Providing for Consideration of H.R. 2965, Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act of 2006

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2965, FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES COMPETITION IN CONTRACTING ACT OF 2006 -- (House of Representatives - September 13, 2006)

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the rule, not due to the merits of the bill before us, but because I am compelled to call to attention the complete debacle that I think is existing at the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

I rise on behalf of my constituents in a small rural town in Mendota, California, to demand that the Federal Government stay true to its word, as a focus to the core of this issue, to focus on what I believe is smart budgeting in addressing the security demands that evolved with our country, as well as the Federal Government's commitment to make good on its commitments.

In May of 2000 the city of Mendota was approached by the Federal Bureau of Prisons to build a medium security Federal correctional institution. The local elected officials, the community leaders have been strong supporters of this project and proud to provide the public service to our country, which also has the effect of encouraging economic stimulus that this prison would create.

As you see here, over $100 million has already been spent on the facility. It is about 40 percent complete. This photograph was taken about a week ago.

The funding, though, is now in jeopardy. The administration has proposed a rescission of $57 million in fiscal year 2002 and 2004 that has jeopardized the entire completion of this project. Mendota's contract is set to expire in October of this year, which, in this case, is anticipated that any new contract that will have to be reissued will cost the Federal Government and our budget 20 percent in additional dollars.

Yet the Bush administration refuses the request to add additional dollars, dollars to complete this facility. The administration's approach to funding in this case, in my opinion, is penny-wise and pound foolish. There is no sound reasoning that would support cutting off the funding for the completion of this facility. We know what the issue is on the Federal level. We have, under the medium security facilities, currently over 37 percent over capacity throughout the country, 37 percent over capacity. The Federal Bureau of Prisons expects that they need to house 7,500 new Federal inmates annually.

In California, our institutional system is 89 percent over capacity, and the Department of Corrections expects an increase of over 4,000 inmates annually. This Mendota facility would provide 1,522 much-needed beds to help address this growing demand. The Federal Government has made a long-term commitment to construct and operate this facility.

To bring this project to a virtual halt would be unfair not only to the citizens of Mendota, who have over an 18 percent unemployment level, of which 42 percent of the population is living below the poverty line. The President would provide good jobs and a major boost to the very depressed local economy.

Now, when we talk about the administration's failure and their fiscal year irresponsibility to American taxpayers, I think this continues, when you begin to understand that the Bureau of Prisons proposes to begin the construction of two new facilities while they want to stop this one half completed. What sense does that make?

That is right, believe it or not, we have a half-built prison in California in the city of Mendota. It will cost the Federal Government $2 million a year to mothball this facility, to go in and to make sure that they flush the toilets and they do the other kinds of things necessary to keep it operational.

In closing, this is an untenable situation. It is an untenable situation for the city of Mendota. It is an embarrassment to this administration, which finds its credibility being shredded almost on a daily basis. It is clear that if the Bush administration refuses to provide the promised funding to this ongoing construction of this facility, this half-built facility will be standing proof to our administration's failure to keep its word and to honor its commitments.

Ladies and gentlemen, I urge that reconsideration be taken to this funding rescission and that, in fact, we offer good common sense as it relates to our Federal budget. It is not good fiscal responsibility to stop construction of a half-completed prison and begin the construction of two new facilities that have yet to be started.

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