman from California.
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I would like to thank
the gentleman from Virginia for his comments.
With the permission of the Chair, I will now submit for the Record an
additional statement detailing the situation at this Mendota facility
and commit to continue to work with you.
Chairman Wolf and Ranking Member Mollohan, I commend you for your
leadership and good work on the Science State Justice Commerce
Appropriations measure, given the limitations of the budget. I was
particularly pleased with the report language addressing the
Administration's shortsighted request to rescind prison construction
funds bearing in mind the increasing demands on our already overcrowded
federal prisons.
Mr. Chairman, on behalf of my constituents in the small rural town of
Mendota, I would like to call your attention to an issue of pressing
concern in the congressional district I am proud to represent. At its
core this is an issue of smart budgeting, addressing security demands,
and the federal government following through on its commitments.
In May of 2000, the City of Mendota was approached by the Federal
Bureau of Prisons proposing to build a medium security federal
correctional institution in Mendota, California. The required
environmental impact study followed, after which Mendota was selected.
The local elected officials and community leaders have been strong
supporters of the project, proud to provide a public service to the
country and encouraged by the economic stimulus the prison would
create.
The demand for such a prison is imperative and the Mendota facility
will provide much needed bed space for 1,152 medium-security male
inmates. With crowding at medium-security facilities currently 37
percent over capacity, this institution is of critical importance.
Worse yet, an additional 7,500 new federal inmates are expected to
enter our federal prisons annually.
Today, California's Corrections Institutions are the second-largest
prison system in the nation after the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
California's prison population, according to a June 11, 2006, report in
the Washington Post, ``has surged in recent months to more than
173,000, resulting in the worst overcrowding in the country and costing
taxpayers more than $8 billion a year.'' Just today, The Sacramento Bee
reported that California ``prisons are more overcrowded than ever, some
200 percent of design capacity.'' In response, California Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger called for a special legislative session and
proposed an initiative to expedite the construction of State prisons.
The funding history for the Mendota facility is an embarrassment.
Should the Administration get its way in the FY2007 budget, it is the
American taxpayer that will bear the burden of increased costs. Funding
for this facility includes $11.9 million in FY2001 for site and
planning development and $147 million in FY 2002 for remaining
construction funding. However, rescission of $5.744 million in FY 2002
and $51.895 million in FY 2004 has jeopardized the entire project. To
maintain the existing contract, the final option must be exercised by
October 8, 2006. Should this contract expire, it is anticipated that
any new contract will cost at least 20 percent more.
However, the President's FY2007 Budget contained no funding for the
completion of the Mendota facility.
The federal government has made a long term commitment to construct
and operate the Mendota facility. Over $100 million in federal funds
has already been spent on the facility with 40 percent of the
construction complete. To bring this project to a virtual halt at this
stage would be unfair to the citizens of Mendota, a city with an 18.6
percent unemployment rate and 42 percent living below the poverty line.
Mendota is counting on the government to keep its promise.
Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
Mr. Chairman, I rise to ask the gentleman from Virginia to engage in
a colloquy. I would ask the gentleman from Virginia to do that. This
would involve the provision in the bill's committee report that relates
to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
I am thankful that the committee has included language in the fiscal
year 2007 bill with the intent to direct the Bureau of Prisons to renew
the intergovernmental agreements with four West Texas communities,
including Reeves County, which are set to expire in 2007, if these
local governments offer the Bureau of Prisons fair and reasonable
prices and their facilities meet the Bureau of Prisons' standards.
Further, I am pleased that it is the intent of the committee that
this language be binding upon the Bureau of Prisons under application
of this appropriations bill.
It is also my understanding that there is a misprint in the committee
report accompanying the 2007 Science, State, Justice, Commerce
Appropriations Bill. The language in the report should read, as passed
by my amendment during full committee markup, that the Bureau of
Prisons is directed to renew agreements with local governments housing
Federal criminal aliens, if these facilities meet Bureau of Prisons'
standards and a fair and reasonable price is offered.

