Commerce, Justice, Science, And Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
Floor Speech
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, at its core, the Commerce-Justice-Science bill is designed to keep our economy strong, our people safe, and our research and development efforts thriving. This legislation accomplishes all of three of these objectives--and it does so in a fiscally responsible manner by scrutinizing each of the bill's existing programs, eliminating eleven of them and trimming thirteen others.
In particular, I am pleased that science, technology and innovation receive $30.6 billion under this legislation, an increase of $1 billion over last year. Of that amount, $6.9 billion will go to the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support promising scientific research at America's universities. $781 million will go to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), including $125 million for Manufacturing Extension Partnerships to help small and mid-size companies compete overseas and $70 million for the Technology Innovation Program to fund high-risk, high-reward research in areas of critical national need. $18.2 billion will go to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for its groundbreaking research into space and aeronautics. And $4.6 billion will go to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for its indispensable analysis on climate and weather. Importantly, the bill also provides $1.08 billion for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education to properly train America's future workforce.
To keep our communities safe, this legislation also invests $3.4 billion in state and local law enforcement--including $802 million for the COPS program to hire more than 7000 police officers, $385 million for juvenile justice programs that support our nation's youth, and $400 million to prevent violence against women.
Mr. Chair, I commend Chairman Mollohan, Ranking Member Wolf and the rest of the subcommittee for its work on this legislation and urge my colleagues' support.
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