Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007

SCIENCE, STATE, JUSTICE, COMMERCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007 -- (House of Representatives - June 27, 2006)

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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?

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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.

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