[[Page H4637]]

I am hopeful that the chairman will acknowledge that this is the
language that was intended.
Mr. WOLF. I thank the gentleman from Texas, who is very, very, very
persistent. I agree with his description of the intent of the language
and acknowledge that the report should reflect what was passed by the
committee last week as described by gentleman from Texas.
Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Virginia for
his support on this issue of great importance to my constituents and
the people of the State of Texas.
Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. I move to strike the last word.
Mr. Chairman, would the chairman of the Science, State, Justice and
Commerce Appropriations subcommittee engage me in a colloquy?
Thank you for yielding and engaging in this colloquy on the Small
Business Administration's New Markets Venture Capital Program.
Mr. Chairman, we have talked before about the many small businesses
located in low-income urban and rural areas that lack access to capital
in the form of equity, and that presents a serious barrier to growth.
Although it is widely recognized that small businesses create 75
percent of all new jobs and account for 99 percent of all employers,
conventional venture capital firms simply overlook low-income areas;
and it handicaps these businesses' ability to leverage resources needed
to expand existing operations and hire and train qualified employees.
The Small Business Administration's New Markets Venture Capital
Program was established precisely for this purpose, to fill the access
to capital gap that exists for a number of these small businesses in
these communities. The program was designed for the purpose of making
equity investments in growing small businesses located in economically
stressed urban and rural regions through the creation of privately
managed new market venture capital companies.

{time} 1845

The overall objective of these equity investments is to provide
patient capital to help promote economic development and the creation
of wealth, not for individuals but wealth to support employment
opportunities in underserved areas, as well as among the residents
living in such neighborhoods.
Six new market venture companies were created during the initial
phase of this program, Mr. Chairman; and these firms are still
operating and making critical equity investment in small businesses,
primarily located in low-income urban and in rural areas. It is
imperative that the new market venture capital program is given a
chance to succeed in order to continue its mission in bringing much-
needed equity investment capital to small businesses in these
communities that need them the most.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?
Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman from Wisconsin for
her very, very hard work and leadership on this issue.
The committee shares her concern of providing sources of capital for
small businesses and makes a very compelling point. The committee
supports this small business investment company, SBIC, program, another
SBA program that provides equity investments to small businesses. The
committee also understands that the NMVC program is still operational
and that the SBA is still monitoring the work of the existing NMVC
companies.
Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, I thank you for your concern.
As you may know from our previous conversations, my congressional
district includes the City of Milwaukee, a city that currently ranks
48th out of the 50 largest U.S. cities in venture capital investment
dollars, 7th among the poorest cities in the Nation, and has a 52
percent unemployment rate among African American men.
I recognize that these SBICs offer another source of equity capital
for small businesses. However, as you can see, more needs to be done to
ensure that these investment dollars are specifically geared toward
those urban and rural neighborhoods that continue to be left behind. It
is so crucial that we do our part to provide the necessary incentives
to encourage venture capital investments in these communities, and I
respectfully ask for your help in this effort.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, if the gentlewoman would yield, the committee
notes your concern; and we will do everything we can to help.
Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman; and I look
forward to working with you.
Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
Mr. Chairman, I rise today to engage in a colloquy with the esteemed
chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Wolf.
Mr. Chairman, in January, I introduced legislation to require the
Department of Justice to make available on the Internet the documents
related to the Foreign Agents Registration Act, called FARA. It is
imperative that we make FARA documents available on the Internet. This
will increase public access to information about foreign lobbyists and,
in turn, increase public confidence in Congress.
I know the subcommittee chairman has been working with the Department
of Justice to accomplish this. I am told that this process is under way
and may be completed by the end of the year. I thank the subcommittee
chairman for his continuing leadership and for including report
language urging the Department of Justice to complete this effort as
quickly as possible. I would like to work with the subcommittee
chairman to ensure that this important project is completed this year.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?
Mrs. SCHMIDT. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I most certainly will work with the
gentlewoman from Ohio on this project. This is very, very important.
You had lobbyists downtown lobbying for the Khartoum government on
the issue of Darfur, where this House has voted, saying that what is
taking place in Darfur is genocide, and yet you actually had a high-
level official who had worked at the State Department and National
Security Council out there representing the Khartoum government.
You also have a number of law firms in this city that are now
representing China, and I do not know how you live with yourself if you
represent China and you are an American citizen. We had a meeting
yesterday and we found out there are now 40 Catholic bishops and
priests in jail in China today, 40. There are 4 to 6,000 evangelical
house church people in jail today in China, and yet some of the big law
firms downtown are representing China.
And then the beat goes on. You have them representing China with
regard to what is taking place in the Uighurs, what is taking place
with the Dalai Lama and in Tibet.
So I think the gentlewoman's amendment and position is exactly right.
We will do everything we can to make sure that it is on line so we can
find out who has the audacity to represent Sudan and the Khartoum
government during the days of genocide and the same thing with regard
to China.
So we will look forward to working with the gentlewoman.
Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Chairman, I thank the subcommittee chairman for his
remarks and look forward to working with him and the rest of the
Congress.
Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
Mr. Chairman, let me begin by expressing my gratitude to you for your
leadership and the hard work that you and your staff have put into the
fiscal year 2007 Science, State, Justice, Commerce Appropriations bill.
Mr. Chairman, I also want to thank you for your great work in helping
local law enforcement and for working to increase funding in the COPS
program, which is desperately needed. While there are many ways the
Federal Government protects us, ultimately local law enforcement is on
the front lines in our neighborhoods when it comes to fighting crime
and, now, in fighting terrorism; and the COPS program provides vital
assistance to them in these efforts.
I spent 33 years of my life in law enforcement and served as a patrol
officer all the way to the sheriff of the King County Sheriff's Office
in Seattle, Washington, one of the largest law enforcement agencies in
the country. As

