Durbin's Financial Services, General Government Appropriations Bill Passes Full Committee
Press Release
Durbin's Financial Services, General Government Appropriations Bill Passes Full Committee
The Senate Appropriations Committee reported United States Senator Dick Durbin's (D-IL) Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill out of committee today. Durbin is Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, which drafted the $44.2 billion spending bill.
"This is a very transparent appropriations bill - shining a light on requests from Senators and the Bush Administration. That is the way it should be," said Durbin. "We've made tough decisions, with tight funds, in the face of many worthy demands and crafted a fiscally responsible and honest bill. We're forcing members to stand by the projects they request, funding important programs from court security to consumer safety and I've proud of the bill we've come up with."
As Chairman of the Subcommittee, Durbin has budgetary oversight authority over a range of agencies in the Executive Branch (including the Offices of the President and Vice President,) the Federal Courts (including court security), the District of Columbia and a host of independent agencies, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The subcommittee also oversees much of the funding for the nation's financial services agencies, as well as the U.S. Treasury Department.
Durbin has been a leader on the issue of consumer protection. Over the past few months, he has urged for expanded authority for agencies like the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In this bill, Durbin provides $70 million for CPSC, an increase of $7.2 million above last year and $6.8 million above the President's budget request. The increase in funding will also allow for hiring of needed employees in the areas of hazard identification and reduction, field operations and compliance, and funds for critically needed IT improvements. Both the House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees increased funding for CPSC above the President's request, with the Senate providing $70 million and the House funding at $66.8 million.
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