Conference Report on H.R. 2862, Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2862, DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE AND JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006 -- (Extensions of Remarks - December 08, 2005)
SPEECH OF
HON. BETTY McCOLLUM
OF MINNESOTA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2005
Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report on H.R. 2862, the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, for Fiscal Year 2006, though I do so with reservations.
This conference report, while providing increased funding from the House-passed legislation, still fails to provide adequate funding levels for state and local law enforcement. However, I am pleased that Congress rejected the Administration's proposal to eliminate funding for the COPS program, which is critical to our local law enforcement agencies that are already underfunded. Funding for local and state law enforcement assistance in this legislation funded at $1,142.7 million, which, although significantly less than was provided in 2001, is an increase from the House-funded level of $1,069.2 million. Along with many of my colleagues, I would have supported further increases in funding for our state and local law enforcement and intend to work to make this a priority in the next Congress. We owe our law enforcement officers the tools they need to protect our communities and our families.
I was also extremely surprised and disappointed that the conferees stripped the amendment offered by Mr. Sanders that passed in the House overwhelmingly, by a vote of 238-187, during consideration of H.R. 2862. This critical amendment would have barred funds to carry out provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act permitting law enforcement officials to obtain records from booksellers and librarians. This amendment was a reasonable and needed amendment that would have restored the much-needed Congressional oversight to FBI searches.
Congress wisely rejected the Administration's significant cuts to the Legal Services Corporation in this report. The Legal Services Corporation is funded at $330.8 million in this report, a $12.6 million increase over the President's request. Legal Services Corporation makes a significant impact in the lives of many vulnerable citizens, and is often the only reason low-income families have access to our justice system.
In order for the U.S. to remain competitive and in order to ensure a skilled workforce in this global marketplace, we must continue to make critical and strategic investments in science and research. Science, and science education, are crucial elements to our society and our daily lives. I was very pleased with the funding for the science agencies, including NASA, and the National Science Foundation. NASA and NSF received increases of $273 million and $180.2 million respectively, both of which represent larger investments than the President's request.
I will support this conference report today, because it reflects an overall increase in investments for our future.
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