[[Page H4638]]

a sheriff, I have witnessed how the COPS program provided much-needed
funding to King County, from school resource officers to new law
enforcement technology.
Mr. Chairman, the Federal Government is constantly telling local law
enforcement in this new post-9/11 age that we must work in partnership,
that we must work together to keep our Nation safe. After all, catching
a terrorist in Seattle who may want to kill people in Los Angeles is
not just a local problem; it is a national problem.
However, the word ``partnership'' rings hollow if the vital funds
necessary to implement that partnership are not there. If local law
enforcement upholds its end of the program, the vital funding is
required. Too often, this funding comes from their budget without any
Federal assistance. The local agencies are faced with a dilemma of
either not participating in vital terror-fighting activities and
programs, or joining in those efforts and shortchanging local programs
that keep our families safe.
Starting in 2002, funding for local law enforcement under the COPS
program decreased. The COPS program received $929 million in 2003, $411
million in 2006. This does not send the right message to our local law
enforcement about the commitment of Congress to work with that
partnership.
However, I am very grateful to you, Mr. Chairman, for being willing
to listen and to work on this issue with me. With your help, this
year's bill will increase total funding for the COPS program to $570.5
million. This is the first increase in COPS funding in 5 years and
something to be thankful for and proud of. In addition, $99 million is
included in the bill to address meth cleanup.
Adequately funding the COPS program in this bill sends the right
message to our local law enforcement community that the Federal
Government is an equal partner and that the Federal Government is
giving local police backup in this fight.
While we still need to work to continue to increase funding for local
law enforcement efforts in the fight against meth, I believe that this
increase is a positive step in the right direction. Tight budget
constraints make it impossible to fully fund every program, and I thank
the chairman for recognizing the importance of local law enforcement
and providing an increase in the COPS program.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. REICHERT. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Washington for
raising this issue. He has talked to me so many times, and I appreciate
his persistence.
I want to thank him for his leadership on issues important to law
enforcement and the fight against meth and the spread of gangs in our
communities. I understand your perspective on this concern as a former
law enforcement officer, and I am glad I was able to work with you to
provide increased funding under the COPS program; and, frankly, if we
could do more when we get to conference, we will be glad to do that.
Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman. I look forward to
working with you.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.
The motion was agreed to.
Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr.
Terry) having assumed the chair, Mr. Hastings of Washington, Chairman
of the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, reported
that that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R.
5672) making appropriations for Science, the Departments of State,
Justice, and Commerce, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2007, and for other purposes, had come to no resolution
thereon.

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