Commerce, Justice, Science, And Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008
Floor Speech
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 -- (House of Representatives - July 25, 2007)
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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to enhance America's ability to prosecute and detain illegal aliens around our southwest border.
State and local law enforcement agencies along America's southwest border grapple with the serious consequences of our porous border every day. Prosecutors, probation officers, courts and detention facilities are all vital. They process drug and illegal alien cases referred from Federal arrests.
Currently, if the Federal Government decides to no longer pursue Federal criminal charges against the defendant, they often turn over the case to local law enforcement agencies. State and local agencies often need to be reimbursed for the costs of prosecution and court costs, as well as pre- and post-trial detention.
The Southwest Border Prosecutor Initiative helps relieve border communities of the steep costs of Federal drug prosecutions. Cases involving illegal aliens and drug traffickers are complex and urgent. That's why the Southwest Border Prosecutor Initiative needs and deserves vigorous Federal support.
Last year Congress funded this program with $29,617,000. The committee's recommended funding level for this year, 2008, amounts to only a 1 percent increase over last year's appropriation for the Southwest Border Prosecutor Initiative. Meanwhile, the Census Bureau stands to receive over $369 million more than last year. That amounts to an increase of 40 percent for the census.
Right now, I, along with the constituents I represent, believe the higher priority for our country must be to get a handle on our borders. Some aliens who illegally enter America only seek jobs, but then there are others who are very, very dangerous. These aliens, especially the drug traffickers, call for extra attention. My amendment would boost funding to the Southwest Border Prosecutor Initiative by $10 million, without costing the taxpayers any more money.
I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this important amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Chairman, I would like to begin, first of all, by thanking the chairman of the subcommittee and the ranking member for their good, hard work on this bill. They are very dedicated to seeing that we spend our taxpayers' dollars wisely.
Today I rise to offer an amendment to help break the cycle of violence against women, especially those living in the rural areas. We are facing an epidemic in this country. Sexual and domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. One in four women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime. It is a frightening statistic, I think.
To be safe in their communities, women need to be safe in their own homes. Of the over 12,000 domestic violence victims reported in my State of West Virginia in 2005, a total of over 8,600, or 68 percent, were victims of intimate partner violence. What used to be called a ``family matter'' is now a crime. The Violence Against Women Act was much-needed landmark legislation that helped transform the perception of domestic abuse as a serious crime and created programs to increase access to services for women and victims.
My amendment builds on the successes of the last decade and prevents more women from suffering in silence. Victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in rural and remote communities face unique obstacles in their efforts to escape abusive and dangerous relationships. The geographic isolation, economic structure, and particularly strong cultural pressures and social pressures, and lack of available resources in rural jurisdictions significantly compound the problems confronted by those seeking support and services. Nonreporting of sexual assault in rural areas is a particular problem.
Other barriers to domestic violence and sexual assault intervention in rural communities may include gaps in the 911 emergency system that may delay responses, underfunded and understaffed law enforcement agencies that hamper the criminal justice response, and lack of legal representation for protective orders and other civil matters pertaining to domestic violence.
Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Child Abuse Enforcement Assistance Grants fund cooperative efforts between law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim services. They provide treatment, counseling and assistance to victims, and work with rural communities to develop education and prevention strategies.
Last year Congress funded this program with $38.8 million. The committee's recommended funding level for this year amounts to only a $1.2 million increase over last year's appropriations for the Rural Domestic Violence Grants program.
Meanwhile, the National Science Foundation Agency Operations and Award Management line item, which was the old salary and expense line item, stands to receive $285.59 million. This amounts to an increase of over $37 million, or 13 percent.
My amendment would boost funding for the Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement Assistance Grants by $10 million without costing the taxpayers additional money.
I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this important amendment to help provide victims with the protection and services in the rural areas they need to pursue safe and healthy lives while simultaneously enabling communities to hold offenders accountable for their violence.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. BAIRD. I yield to the gentlewoman from West Virginia.
Mrs. CAPITO. I would like to read very briefly from the agency operation and award management section because I agree with you. I was a science major in college. I am very dedicated to the forward-leaning research and development that NSF has provided.
But in this particular account, this is for agency operations and award management necessary in carrying out the National Science Foundation Act, services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, hire of passenger motor vehicles, not to exceed $9,000 for official reception and representation expenses, uniforms or allowances therefor, rental of conference rooms in the District of Columbia, and reimbursement for security guard services.
I tried to look for an area that would not harm research or researchers or the dedicated folks that are working on forward-leaning and futuristic advances for our Nation. I am very concerned about domestic violence in the rural area, and that is why I pinpointed this particular area.
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